HANMI/NMTech Bisteak Cookoff at ‘Taste’

Contestants, organizers, and judges take a commemorative photo at Budweiser’s King of the Grill contest during the 24th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden on June 17, 2023, at Garapan Fishing Base, Saipan. (MVA)

Shirley’s Coffee Shop serves patrons at the 24th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden on June 17, 2023, at Garapan Fishing Base, Saipan. (MVA)

A local favorite will be in the spotlight at this Saturday’s 24th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden in Saipan, as the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and Northern Marianas Technical Institute co-host the HANMINMTech Chamorro Bisteak Cookoff.

The festival kicks off at 5pm at Garapan Fishing Base. Current and former student’s chefs of the NMTech Culinary program will have minutes to serve up the best dish featuring Certified Angus Beef. Cash prizes await the winners: $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. The event is also sponsored by Triple J SuperFresh and Truckload Store.

The Taste of the Marianas, the largest food festival in the Marianas and an annual signature event of the Marianas Visitors Authority. The festival offers affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, and arts and crafts sales beginning at 5pm and closing at 11pm, an hour later on this final night.

“We’re super excited about this weekend’s festival feature of a local favorite both at home and at parties—the juicy, tender Chamorro bisteak,” said MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “We want to thank HANMI and NMTech for being important partners of the MVA, both for this weekend’s contest and—more broadly—in making the Marianas a great place to visit with a high standard of service. This final night of ‘Taste’ will bring together all the best of that!”

This Saturday’s entertainment lineup will be: Big Jay (5pm), WD40 (6pm), Simiyan Marianas (7pm), Tiul Belau (7:30pm), Oceania Athletics Asso. Masters Championship Award Ceremony (8pm), Petlas Marianas (8:30 a.m.), Flores Sinser (9pm), CAB Dancers (9:30pm,) and Northern Star (10pm).

At last Saturday’s Budweiser King of the Grill 2023, topping the ribs category were Michael Guerrero in first place, Suaad San Nicolas in second place, and Alexander Standish in third place. Winning in the People’s Choice steak category were Juan Ogarto in first place, Alexander Standish in second place, and Byron Castro in third place.

For festival goes wanting to skip the festival token booth line, tokens can be purchased before Saturday at the Marianas Visitors Authority office, first floor, Gold Beach Hotel, Beach Road, Saipan, from 1pm to 4pm Monday through Friday (except holidays). Individuals wanting to purchase tokens before Saturday may do so with cash at the MVA office or with PayPal or credit/debit card at www.mymarianas.com (select “Pay via PayPal.”) for pickup at the MVA office or in the expedited line at the token booth at the festival grounds.

Participating food vendors this year are Bistro Boyz 670, Chagi Norf, Chow Time, Cristianos Kitchen, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Furusato Restaurant Saipan, Herman’s Modern Bakery, Island Grinz, Java Joe’s, Kamakazee’s, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, Saipan Cup Bab, Restaurant Loco & Taco, Majesty Restaurant, Mariana Lighthouse, Matty’s BBQ, Pho Tam, Oh My Grill – OMG – Saipan, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Surf Club Saipan/Great Harvest Bread Co. Saipan, T-Bar CNMI, The Hut, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, and Vi-lynn’s BBQ. Drink vendors are MARPAC, WESTCO and Napu Brewing.

The event is co-organized by the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands. Platinum sponsors are Marianas Variety, Dave Electronics, and Turnkey Solutions. Gold sponsor is Hawaiian Rock Products. Silver sponsor is Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. Bronze sponsors are EST Rental, Jonny’s Bar & Grill, New XO Market, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, M&C LLC Construction, Joeten Enterprises, and NMTech. (MVA)