(MVA) — Two pounds of boneless BBQ chicken, two eight- ounce BBQ steaks, six pieces of BBQ pork spareribs, eight strips of BBQ pork belly, four BBQ hot links sausage, two pounds of red rice, two pounds of macaroni salad, two pounds of papaya coco…and one hour to finish it first.
This Saturday, May 11, the 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival in Saipan will feature the Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge, pitting local and international competitors against each other and the clock in a bid to finish an entire Marianas-style BBQ platter within one hour. Winner takes all with the first finisher walking away with $1,000 cash.
Professional food fighter Sachiyo Masubuchi, a perennial champion of “Taste” food challenges several times in the past, returns to take on professional eater Sang Hyuk Kwon of Korea. Defending the home turf will be Jeremy Rother, Bob Liu, and Michael Ma. Rother downed five footlongs in an hour in last Saturday’s (May 4) Subway Sandwich Challenge, with Liu and Ma following in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
Taste of the Marianas will be held every Saturday evening during May Marianas Tourism Month at American Memorial Park in the main tourist district of downtown Garapan. The festival features dishes from 29 local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, food eating competitions, cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more.
Entertainment for the night on the main stage includes Big Jay at 5 p.m., Tipiyeew Bwibwis at 5:30 p.m., Marianas High School Micronesian Cultural Club at 6 p.m., Te Kanahau Nui at 6:30 p.m., Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge at 7 p.m., Helen Kim at 8 p.m., Profound Bandits at 8:15 p.m., Black Sands at 8:30 p.m., Revolutionaries at 9 p.m., and Tattoo at 9:30 p.m.
For those wanting a behind-the-scenes look into Marianas food prep, a cooking demonstration and sampling of “potu” — a sweet rice steamed bun — will be held on the secondary stage from 5:30-7 p.m. and “bunuelos” — similar to a deep fried donut — from 8-9:30 p.m. Also, the Tinian Mayor's Office will demonstrate the roasting of a whole cow, with free samples while supplies last.
“The Taste of the Marianas just keeps getting better and better. With our two celebrity food fighters competing against three of our top Subway Sandwich Challenge contestants, we expect this Saturday to be an extraordinary show, hands down,” said MVA Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “Food challenges have become increasingly popular around the world, and having influencers from our two largest source markets of Korea and Japan competing head-to-head at the Taste only adds to our appeal as a gourmet destination. We extend our thanks to our partners at Oh My Grill (OMG) for their support of this competition and look forward to an amazing night of fun and entertainment.”
Food and drink vendors accept credit/debit cards. Tokens are also accepted and may be purchased at the festival or the Marianas Visitors Authority office at 3366 Beach Road, Garapan, Saipan, from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Cash transactions with vendors is prohibited.
Registration is still open for the Marianas Chef Competition on May 18. The cook-off will challenge 10 chefs to prepare the best beef rib eye steak dish within an hour, incorporating all local produce provided in a mystery box. Rules and registration forms are available at https://www.mymarianas.com/taste-of-the-marianas-2024/ and at the MVA offices in Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The HANMI-NMTech Pastry Chef Competition will be held on May 25. All contests start at 7 p.m.
This year’s festival eateries will include 38 Mitsubachi, Cup Bab Korean Restaurant, Ben- Ki, Yaya’s Baked Goods, CK Smokehouse and Salad, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Fork and Spoon, Great Harvest Bread Co., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Lanlan Tea House, Island Grindz, Java Joe’s, Kanto 10, Kinpachi, Loco & Taco, Tupu Cane Juice, New Matty’s BBQ, Oh My Grill, Surf Club, T-Bar, The Hut, Vi- Lyn’s BBQ, Saipan World Resort, Ever Trust 123 Food, Aqua Resort Club, Pacific Islands Club and Coral Ocean Resort Saipan, Marpac, Napu Brewing, and WSTCO.
Festival Gold Sponsors are American Memorial Park, Bridge Capital LLC and Dave Electronics Center. Silver Sponsors are Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, EST Rental, IT&E, HANMI, Jonny’s Bar and Grill, M&C LLC, Lanlan Tea House, Subway, Coca-Cola, and Foremost.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarians.com or at (670) 664-3200.
