Leeward CC student’s winning vegan dish for sale at 7-Eleven Hawai‘i stores

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Chief Communications Officer, UH Office of Communications
Posted: Apr 3, 2022

Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese at 7-Eleven Hawaii stories for a limited time.
Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese at 7-Eleven Hawaii stories for a limited time.

Leeward CC culinary student Kaleb Molina
Leeward CC culinary student Kaleb Molina

Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/3uNG9Zj

WHAT: Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese, Leeward Community College culinary student Kaleb Molina’s winning creation, is now available at 7-Eleven Hawai‘i stores.

WHEN: The winning dish went on sale on March 29 and is available for a limited time.

HOW: In December 2021, 10 University of Hawaiʻi Community College culinary arts students competed in 7-Eleven Hawaiʻi’s annual contest to produce a better-for-you bento or entrée that could potentially be sold at all 7-Eleven Hawaiʻi locations.

OTHER FACTS:

This was the fourth time UH Community College culinary arts students competed for the opportunity to have their dishes sold at 7-Eleven Hawai‘i locations.

2020: Kapi‘olani CC students Eri Abe (Wafu ‘Ulu Stew) and Jeongyeon Shim (Tteobokki, spicy rice cake stir-fry) were co-first-place winners.

2019: Shrimp and Vegetable Sinigang Noodle Soup by Kapi‘olani CC’s Kainoa Reloza took the prize.

2018: Kapiʻolani CC student Primo Mateo’s Chicken Pastele Stew and Gandule Rice bento was the inaugural champion.

VIDEO: TRT 1:39

BROLL: (1:10)

:00-:08 7-Eleven Senior Category Manager Debbie Lee Soon announces winner on Zoom (file Dec. 3, 2021)

:09-15 Zoom into Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese in 7-Eleven store.

:16-:44 Leeward CC culinary student Kaleb Molina prepares Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese

:45-51 7-Eleven sign for Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese

:52-:56 Zoom split screen Debbie Lee Soon and Kaleb Molina (file Dec. 3 2021)

:57-1:02 Zoom into open container of Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese

1:03-1:10 Interior of 7-Eleven store with Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese getting held up to camera

SOUND: (File December 3, 2021)

Kaleb Molina, Leeward CC student, 1st place winner/Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese, (:16)

“With vegan being on the rise, I think it’s important that culinary school brings flavors to you and it adapts your palate to new things and changes everything and your spectrum of taste and nutrition.”

Debbie Lee Soon, 7-Eleven Hawaii Senior Category Manager (on two shot with first place winner Kaleb Molina (:11)

“This was a really good flavor profile and we think customers who don’t eat vegan, they would eat this.”