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Chefs du Jour
Published: 06/21/2007
Growing up in Lanai, there isn’t a whole lot to do. Executive Chef of the new DUO restaurant at Four Seasons Resort Maui Noel Badillo found a way to put his free time to good use. He would cook, cook and then cook some more, always thinking of new recipes to impress his family and friends at local gatherings. All of the ingredients were fresh, the produce straight out of Mom’s garden and the meat from hunting trips with Dad. Noel always got rave reviews.
At 16, he was given the opportunity to work at a hotel on Lana‘i and the encouragement and positive feedback he received helped him realize his passion could also become a career. He went on to study at the Maui Culinary Academy and trained under many award-winning chefs at Four Seasons Resort Maui. Fifteen years later, he is proud to be heading up the culinary team at DUO.
But Noel still loves to cook at home for his family, where it all began. One of his all time favorites is whole Snapper prepared with shoyu sauce, yuzu and local Hawai‘ian chili pepper.
Executive Chef of Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a Michael Lofaro can’t remember a time when he wanted to do anything else. Growing up in a large Italian family he learned quickly that cooking was an art form, a way of life, and his love affair began. His first kitchen job at 14 was anything but glamorous, peeling shrimp and cleaning mussels. But it didn’t matter to him, he was hooked. After attending the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he excelled under the talented chefs at Aqua in San Francisco, where he specialized in fish preparations. Mike went on to land his first Executive Chef role at Mill’s Tavern in Providence, Rhode Island, receiving the prestigious 4 Mobil Star award.
He’s happy to be on Maui now and cooking what he loves most…fish. Mike is passionate about expanding Humu’s menu by exposing people to all the wonderful local fish exclusive to Hawai‘i.
Simple food with simple flavors is how he modestly describes his cuisine, but still always finding new ways to create innovative dishes reflective of his own personal style.
Locations
Big Island, Hamakua Coast
Maui, South Shore/Maui
Photo Gallery - Chefs du Jour
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