SPECIAL

"CHOPSTICKS & WINE 2008," seventh annual Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, featuring Hawai'i premier restaurants and beverage purveyors, with hosted tasting stations, wine, beer and sake, and silent auction, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Blaisdell Center, Exhibition Hall; $100; 949-5531

"LOW SODIUM AND LOW FAT/LOW CHOLESTEROL DIETS," cooking demonstration by Kathy Eastlack of tofu burgers with mango chutney and cream phyllo fruit towers, 1-2 p.m. Oct. 18, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, Frear Dining Room; $35; reservations, 544-3364.

THE ART OF (WINE) BLIND TASTING 101, an interactive, hands-on class on identifying characteristic flavors of wine without seeing the label, 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 19; The Wine Stop; $25, with club discounts; required reservations, 946-3707.

"KEY INGREDIENTS: AMERICA BY FOOD," a traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit, exploring the connections between Americans and the foods they produce, prepare, preserve and present; through Oct. 18, library hours, Kapolei Public Library; free; 693-7050; free; 693-7050.

HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF ELMER GUZMAN, featuring three dishes prepared side by side, with wine pairings; 6-9 p.m. Nov. 13 and Dec. 11; Servco Home & Appliance Showroom, Mapunapuna; $125; reservations: 258-5448.

MARKETS

Farmers Market; 8-11 a.m. Sundays; Mililani High School gym; free; 848-2074.

Country Market AND Craft Fair; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays; Waimanalo Homestead Community Center; 1330 Kalaniana'ole Highway; free; 259-5349.

Waikiki Farmers Market; 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; Waikiki Community Center parking lot; free; 923-1802.

Farmers Market; 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; Hawaii Kai Towne Center; free; 396-0766.

FARMERS MARKET, all natural with organic items from Hawai'i; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays; Waterfront Plaza; free; 237-5158.

Fresh Thursdays; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays; Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center; free; 432-2270.

Kailua Farmers Market; 5-7:30 p.m. Thursdays; Kailua Town Center parking garage (behind Longs Drugs on Kailua Road); free; 848-2074.

Fort Street Open Market; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays and Tuesdays; Wilcox Park (in front of Macy's); free; 441-4995.

Fresh Fridays, locally grown produce, healthy cooking demonstrations, information on disease prevention through good nutrition; 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays; Kaiser Honolulu Clinic; free; 432-2000.

FRESH WEDNESDAYS, offering locally grown produce; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Kaiser Permanente, Waipi'o Clinic, front entrance and main lobby; free; 432-2270.

Aloha Friday Farmers Market; 12-6 p.m. Fridays; Maui Community College; Kahului; free; 808-268-3276.

Farmers Market; 7:30-11 a.m. Saturdays; Kapi'olani Community College, Parking Lot C; free; 848-2074.

Sunset Country Market; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays; Sunset Beach Elementary School; Hale'iwa; free; 237-8248.

Waialua Farmers Market; 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays; Old Waialua Sugar Mill; 637-8589.

TOURS, TASTINGS & CLASSES

pau hana wine and cheese tasting; 4-8 p.m. second and third Fridays of the month; The Wine Stop; free; 946-3707.

A Cook's Tour of Chinatown, Walter Rhee leads a tour of Downtown markets: Learn about meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices; 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays; meet near Hawaii National Bank between King and Smith streets; $20. Also, Rhee leads a tour of Chinatown eateries; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays; meet at same location; $69; reservations: 391-1550.

Complimentary wine tastings, with different themes every week; 1-5 p.m. Saturdays; The Wine Stop; free; 946-3707.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: Culinary Calendar, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Cul Cal" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.