Wine classes will meet at Meritage

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

Kapi'olani Community College's culinary program, Better Brands wine distributorship and Meritage at Restaurant Row have formed a partnership to offer wine classes. Mark Gmur, an area manager of Better Brands, will instruct, and chef-partner Mariano Lalica of Meritage will prepare pupu to partner with each tasting. Classes will be held 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning April 15 with a class in White Wine: Old World vs. New World. Fee: $28 per class. Classes continue through June 10 with varying topics. Registration: 734-9211.

More KCC news: The Ka 'Ikena dining room has reopened after the semester break. This is the formal dining room where student culinarians make up the staff and prices are low for meals such as you would find at an expensive Hawai'i Regional Cuisine restaurant. Many dinner seatings are booked but lunches are available; Tuesday through Friday now through May 6. Call: 734-9499.

Kids invited to compete in cookoff

Would-be Sam Choys and Emeril Lagasses will compete June 21 in a one-hour segment of "Cookin' with Cutty" called the First Annual Hawaiian Keiki Culinary Quest. It will be filmed in Ka'anapali, Maui, between June 19 and 23, with the actual cookoff set for June 21 at the Sheraton Maui Resort. Videotapes are being accepted now from Mainland and Hawai'i youngsters ages 10 to 16 who are outgoing and not camera-shy, interested in food, cooking and a healthy lifestyle and up for an "Iron Chef"-style competition. Information and entry guidelines are available at www.cuttytv.com. Send tapes to Cutty TV, P.O. Box 390603, Keau-hou, HI 96739.

Chefs' event will update the lu'au

The Hawaiian Island Chefs, a next-generation group formed by local chefs who are not part of the Hawai'i Regional Cuisine "first 12," is planning its second annual lu'au 6:30 p.m. June 7 in the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki's Mauna Kea Ballroom. Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom will perform and the group's 15 members will prepare a "contemporary lu'au." Tickets are $75; corporate tables with reserved seating and special wines are $1,500. The group's goal is to promote the cuisine of Hawai'i and the culinary education of future chefs.

Mark your calendar for special menus

Announcements of special menus and celebrations are flowing in for spring, among them Secretary/Administrative Professional Day luncheons, Easter events and Cinco de Mayo.

KINE 105 FM and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel plan an Aloha Friday Luncheon for Secretary/Administrative Professional Day on April 25 featuring Kapena, SOS Las Vegas, Andy Bumatai and Jake Shimabukuro; $25, 931-7194.

Frank DeLima headlines a lunchtime buffet show April 23 in the Palace Showroom at the Ohana Reef Towers, 11 a.m. April 23; $35 with reduced-rate validated parking; 923-7469.

Easter specials are planned by:

• Meritage at Restaurant Row, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 20, $25, 529-8686.
• Star of Honolulu restaurant ship, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 20, keiki activities and prime rib buffet, $29.50 kama'aina, $18 kama'aina keiki; 983-7827.
• Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 20, Rainbow Lanai, lavish brunch with Easter Sundae Bar, $34.50 adults, $18.25 children; 949-4321, ext. 48. Also, at Sergio's at Hilton Hawaiian Village, two special dishes plus regular menu for Easter Sunday dinner, 5 to 11 p.m.; 951-6900.
• Dixie Grill, New-Orleans-style brunch and jazz music, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20, both locations, 596-8359.
• Auntie Pasto's, special Easter menu plus regular menu, both locations, Kapahulu (lunch and dinner), 739-2426; Beretania, dinner only, from 5 p.m., 523-8855.

Compadres Bar & Grill is gearing up for a Cinco de Mayo celebration with deejay-mixed sounds, a margarita bar, Rick's Tequila Fountain of Pain, May 5, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. 591-8307.

Dine out April 22 to boost charity

Eat for a good cause April 22: Dine Out for a Change is a partnership between restaurants and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center in which participating businesses donate a portion of their profits that day to the center. Participating restaurants include Big City Diner, Buca di Beppo, Donato's, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine, Maki's Sushi Cafe, Marbella, Murphy's Bar & Grill, Big Island Steak House, Pinky's Pupu Bar & Grill and Sunset Grill. Be sure to tell the restaurant that this event is the reason you're dining out on a Tuesday. Information: 535-7613.

Chef Mavro picks Lion coffee blend

In a blind tasting test, Lion Organic Coffee was selected to become the signature coffee at Chef Mavro restaurant; the Chef Mavro signature blend is organic French-style dark roast with 10 percent Kona beans. The coffee also is available at Foodland, Times and Star supermarkets.

Quick Bites is published Wednesdays. Food editor Wanda A. Adams welcomes food news. Write to her at The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Call 525-8036. Or e-mail taste@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Correction: A Secretary's Day luncheon April 23 featuring Frank DeLima in the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Hotel is $35; call 922-6408. An item in a previous version of this column included an incorrect price.