Mimi Mendoza, pastry chef at Senia, has been named one of 15 Young Guns by Eater, an online dining and food website.

Young Guns nominees included chefs, bar managers and other professionals in the food-and-beverage industry. Eater describes them as “the best and the brightest new restaurant industry talent,” all under age 30.

Mendoza was the only semifinalist from Hawaii among dozens nominated and made it through to the final selection. She was whisked away to New York for Eater receptions and was asked to prepare a dessert for one function.

“I actually made candy bars,” she said, shipping them ahead as she was traveling such a long distance.

The winners were announced at a party on June 22.

Mendoza said she enjoyed trying all the food and cocktails prepared by the winners, and met hundreds of others as well. “It was really fun. I got to meet a lot of people that I’m going to keep in touch with now.”

The new Young Gun previously worked at the Michelin- starred Chez TJ restaurant in California.

For all the winners, go to 808ne.ws/youngguns2017.

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Erika Engle, Star-Advertiser

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The colors of coffee

The signature art work of this year’s Kona Coffee Cultural Festival will be a piece by freelance graphic designer Linda Huff. The chosen work will be made into the official poster of the 47th annual festival set for Nov. 3 to 12.

Huff, who runs a logo design business, incorporated images of surfing, whales, a sunset, foliage and, of course, a steaming cup of coffee.

The festival poster and other retail merchandise will be sold starting Oct. 15 at Kona Coffee & Tea Co. in Kailua-Kona and at various festival events.

More than 40 planned events will celebrate the nearly 200 years of Kona coffee production, including a recipe contest, farm tours, and a cupping competition to select the best beans of the year.

For a list of events, visit konacoffeefest.com.

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Star-Advertiser staff

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Little bitty bites

Duncan Hines’ tiny cakes have the perfect name — Perfect Size.

The single-serve cakes “bake” up in a small coffee mug, using a microwave oven. Simply combine the packaged mix with water, stir and microwave a little over a minute. Presto … a warm afternoon snack, right at your desk. Or dessert for one, or an instant breakfast muffin.

The line consists of 18 flavors in four categories: Decadent (for example, brownie, caramel and German chocolate); Sunrise (cinnamon coffee cake, banana bread); Funtastic (s’mores, cookies and cream); and Fruit Flavor (strawberry, lemon, pineapple).

Each box contains packets to make four cakes. Boxes are around $3 at most Walmart stores.

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Star-Advertiser staff