It's life in the feast lane at weekend Taste of Honolulu

• Participating restaurants
• Family center schedule
• Main stage schedule
• 'Taste' by the numbers

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Taste of Honolulu A benefit for Easter Seals Hawaii, presented by the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation 5-10 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday Honolulu Civic Center grounds $3 general, free for children under 12 and seniors 536-1015, www.Taste808.com The Advertiser is a sponsor.

Twenty-three restaurants and food providers will serve a variety of appetizers, salads, entrees, plate lunches, desserts and beverages in the annual Easter Seals of Hawaii benefit patterned after the mammoth Taste of Chicago. Since Taste of Honolulu was launched in 1991, $1.2 million has been raised.

This year's goal is $250,000, said Billie Gabriel, who has run the benefit and its allied festivities of family fun for the past nine years. With $70,000 in pre-sales as of earlier this week, the event still has a way to go.

"It's really the greatest deal in town," Gabriel said of the vast nibbles and sips available. "We've got something for everyone — great music, entertainment for the kids, fabulous food, wine and cooking demos, and everything you'd want in a festival. It's outdoors, so the ambience is casual and relaxed, meaning you don't have to dress up. You can lay in the sun (daytime) or under the stars (night). The 'Taste' lasts three days, but the monies raised lasts a lifetime for the families they help."

There are a few new wrinkles this year:

• "Eat Your Art Out," an art gallery, will showcase a variety of works, for viewing and for purchase, from the Windward Artists Guild, the Rehab Hospital and Easter Seals. "We partner with other nonprofits, welcoming them aboard," Gabriel said.
• Trips for two to Las Vegas will be given away daily, courtesy of Worry Free Vacation.
• A Nissan Altima is up for grabs if someone can score a 777 in KSSK's radio jackpot.
• Cook-offs will put politicians to work. Among those scheduled for culinary matches are Clayton Hee vs. Jon Yoshimura, Dalton Tanonaka vs. James Aiona, Peter Carlisle vs. Margery Bronster, Ed Case vs. Mazie Hirono, and more.

Busiest day? Probably tonight, said Gabriel, since the opening traditionally attracts a pau-hana crowd eager to get first dibs on the goodies. Saturday night also is a popular time. Sunday usually is busy when many return for a second — or even third — feeding frenzy.

Popular watering hole? The R. Field wine tent, where adults with grape expectations can sample an array of wines. Cost is 36 scrip ($18) for singles, $63 scrip ($31.50) per couple.

Nourishment for the ear? Entertainers will include Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii, DisGuyz, Three Plus, Honolulu, Dita Holifield, Henry Kapono (who is said to be bringing along a surprise guest). A Mainland group, Papa Doo Run Run, will specialize in the sounds of the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean.

TV connection? KHON-Fox 2 carries a live telecast 3-9 p.m. Sunday, with such hosts as Ron Mizutani and Don Robbs, Lanai and Augie, Manolo Morales, Cecilio Rodrigues, Sweetie Pacarro, and Rick Hamada and Bernadette Baraquio.

Neighbor Island goodies? A country store boasts munchies from Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i, including kulolo mochi, peanut butter mochi, haupia chichidango, mango butter and more.

Participating restaurants

Here's the roster of Taste of Honolulu restaurants; * denotes a first-time participant:

• Bali-by-the-Sea*
• Big Island Steak House
• Brew Moon
• Chai's Island Bistro
• Ciao Mein
• The Colony
• Canoe's at the Ilikai
• Culinary Institute of the Pacific
• Down to Earth*
• Eastern Garden
• Golden Dragon
• Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
• Kapono's*
• Kit 'n' Kitchen*
• Le Bistro*
• Marian's Catering
• Musashi
• Pipeline Cafe & Sports Bar
• Prince Court
• Sam Choy's Restaurants
• The Willows
• Tony Roma's
• Uncle Lani Poi Mochi & Catering

Family center schedule

Saturday

• 11 a.m. — Country dancers
• Noon — Hula Halau O Leilani
• 1 p.m. — Na Uku Wala'au
• 2 p.m. — Team High performance
• 3 p.m. — International Karate Federation
• 4 p.m. — Hypersquad
• 5 p.m. — Easter Seals Youth Services
• 6 p.m. — Tahiti Rava Nui

Sunday

• 11 a.m. — Vocal & Dance Expression, "A Class Act Youth Review"
• Noon — Hawaiian Twisters
• 1 p.m. — Gensen Rabacal
• 1:30 p.m. — McKinley High School Robotics Team
• 2 p.m. — Deena Frooman and Keiki Events Hawaii
• 3 p.m. — Shaolin Arts Society
• 5 p.m. — Ryukyu Kobudo Taiko Hawaii
• 6 p.m. — Brazilian show, with Capoiera Hawaii

Main stage schedule

Today

• 5 p.m. — Blessing
• 6 p.m. — Honolulu (the band)
• 7 p.m. — Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii
• 8 p.m. — Honolulu Jazz Quartet with Anita Hall
• 9 p.m. — Touch of Gold

Saturday

• 11 a.m. — Olena Blend
• Noon — Imua
• 1 p.m. — Dita Holifield and Detour South
• 2 p.m. — eightOeight
• 3 p.m. — Keahiwai
• 4 p.m. — DisGuyz
• 5 p.m. — Three Plus
• 6 p.m. — Papa Doo Run Run, performing songs of the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean
• 6:40-7:30 p.m. — Henry Kapono
• 7:50 p.m. — Best of Taste awards ceremony
• 8 p.m. — Rubber Soul
• 9 p.m. — Papa Doo Run Run

Sunday

• 11 a.m. — Mike Times Band
• Noon — Forté
• 1 p.m. — Jimmy Funai and Friends
• 2 p.m. — Guy Cruz
• 3 p.m. — Bubba Octane
• 4 p.m. — Firehouse
• 5 p.m. — Melveen Leed
• 6 p.m. — The Makaha Sons

'Taste' by the numbers

• 36,350 — Pounds of ice to be consumed
• 7,500 — Number of 100-watt bulbs required on site (enough to light a mini-city)
• 15,000 — Pieces of dim sum to be made, served and sold by Eastern Garden Chinese restaurant
• 30,000 — Pounds of ribs to be served by Tony Roma's
• 2,000 — Number of volunteers needed to run the event
• $68,500 — Amount saved in wages by Easter Seals, if volunteers were paid
• $1.50 — Least expensive food item offered
• $4.50 — Cost of typical combo plate lunch served
• $5 — Cost of a nine-scrip ticket for food and beverage purchases
• 7,023 — Number of Kataifi shrimp to be prepared and sold by Chai's Island Bistro
• 5,000 — Number of crabcakes Chai's will make and sell
• 16 — Number of layers in The Colony's popular cake dessert
• 5,060 — Number of slices of 16-layer cake to be sold
• 4,000 — Number of garlic cloves required to season the garlic fries prepared and sold by Gordon Biersch
• 171,520 — Ounces of Pepsi to be sold
• 19,057 — Number of 9-oz. servings of Pepsi to be sold.
• 19,176 — Number of Hawaiian Natural Water bottles to be sold.