This will be a long review, so excuse the lack of brevity, but in the spirit of Aloha, there's no other way to convey the magic of this experience. Backstory: I'd been intrigued by several of Patrick's posts in the Big Island Foodies Facebook group. He has covered everything from the BI food scene to the environmental footprint of Big Island beef (processed in California, not of the Big Island--bleep that!), and, most intriguing, his experiments with ube char siu manapua (imagine a Hawaiian-style bao). Loving bao but never having tried this Hawaiian twist, I reached out to Patrick to learn more. One thing led to another, and soon I was asking if he'd cook a simple dinner for us and our besties in Captain Cook. His enthusiastic "Yes!" sealed the deal. Plans Shift: After lots of back-and-forth to coordinate dates, our friend in Captain Cook suddenly announced, "Oh, by the way, we decided to get married while you're here and have a potluck! Which day works best for you?" Yowza! I messaged Patrick to ask if he could instead prepare some pūpūs, including the manapuas. His response? Another enthusiastic "Yes!" He sent me his menu with the disclaimer, "It's dated, but I'm in a transitional period." If this was "dated," I couldn't imagine how good an updated version would be! After discussing options, we landed on three dishes: the manapuas, ceviche, and tomatoes salad. For the fourth dish, I left it up to him with one request: "a cold pescatarian dish with no raw seafood" (the wedding couple doesn't do raw fish). His reply: "No worries, I'll figure something out. I work best under pressure!" The day of the event, Patrick confidently told me, "Regarding the other dish, you will be amazed!" Spoiler: He wasn't kidding. The Food: Let me start by saying my photos don't do these dishes justice. Ube Char Siu Manapua: These were so ono they broke the mouf! The vibrant purple ube buns contrasted beautifully with the red char siu pork filling. The dough was perfection incarnate: soft like a pillow, with just the right firmness and airy texture. While they'd have been killa warmed up, they worked just as well cold as pūpū. The flavor profile? A subtle explosion of sweet (coconutty dough, honeyed pork) and savory umami. The carnivores in the party devoured them, and leftovers made for an epic final beach day snack. Ceviche: I compare every ceviche to one I had at a taco truck in LA in 2022--a life-changing experience. Patrick's ceviche brought back those memories in multitudes. The salsa fresca base, fresh jalapeños, shrimp, ahi, mahi, and yellowtail were complemented by creamy chunks of avocado. His fresh white tortilla chips, dusted with Kona sea salt, were the perfect vehicle for delivery of this heavenly dish to the bouche. While I'd have loved more heat, the balance was just right. Generous portions meant everyone had leftovers, which made another stellar addition to our beach lunch. Tomatoes Salad: This simple yet stunning dish was all about contrasts: the deep red tomatoes against blue-veined Amish blue cheese; the firm tomatoes with the creamy cheese and crunchy crispy shallots. The Hawaiian chili oil, balsamic, and truffle oil base elevated it to another level, harmonizing with the pungent cheese and tangy tomatoes. Pure brilliance. Surprise Dish: The most incredible crab salad evah! Patrick nailed it with soft crab paired with crisp raw broccoli and topped with caviar. The kicker? A complex base of sambal, anchovy oil, garlic, dashi, and Kona sea salt. While I'd have liked a spicier sambal, this dish was still a masterpiece. Truly a grand slam! The Experience: This was the culinary highlight of our trip (and that's a high bar, since we revisited Rebel Kitchen, Black Rock, and other hidden gems). Patrick's creativity and ability to adapt to our outdoor potluck setup--where warming equipment wasn't an option--made the event extra special. He crafted a spread that delighted everyone and elevated the celebration. Patrick was courteous yet exuded quiet confidence throughout our interactions. He also shared his fascinating backstory, which added another layer of connection to the experience. Would I work with him again? Absolutely! I'm already looking forward to our next trip to the Big Island to see our 'ohana--including Brother Patrick, and to use his master chef skills to craft some ono grindz. Mahalos, Brother for the unforgettable memories! read more

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to hire Patrick Dufer of Hualālai Catering for a private dining experience for our family in Kona, Hawaii, and I cannot express enough how fantastic the entire experience was. From the very beginning, Patrick was incredibly accommodating and attentive as we discussed our dining preferences and dietary restrictions. His extensive background in the hospitality industry and culinary arts shone through as he guided us through menu options that beautifully showcased local ingredients and flavors. On the day of our family gathering, Patrick arrived promptly and set everything up with meticulous care. His professionalism and attention to detail were impressive. He transformed our dining space into a warm and inviting atmosphere, creating the perfect backdrop for our family's special occasion. Now, let's talk about the food! Each dish was not only a feast for the eyes but also an explosion of flavor. Patrick's passion for cooking was evident in every bite--from the expertly crafted appetizers to the exquisite main courses and delightful desserts. His ability to seamlessly blend traditional Hawaiian flavors with innovative culinary techniques left us all raving about the meal long after we finished. What truly set Patrick apart was his exceptional service. He was engaging and friendly, making everyone feel at ease throughout the evening. He timed each course perfectly, ensuring that we could relax and enjoy each moment without worrying about a thing. It truly felt like we were dining at a high-end restaurant, but with the comfort of being at home surrounded by our loved ones. In summary, I highly recommend Patrick Dufer and Hualālai Catering for anyone seeking a top-notch private dining experience in Kona. His expertise, creativity, and genuine passion for hospitality made our family gathering unforgettable. Thank you, Patrick, for providing us with such an exceptional evening--we can't wait to have you back for future celebrations! read more

I reached out to Patrick via a referral nearly 6 months prior to our dinner. Our dinner was part of our planned vacation, in part, a celebration of our son's graduation (who also enjoys cooking). Even on the phone he was inquisitive, knowledgeable, and had wonderful advice on the planning of our dinner. Patrick and his wife Cherie arrived right on schedule and from that moment throughout the evening it was AMAZING! The food was incredible; Poke, Shrimp Dynamite, Crab Cakes, Caesar Salad, Roasted Filet with Garlic Potato Puree & Seasonal Vegetables, wrapping it up with a Tropical Cheesecake.  Patrick shared the ingredients, tips and tricks, and helpful techniques. He has great stories on how some of the recipes were developed, he even had my son help him prepare the shrimp dish, they were chattering over the stove as if they had been doing this for years! Cherie made dinner flow seamlessly, from a beautiful table setting for each course, to the cleanest kitchen ever, all while never letting our glasses go empty. Patrick truly cares that you enjoy the food and welcomed any questions we had. Together they made the evening perfect. Family, friends, (old and new) sharing great food and stories, what a memorable evening!  I highly recommend Patrick and Cherie. read more

Chef Patrick and his wife Cherie treated us to an amazing meal for 14 that got our vacation off to an awesome start. The beef tataki was probably my favorite but everything was fresh, perfectly cooked and seasoned, and unique. The food was better than most restaurant meals anywhere, not just Hawaii, and for a big family group, this was so much easier (particularly right now with limited table sizes at restaurants b/c of covid). As other reviewers have noted, both Chef and Cherie were also very engaging, sharing info about the island and the food, which added to the experience. I highly, highly recommend Hualalai Catering, and hope to make it back to Hawaii and experience their food and atmosphere again. Menu: Seared Tuna Wasabi, Togarashi, Crispy Garlic, Sea Asparagus, Smoked Sea Salt, Sweet Soy Beef Tataki Koji Marinated NY Strip, Dashi, Jalapeno Soy, Crispy Garlic, Wasabi, Greens, Cabbage, Daikon Cubano Lumpia Carnitas, Mustard, Swiss Cheese, Ham, Pickles, Sweet Chipotle Sauce Wedge Iceberg Lettuce, Bacon, Kamuela Tomatoes, Pickled Shallots, Danish Bleu Miso Scallops Smoked Ginger Cream, Pancetta, Herbs, Edible Flowers, Eel Sauce, Tobiko Aioli Dessert Flourless Chocolate Cake Strawberry Cabernet Sauce, Berries, Smoked Sea Salt, Chantilly Creme read more

Recently my wife and I and several of our friends were guests for a week on Kona at Kohanaiki. Our stay was for seven days and was catered during our time there by Hualalai Catering. The catering was exceptional in all ways imaginable. The presentation and culinary excellence was on par with the magnificent setting of the island. It seemed nearly all local ingredients were used and the fare like the fish was caught daily. With all of that said the thing that impressed me the most was their ability to provide a gluten free substitute which was not deviate of the menu really, aside from ingredients. You see my wife is Gluten Intolerant and they seem unphased in going about the task of preparing GF dishes. All of which you would never know the difference in GF or not. Couple all of that with a professional yet friendly genuine nature of Patrick and the staff and you will surely be thrilled with their service. Bon appetite and mahalo! read more

Patrick in a word: amazing! I was trying to coordinate a special birthday dinner for my best friend and her family while they were visiting the Big Island. Not only was Patrick helpful and accommodating to the 6 hour time difference between us, but he was so thoughtful when it came to the list of allergies he had to consider when creating the menu. My friend's children have severe food allergies and they differ from one another. I was so grateful that I could find someone to even take on a job like this, let alone, with the care that Patrick did. Not only that, but the quality of his food did not suffer ONE BIT despite the limitations I put on him. Raving reviews from my friend and her family! They enjoyed every bite! Thank you so much, Patrick! You made my gift to my bestie possible and special! read more

Hualālai deserves every bit of the 5 star rating I just gave them. Chefs Marc and Patrick prepared a truly fabulous dinner for us and our guests. Their communication, execution, and follow through exceeded all expectations. They created a delicious four course meal; scallops, watermelon and strawberry salad, kampachi, and creme brûlée that was truly creative and out of this world! None of it was ordinary, all of it was fantastic, presented beautifully, and I'm leaving out the details b/c you must hire them to see what I'm talking about. They were extremely professional from start to finish. I will absolutely hire them again! Thank you Hualalai Catering for a fabulous evening! read more

Wow, what a way to start our vacation. I called Chef Patrick to arrange some heavy hors d'oeuvres for the arrival of my family to Puakea Ranch. It is a group of bungalows on the north end of the island near Hilo. Chef Patrick was gracious enough to bring his crew out to the house and prepare a luxurious "gourmet" banquet for all of us. Inspite of the humble kitchen he made everything perfect; Pancetta wrapped scallops, Risotto Arincini (my favorite), truffled tator tots (no joke, unbelievable) Ahi tartare, etc. Everything was amazing, except we never could find a restaurant as good. I should have just called Chef Patrick every day. read more

My wife and I were lucky enough to have Chef Patrick & Chef Marc prepare fresh delicious local cuisine for us and friends for 3 days. Hiring Hualalai Catering was the best decision we made. Patrick & Marc and their team specialize in making great customizable meals for groups while on vacation. I never heard the word "No" from the chefs, I am not a cheese fan, so Patrick had to make each one of my meals differently from all of the others in my group. We can't wait to call Hualalai soon so that we can be treated like royalty! Thanks again to Chef Patrick & Chef Marc read more

What an amazing catering company!!! My friend surprised us for my birthday with a personally catered meal for me and my family and we were blown away! This husband and wife duo are top notch! The best part was Patrick made sure to work with us around our children's severe food allergies, which is no easy feat. He not only delivered but made the kids feel so included and that means the absolute world to me!!! Between the beautiful setup, wonderful food, and friendly service, we felt like complete rockstars!!! Mahalo nui loa, Hualalai Catering!!! read more

The food was amazing as was the service. We stayed in a villa for a week and Patrick & Mark cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for us almost every day. They accommodated all of our dietary needs without skimping on flavor. The taco bar was delicious. I can't say enough about it. Our steaks were cooked to perfection and the Mahi was fabulous. Fabulous!! The breakfasts quiches were some of the best I've ever had and I travel often. Our husbands loved the chicken and waffles too. It was all just fantastic. You can't go wrong with these guys. read more

Patrick and his team were absolutely incredible! They delivered fresh snapper, live lobsters, steak, crab cakes, fresh baked bread, homemade honey butter, and more for our week in Kona. They even handled all of the grocery shopping so I didn't have to leave my family to run to the store. Above all, they were friendly, easy to work with, and delivered everything requested on time. I would highly recommend them and will certainly call them for our next Hawaiian vacation. Thanks Patrick! read more

What a gem for the BIG ISLAND!! I found this outfit thru a friend several years ago and have used his services multiple times since. Chef Patrick did an intimate dinner at my home for my wife's birthday. The event was the envy of all my friends by pictures only. The food was out of this world. Since that amazing occasion I've used him for my property management business PM LOUNGE. My clients have been equally impressed. If you have an event of any size..... BOOK THEM!! read more

Chef Patrick Dufer review: We were absolutely blown away by everything Chef Patrick served us! We were in Hawaii for our honeymoon, and he and his wife gave us a truly magical night. They were kind enough to bring us this stunning flower display. We have never had such a delicious meal in our lives, and we can't wait to come back again someday to book him once more! As an added bonus, he is much more reasonably priced than other chefs we explored! read more

As a property manager, our homeowners frequently request private chefs for dinner parties. Hualālai Catering was quick to respond to my inquiries, and provided an excellent culinary experience for our homeowner and his dinner guests. Chef Marc and Patrick will not disappoint. read more