QUICK BITES
Chocolate buffet fund-raiser set
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is accepting entries for its first annual Chocolate Extravaganza, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the church, 780 Keolu Drive, Kailua. This is a two-faceted event: a baking competition, and a fund-raiser.
In the competition, judges will award first and second places and in addition, attendees will vote a People's Choice award. The contest, for home bakers, is among four categories: cookies, cakes and pies, candy and "other" (i.e. baked mochi and such). A number of professional bakers will be contributing baked goods for the feast, including 3660 on the Rise and Sheraton Waikiki; these and all other baked goods will be eligible for the People's Choice award.
The fund-raiser is an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet of the entries; $10 for adults, $5 for children; keiki 6 and younger eat free. Proceeds benefit Emmanuel Episcopal Church's outreach mission and Honolulu Habitat for Humanity.
To request an entry form for the competition, call the church at 262-4548.
'Pumpkin Patch' returns to Kapolei
Yes, it feels like yesterday that we were basking in the summer sun, but Aloun Farms assures us that it is, in fact, time again for The Great Kapolei Pumpkin Patch — the pick-your-own-pumpkin celebration with hayrides, ponies, farm tours, a petting zoo and more. Times and dates are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26. Oct. 25 and 26 is Kraft Family Weekend and if you bring in a wrapper, receipt or product code for any Kraft product, you receive a free hayride. Pumpkins will be priced individually by size and market price. The farm is at 91-1440 Farrington Highway, Kapolei; from the H-1 Freeway, take Fort Weaver Road makai, turn onto Farrington at exit 6A, head 'ewa and watch for signs. Information: 677-9516, ext. 41.
Class to cover Hawai'i foods
Foods of Hawai'i is a new weekly class series at Lyon Arboretum that begins with a tour of the food plants there and culminates in a cooking class and lunch in the demonstration kitchen. Beginning next week, the series will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and will focus on tropical and native Hawaiian culinary plants from taro and papaya to nutmeg and vanilla orchids. Other foods, such as kalua pig and 'ahi, will be featured in the cooking demonstrations by Island experts such as writer Joan Namkoong. The class is aimed at visitors, though others are welcome. The cost is $85. Reservations are required and there will be a minimum class size of four participants. Information: 988-0471.
Deadline is noon Monday for that week's class.
Gift to colleges honor Heather Ho
A July fund-raiser by the Honolulu chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, "Flicks & Food," has resulted in a $30,000 gift of culinary books and educational tapes to the culinary programs at Hawai'i's seven community colleges. The gift is in honor of the late Windows on the World pastry chef Heather Ho, who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The donation includes more than 800 texts and videotapes ranging from recipe collections to technical manuals. All books are personalized with a nameplate inside the front cover honoring Ho's impressive career.
'Taste' to feature Chinese food, arts
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i is hosting "Taste of China," a cultural and trade show, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday in the Blaisdell Center Hawai'i Suites. Events will include demonstrations of various Chinese arts, plus cultural performances and food sampling (for an additional fee) from a variety of restaurants, including 3660 on the Rise and Dynasty. Admission is $2; free for children 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit scholarships for the Narcissus Pageant.
Information and tickets: Chinese Chamber of Commerce, 533-3181.
Guest chefs star at Hilton Waikoloa
Charles Dale of the Renaissance Restaurant and Rustique in Aspen, Colo., and Food & Wine 2003 Best New Chef Cornelius Gallagher of Oceana in New York will be guests of the Hilton Waikoloa Village during this year's Big Island Festival Nov. 5 to 9. The Big Island Festival takes place all along the Kohala Coast and other hotels will host different chefs, as well.
Culinary events at the Hilton Waikoloa Village include a Chef's Table back-of-the-house tour and lunch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 6, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village with executive chef Wilhelm Pirngruber and Dale and Gallagher ($55); a wine and cheese pairing class, 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 7 ($45); a special dinner prepared by chef Dale Guest, 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 7 ($95); and a Celebrity Chef's Upcountry Tour, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 ($125, includes lunch). A kama'aina rate of $169 per night is being offered. Information: (808) 886-1234, www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com.
For the Big Island Festival schedule, see www.bigislandfestival.com.
