The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival’s “Uncorked” event Friday night was well attended in spite of President Donald Trump’s motorcade, which left chef Chai Chaowasaree, representing event sponsor Hawaiian Airlines, stopped for an hour at the turn to enter the Hawai‘i Convention Center parking lot.

The car ahead of him was the last to pass.

Still, he was able to prep 1,200 of his foie gras chawanmushi with a poha and black berry compote, topped with caviar, in eggshell cups. If he was stressed, one couldn’t tell from this delicious, decadent offering.

Cheese, please

R. Kent Torrey, CEO (cheese eating oenophile) of The Cheese Shop in Carmel, Calif., showed what a specialized food marketplace could look like with his display of rare cheeses at Friday’s event.

Among 1,000 pounds of selections was Engadin Forte, a world-champion semisoft cow’s milk cheese from the Swiss Alps.