KAPALUA – The excitement is mounting for the upcoming 34th Kapalua Wine & Food Festival on June 11-14, 2015, as menus are finalized and wines are hand-chosen by vintners. The weekend’s slate of activities celebrates the finest culinary trends and vintages of premium, hard-to-find wines.

On Saturday, June 13, Celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer and Winemaker Daryl Groom, longtime friends and cohorts, will team up for a fun and feisty cooking demonstration featuring Chef Palmer’s progressive American style of cooking. The menu includes Green Tea Soba Noodles with Tuna; Chermoula-Grilled Salmon; Long Island Duck Breast with Citrus Couscous; and the finale of Chilled Orange Souffl – all perfectly paired with Daryl’s hand-selected Groom wines.

Award-winning chef, restaurateur and author Michael Mina will showcase his balanced approach to cooking, focusing on spice, sweetness, acidity and richness, at a cooking demonstration on Sunday, June 14. Co-hosted by the always engaging Master Sommelier Michael Jordan and Winemaker Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne, event courses will include Chilled Thai Squid Salad with Spicy Lime Vinaigrette, Purple Basil and Young Coconut; Tomato and Cocoa-Dusted Seared Big Eye Tuna and Fried Cauliflower, Uni Aioli and Calabrian Chilies; and delicious Brioche Banana Custard Brulee with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Toasted Macadamia Nuts.

Signature evening galas are also highlights of the weekend. The Grand Tasting, hosted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and HI Luxury Magazine on Friday, will be held oceanfront on the grounds of Montage Kapalua Bay and feature the world-class cuisine of the Kapalua Resort family of restaurants – The Plantation House, Pineapple Grill, Merriman’s Kapalua, Banyan Tree at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Honolua Store and Cane & Canoe at Montage Kapalua Bay – and special friends Maui Culinary Academy/Laulima Catering. The event will feature a Hawaii-made dessert station with Maui Cookie Lady and Big Island Candies, and a specialty Black River Caviar tasting station. Entertainment will be provided local rising star Lily Meola.

Sunday’s grand finale Seafood Festival, hosted by Alaska Airlines Visa Signature, will showcase the culinary delights of 14 of Maui’s top restaurants, including the Banyan Tree, Hula Grill, Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Joe’s Nuevo Latino, Japengo, Kai Sushi Bar, Makena Beach Restaurant, Mala, Maui Culinary Academy, Migrant, Morimoto Maui, Pacific’o, Pailolo Grill & Bar, Roy’s Restaurant and Star Noodle.

Each will feature a seafood specialty and culinary creation in competition for Maui No Ka Oi Magazine’s “Best of the Fest” award. Hawaiian entertainment will be provided by Nuff Sedd.

To date, major sponsors for the 2015 event include The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui Visitors Bureau, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser/HI Luxury Magazine, Troon Golf/Kapalua, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature, Waiwera Water and Young’s Market Company.

Buy now and save with specially priced tickets for evening galas and four-day passes. Tickets are on sale now with a limited number of early bird discounted pricing being offered through May 15. For information, or to purchase your tickets online, visit www.kapaluawineandfoodfestival.com.