{"id":409024,"date":"2024-05-10T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=409024"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Oh-My-Grill-Int-l-Food-Challenge-at-Taste-to-feature-Korean-Japanese-celebrity-eaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Oh-My-Grill-Int-l-Food-Challenge-at-Taste-to-feature-Korean-Japanese-celebrity-eaters\/","title":{"rendered":"Oh My Grill Int\u2019l Food Challenge at Taste to feature Korean, Japanese celebrity eaters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two lbs. of boneless barbecue chicken, two 8-ounce barbecue steaks, six pieces of barbecue pork spareribs, eight strips of barbecue pork belly, four barbecue hot links sausage, 2 lbs. of red rice, 2 lbs. of macaroni salad, 2 lbs. of papaya coco\u2026and one hour to finish it first.<\/p>\n

This Saturday, May 11, the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival will feature the Oh My Grill 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.<\/p>\n

Professional food fighter Sachiyo Masubuchi, a perennial champion of \u201cTaste\u201d 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\u2019s Subway Sandwich Challenge, with Liu and Ma following in second and third place, respectively.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Entertainment for the night on the main stage includes Big Jay at 5pm, Tipiyeew Bwibwis at 5:30pm, Marianas High School Micronesian Cultural Club at 6pm, Te Kanahau Nui at 6:30pm, Oh My Grill International Food Challenge at 7pm, Helen Kim at 8pm, Profound Bandits at 8:15pm, Black Sands at 8:30pm, Revolutionaries at 9pm, and Tattoo at 9:30pm.<\/p>\n

For those wanting a behind-the-scenes look into Marianas food prep, a cooking demonstration and sampling of \u201cpotu\u201d\u2014a sweet rice steamed bun\u2014will be held on the secondary stage from 5:30pm to 7pm and \u201cbunuelos\u201d\u2014similar to a deep fried donut\u2014from 8pm to 9:30pm. Also, the Tinian Mayor\u2019s Office will demonstrate the roasting of a whole cow, with free samples while supplies last.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. \u201cFood 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 for their support of this competition and look forward to an amazing night of fun and entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 1pm to 4pm Monday through Friday (except holidays). Cash transactions with vendors is prohibited.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s festival eateries will include 38 Mitsubachi, Cup Bab Korean Restaurant, Ben-Ki, Yaya\u2019s Baked Goods, CK Smokehouse and Salad, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Fork and Spoon, Great Harvest Bread Co., Herman\u2019s Modern Bakery, Lanlan Tea House, Island Grindz, Java Joe\u2019s, Kanto 10, Kinpachi, Loco & Taco, Tupu Cane Juice, New Matty\u2019s BBQ, Oh My Grill, Surf Club, T-Bar, The Hut, Vi- Lyn\u2019s BBQ, Saipan World Resort, Ever Trust 123 Food, Aqua Resort Club, Pacific Islands Club and Coral Ocean Resort Saipan, MARPAC, Napu Brewing, and WSTCO.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Bar and Grill, M&C LLC, Lanlan Tea House, Subway, Coca-Cola, and Foremost.<\/p>\n

For more information, contact MVA Community Projects specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarians.com<\/a> or at (670) 664-3200. (PR)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Acting governor David M. Apatang welcomes festivalgoers to the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024. The festival will be held every Saturday evening during May Marianas Tourism Month at American Memorial Park, featuring food and drinks, live entertainment, nightly contests, arts and crafts, and more.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Professional eaters Sachiyo Masubuchi, left, of Japan and Sang Hyuk Kwon of South Korea will face off against local competitors in the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge at the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024. The one-hour contest starts at 7pm at the American Memorial Park.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Mark McDonald and other contestants tackle five footlongs during the Subway Sandwich Challenge at the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Jeremy Rother comes in right under the clock to finish five footlongs in under one hour during the Subway Sandwich Challenge at the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

The Hut serves patrons at the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Saipan World Resort joins the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 4, 2024.<\/p>\n

-MVA
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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