Culinary Calendar

TONIGHT

• THE CHEESE CULTURE, three holiday cheese sets paired with wines selected by master sommelier Robert Viernes, 6-7:30 p.m., Mariposa, Neiman Marcus; $15. Reservations required: 951-3420.

FRIDAY

• WINEZ & GRINDZ, five-course wine-matched dinner by chef Steven Ariel, 5-8:30 p.m., The Pineapple Room, Liberty House/Macy's Ala Moana; $49 without wines, $64 with wines. Reservations: 945-6573.
• MARTINI & MUSHROOMS, a tasting of martini cocktails poured by Better Brands to complement mushroom appetizers by executive chef Elmer Guzman, 5-7 p.m., Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant. Tickets: $20. 732-8645.

SATURDAY

• QUEEN EMMA FESTIVAL, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Andrew's Priory; benefit sale includes unusual homemade jams, jellies, honey, vinegar and other preserves.
• ITALIAN LUNCH MENU, cooking class by Kaiulani Cowell, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. , Mo'ili'ili Community Center; fee $20 nonmembers, $18 members.
• AN EVENING OF HOPE benefit, 6:30 p.m., benefit dinner and auction in the courtyard of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, with net proceeds earmarked for the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Guest chefs: Tom Colicchio of Gramercy Tavern and Jimmy Bradley of Red Cat, both in New York. Tickets: $80. Special accommodation/weekend packages will be available. Tickets: (808) 880-3023. Reservations: (800) 882-6060.

SUNDAY

• FLAVOURS OF FALL, cooking demonstrations, food sampling, entertainment, cooking competition, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Kahala Mall.
• TASTE OF WAIPAHU, ethnic parade, 9 a.m.; food fair, entertainment, dunking booth, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Lumpia Challenge, noon-1 p.m., locations at Hans L'Orange Park, Waipahu Depot Road and Hawai'i's Plantation Village. 677-0110.

COMING UP

• WINEZ & GRINDZ, five-course wine-matched meal by chef Neil Nakasone, 5-8:30 p.m. Nov. 16, The Pineapple Room, Liberty House/Macy's Ala Moana; $49 without wines, $64 with wines. Reservations: 945-6573.
• HOLIDAY PUPU AND ENTREES, class by chef Titus Chan, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 17, Mo'ili'ili Community Center; fee $16 nonmembers, $15 members, plus $5 lab fee payable in class. 955-1555.
• COOKING WITH HERBS: SAGE AND THYME, instructor Betty Compton shares dressings and other recipes, 9-11:45 a.m. Nov. 24, Lyon Arboretum. 988-0465.
• Alan Wong's second annual Gingerbread Festival, during which families can build their own gingerbread houses with prepared gingerbread, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 2, Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall; it helps support home economics training for teens with disabilities and special needs in a program organized by Easter Seals Hawai'i. Reservations: 536-1015.
• The 10th annual Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Sam Choy Poke Festival, Dec. 7-9 , Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Kohala Coast, Hawai'i Island. Info: (808) 880-3023.

Send Culinary Calendar items to Taste, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. E-mail: wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com. Call: 535-2421. Fax: 525-8055.