In case you missed it, Maui Pineapple Company hosted the annual Maui Gold Pineapple Dessert Contest in June, 2008. The contest took place at the Kapalua Resort during the 2008 Kapalua Wine & Food Festival, the winner being announced at the Kapalua Seafood Festival on June 29, 2008. The Dessert Contest is open to local Maui bakeries, restaurants, and the Maui Culinary Academy. The rules of the contest are to prepare a delicious dessert that incorporates Maui Gold Pineapple. The desserts were showcased at the Kapalua Seafood Festival, where festival guests were invited to sample them.

The participants in this year’s Maui Gold Dessert Contest were:

• Pineapple Grill at Kapalua, Executive Chef Ryan Luckey, Kapalua Resort
• Gourmet Catering & Tropical Desserts by Vasi, Haiku
• Cravings Bakery, Kahului
• The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua led by Executive Chef John Zaner
• Merriman’s Kapalua led by Executive Chef George Gomes Jr.
• Maui Community College – Maui Culinary Academy, Bakery Department led by Pastry Chef Teresa Shurilla

The desserts are judged on “overall taste, texture, visual presentation and incorporation and innovation of the recipe with Maui Gold pineapple.”

Stay tuned here to find out the winner of this year’s contest!

(Previous contest winner):