Triple C Recipe Contest Winners

Judges put the recipe entries to the taste test and found it difficult to choose a winner from the many delicious creations. Photos by Julia Neal

Sunday's Triple C Recipe Contest in which contestants used Ka'u Coffee to make cookies, candies and crackers saw Gwen Edwards take home the $500 grand prize with her Coca Mocha Roca, plus $150 for winning the Amateur Candy category.

Grand Prize winning recipe,
Cocha Mocha Roca by Gwen Edwards.

The event was held April 28 at Ka'u Coffee Mill with five judges, the third event in ten days of the Ka'u Coffee Festival. Judges for the recipe contest were Miss Ka'u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya, Chef Brad Hirata, Na'alehu Market owner Carl Okuyama, Ka'u Coffee Mill Chief Roaster Kalikoweo Keolanui-Daniele and Lou Daniele, also of Ka'u Coffee Mill.

Musician Keoki Kahumoku with
Grand Prize Winner Gwen Edwards.

In the Amateur Candy category, where Edwards also took first, she was followed by second-place winner Rosaria Chelsea-Lynn taking home $100 for her Ka'u Coffee Honu Crunch, and Nadine Ebert taking home $50 for her Chocolate Frosted Coffee Candy.

In the Amateur Cookie category, Masako Sakata took first and $150 for her Ka'u Coffee Cookie Delights, second place and $100 went to Angelica Kawewehi for her Ka'u Coffee Doodles and third place and $50 went to Nadine Ebert for her Mocha Biscotti Frosted with Chocolate.

Musician Keoki Kahumoku and two-time winner
Masako Sakata.

In the Amateur Cracker category. Lisa Dacalio took first and $100 with her Ka'u Bull Crackers. Masako Sakata took second and $100 with her Ka'u Coffee Icing on Crackers. Sakata donated both of her awards to next years Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant as a $250 scholarship.

In the Professional Cookie category, Aikane Plantation Coffee and Kapolei High Schools Culinary Program took home $150 and first place for Ka'u Coffee Brownies. Trini Marques took home second and $100 for Ka'u Coffee Chocolate Dipped Pleasures.

In the Professional Cracker category, Trini Marques took first and earned $150 for her Ka'u Coffee Melts.

"Happy Birthday Ka'u Coffee
Mill"

In the Student Cookie category, Sarah Beth Passarelli took first with Coffee-Chocolate Bites, earning her $150. Second and $100 went to Lorilee Lokenani Lorenzo with her Coffee Macnut Pie Crust Bars, and third and $50 went to Ka'u Middle School Uplink After-School All-Stars with their Uplink All-Star Cookies.

In the Student Candy category, Lorilee Lokenani Lorenzo took first and $100 with her Coffee Macnut Candy.

The day also celebrated the first anniversary of the Ka'u Coffee Mill visitor center.

Miss Ka'u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya danced hula as Keoki Kahumoku sang and played 'ukulele while as the judges scores were tallied.