The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI) and the culinary program of Northern Marianas Technical Institute (NMTech) are teaming up again in May 2025 on a cook-off featuring the mouth-watering island staple chicken kelaguen

The HANMI-NMTech Chicken Kelaguen Cook-off will be held on the evening of May 24, 2025, at the 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority in celebration of Marianas Tourism Month.

What makes a tasty chicken kelaguen?  The basics are shredded roast chicken seasoned with lemon, green onions, and salt and wrapped in a warm corn or flour tortilla – shredded coconut or “donne sali” hot pepper are optional.

Registration for this year’s competition is open to former and ongoing students of NMTECH’s Culinary Arts Program.  Registration opens on April 1, 2025, and is free.  Two-man teams or solo entries are welcomed.  To register, visit NMTech at Lower Base, Saipan, or contact Tomokane at aaron.tomokane@nmtechcnmi.org. Cash prizes will be awarded.

The Taste of The Marianas offers affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, nightly contests or food demonstrations, and arts and crafts sales.  The festival will be held every Saturday in May at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan beginning at 5 p.m.