Television programs showcasing Hawaii chefs and food have been nominated for regional Emmy Awards.
“Spice to Life: Sheldon Simeon,” produced by California-based media company ABS-CBN International, and two episodes of the locally produced “SEARCH Hawaii, Where Food Meets Culture” on KHON-TV, are the only nominees in the Lifestyle-Program/Special category in the 45th Annual Northern California Area Emmy Awards.
“SEARCH Hawaii,” by Fish &Poi Productions LLC, was nominated for “Episode 2 — Oahu” and “Episode 3 — Kauai.”
The show follows chef Mike Lofaro and Hawaiian cultural expert Kainoa Horcajo as they gather ingredients and prepare meals based on the Hawaiian moon calendar. The two have trodden through jungles and waded through streams, among other environments, during their foraging jaunts, showing viewers that being on a TV show isn’t always glamorous.
At the root of the food-gathering, though, is the crew’s desire to get viewers to think about local ingredients and learn old Hawaiian ways.
Yvonne Biegel serves as executive producer and producer; news anchor Kathy Muneno Thompson is seen at the show’s opening and closing and also is credited as a producer; the director, director of photography and editor is William Paris; and Scott Culbertson serves as the sound engineer.
Five episodes aired during the winter, and the summer series begins June 4 with episodes to air at 9 p.m. Saturdays on KHON. A one-hour Hokule‘a special will be broadcast in September.
The “Spice to Life” episode featuring local celebrity chef Sheldon Simeon aired April 24. Simeon is known for elevating traditional Filipino food and other local foods with a contemporary twist. ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel can be viewed in Hawaii via Oceanic Time Warner Cable on Channel 683.
“When I heard, I didn’t even know how to react,” Simeon said. “It was pretty awesome.”
The crew was easygoing and just “let me talk about my culture, my Filipino heritage and upbringing in Hawaii, and I appreciated that,” he said. “I guess it came across in the show.”
He didn’t set out to become a celebrity, just a chef. “I always talk to Gooch (chef and restaurateur Mark Noguchi) about this. We never thought we’d be in the light like that, we just wanted to cook, and I’m very thankful that the Lord has blessed me with all these opportunities.”
Those credited in the regional Emmy nomination are Beverly Tumaneng Desuasido, executive producer; Clarissa Ocampo, director and writer; Jon Santos, director of photography and editor; cinematographers Joseph Perry and Jeremiah Ysip; Jonas De Leon, technical manager; and Albert Chung, for motion graphics.
Hawaii News Now, KHON and KITV also are nominated in various news coverage categories, while a KHET co-production is nominated in a documentary category.
The awards will be presented June 4 in San Francisco.
