A Saipan food fighter competes at the Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival in June 2023. The 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas will be held by the Marianas Visitors Authority on May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2024, at American Memorial Park. The Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge will be held on May 11, 2024, pitting local contenders against international competitors.
(MVA) — The 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival will pit local competitors against celebrity food fighters from Korea and Japan on May 11, 2024, in Garapan, Saipan.
The Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge will dare competitors to finish an entire Marianas-style BBQ platter within one hour, with the first finisher walking away with $1,000 cash.
The three top finishers from the May 4 Subway Sandwich Challenge will face off on May 11 against professional competitive eater Sachiyo Masubuchi from Japan and Sang Hyuk Kwon from Korea. The platter — prepared by local eatery Oh My Grill (OMG) — will include two pounds of boneless BBQ chicken, two eight-ounce BBQ steaks, six pieces of BBQ pork spareribs, eight strips of BBQ pork belly, four BBQ hot links sausage, two pounds of red rice, two pounds of macaroni salad, and two pounds of papaya coco.
“The Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge promises to be a fascinating face- off of local and international competitors, chowing down on the same mouth-watering Marianas barbecue that our islands are famous for,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “Come out and cheer for your contender of choice, whether a hometown favorite or one of our international competitors. And the best news is, OMG will be selling some of those same delicious items as a vendor at ‘Taste’ that night, so anyone can enjoy the selection.”
Taste of the Marianas is an annual signature event of MVA and will be held every Saturday night during May Tourism Month 2024 at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan. The festival is a gourmet’s delight, offering some of the destination’s best cuisine and entertainment. The festival will feature affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, food eating competitions, cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more. Entry is free.
This year’s festival eateries will include 38 Mitsubachi, Smokeout by Apu, Cup Bab Korean Restaurant, Ben-Ki, Yaya’s Baked Goods, CK Smokehouse and Salad, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Fork and Spoon, Great Harvest Bread Co., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Lanlan Tea House, Island Grindz, Java Joe’s, Kanto 10, Kinpachi, Loco & Taco, Tupu Cane Juice, New Matty’s BBQ, Oh My Grill, Surf Club, T-Bar, The Hut, Vi- Lyn’s BBQ, Saipan World Resort, Ever Trust 123 Food, Aqua Resort Club, Pacific Islands Club and Coral Ocean Resort Saipan, Marpac, Napu Brewing, and WSTCO.
Festival Gold Sponsors are American Memorial Park, Bridge Capital LLC and Dave Electronics Center. Silver Sponsors are Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, EST Rental, IT&E, HANMI, Jonny’s Bar and Grill, M&C LLC, Lanlan Tea House and Subway.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarians.com or at 670) 664-3200.
