Gourmet evening Feb. 8 supports VAC programs

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A gala gourmet evening is planned 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to celebrate the Volcano Art Center’s 10th annual Love the Arts, and the center’s 40th anniversary year, at the VAC’s Niaulani Campus on Old Volcano Road.

A gala gourmet evening is planned 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to celebrate the Volcano Art Center’s 10th annual Love the Arts, and the center’s 40th anniversary year, at the VAC’s Niaulani Campus on Old Volcano Road.

“E Malama Mea Noeau” — this 2014 edition of the popular event — is designed to help VAC achieve its renewed vision of offering classes, workshops, concerts and events.

The Love the Arts dinner will be catered by VAC’s master chef, Conard Eyre. The menu of “island flavors” will feature a “paniolo station” with sirloin steaks seasoned with Hawaiian rock salt, basted with shoyu butter and grilled to perfection. The steaks will be sliced thinly, and served on mini rolls with a wasabi watercress aioli. A “makahiki station” will feature succulent smoked kalua style turkey, with an ohelo berry hoisin condiment, served warm in a chafing dish accompanied by a brown and wild rice medley, with mango and macadamia nuts, Volcano taro hummus and taro chips.

A “hukilau station” and “farmer’s market station” will be filled with poisson cru, smoked ahi pate and a variety of Big Island salads, vegetable dishes and fruit selections.

For the complete menu, including what’s for dessert, visit the center’s website at volcanoartcenter.org.

There will be live and silent auctions, featuring an outstanding collection of artwork, events, services, dinners and bed-and-breakfast choices.

Dick Hershberger will preside over the live auction. Hershberger is well-known as a community theater actor.

Tickets are $50 per person, or $60 at the door. This includes a $10 credit toward an auction item.

Tickets are available at the VAC Administration Office. Call 967-8222.

They also are available at the VAC Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo, the Banyan Gallery in Hilo or online at www.VolcanoArtCenter.org.