The seventh annual I Love Poke Festival is expected to bring about 800 people to Bali Hai Restaurant on May 24 to sample raw tuna and other Hawaiian delicacies. Bringing together about 30 chefs and restaurants for a tasting event and competition, this year’s I Love Poke Festival will feature the event’s first international poke chef. “This is an event to celebrate Hawaiian food and culture in one of the most beautiful island settings on the mainland—the Bali Hai,” said Nino Camilo, festival founder. The festival is divided into two areas: Pokeland and Foodland. Pokeland will feature 20 chefs competing for the festival title of best poke. Foodland will offer samples of Hawaiian, Asian and Island-inspired dishes from 12 restaurants. Participating restaurants include Guahan Grill, Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, Hodad’s, Ho’onani Cakes, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue El Cajon, Ohana Cafe, Snoice SD, SuperNatural Sandwiches, Sweetbricks, Tajima Ramen, The Lanai Leucadia and Zarlitos Family Restaurant. Honolulu-based restaurant Da Hawaiian Poke Co. will lead a food demonstration during the festival. “Since poke is a popular food on an international level, there are a lot of poke recipes out there,” Camilo said. “I want to have a demo this year to make sure our friends from Hawaii have the opportunity to share a recipe from a Hawaiian palate.” Australian chef Candy Wu from Poke Australia will be representing the land down under as the festival’s first international competitor. A panel of judges, including three previous festival winners, will be there to score the poke chef competitors based on presentation, quality and flavor. “I love working with chefs who just want to have a good time, serve people poke, and throw shakas [shaka brah signs] while listening to live reggae music,” Camilo said. “If the chefs are having a lot of fun, then you know the attendees are going to have fun as well.” Live music will be played by Camilo’s family from Oahu, a group called Leileiana, who will be performing Hawaiian and reggae music. Regarding poke’s recent surge in popularity on the mainland, Camilo said he’s not surprised to see the emerging food trend. “It’s really hard to see some of the more diluted versions of poke out there,” Camilo said. “It’s all about aloha; and with aloha comes respect for the culture, the people and the ocean. If things are done just to make a dollar, the heart of what poke is will be lost, and tuna as a species will once again be at risk for overfishing.” In the past, Camilo has donated a portion of festival proceeds to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Instead this year, he decided to sponsor Hawaiian families to attend the festival who are currently in town seeking medical treatment for their children at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. “My family has hosted families from all over the Pacific [in town seeking medical treatment],” Camilo said. “My hope is to give these families at least one night off, where they can feel like they’re home again. I Love Poke was created because I wanted to help Hawaiian people satisfy their poke cravings while here in California.” The festival will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. and tickets are available for $75. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.onoyum.com.
