SPECIAL

"THE SIGNATURE CHEFS FOOD FESTIVAL," an inaugural benefit for the Honolulu Firefighters Foundation, featuring the culinary talents of HFD firefighters and chefs from top restaurants islandwide; 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 2, HFD Headquarters Complex, South and Queen streets, Kaka'ako; tickets from $100, 949-1566.

"CHOPSTICKS & WINE 2009," eighth annual Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, featuring hundreds of wines, sake and beer selections, and food samplings from 15 featured Hawai'i premier restaurants; 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 6; Sheraton Waikiki hotel; $100 ($90 before Sept. 25); tickets/information, 949-5531, www.honolulujapanesechamber.org.

"ONE NIGHT STAND ORGANIC MARKET," with locally grown organic fruits and vegetables; 4-7 p.m. Sept. 24, Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse; free admission; information, 259-5635.

UPCOMING University of Hawai'i, Outreach College, non-credit food courses include Italian cooking, basic breads/rolls, holiday cookies/dessert, holiday dinners and molded chocolates/bonbons; fees; registration, 956-8400, www.outreach.hawaii.edu/noncredit/courses

"MUSHROOMS OF HAWAI'I, VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK," workshop and field excursions into protected forests, led by Don Hemmes, retired University of Hawai'i-Hilo professor of biology; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 27; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus, Big Island; $65 (financial aid available); registration/information, 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

BRASSERIE DU VIN invites volunteer musicians, young or old, to entertain diners — boogie-woogie, jazz, blues, swing — on their new piano in the main dining room; contact Jody at jody.duvin@yahoo.com.

UPCOMING

FLYING DOG ALES LAUNCH PARTY, for new beer in Hawai'i, with 10 different featured ales with food complements; 6-8 p.m. Sept. 25, Eat Cafe, Gentry Pacific Center, Nimitz Highway; $35; limited reservations, 538-0597.

"RAW FOOD" class on the benefits of eating raw foods; 11 a.m.; Sept. 26; Whole Foods Market, Kahala; free; 738-0820.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET VALUE TOURS focused on shopping on a budget; 1 p.m. Sept. 26; Whole Foods Market, Kahala; free; reservations, 738-0820.

SHOPPING FOR DIABETIC-FRIENDLY FOODS, 4 p.m. Sept. 30; Whole Foods Market, Kahala; free; reservations, 738-0820.

MARKETS

"FRESH DAYS," sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, offers a chance to shop for affordable, fresh, locally grown produce, information on shopping and eating healthier, and food samples; information, 432-2270:

• Honolulu Clinic, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays, main entrance/lobby area.

• Moanalua Medical Center, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursdays, main entrance.

• Waipi'o Clinic, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, front entrance and main lobby.

ST. CLEMENT'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FARMERS MARKET, with locally grown fresh produce and farm products, and takeout meals, or sit-down dining; 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, at the Makiki parish; 735-4550.

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

FARMERS MARKET, with fresh Island cuisine and local natural/organic produce, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. first and third Tuesdays monthly; Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center (formerly Kalakaua Business Center/Mitsukoshi Building); free; 924-2155.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE FARMERS MARKET, 4-8 p.m. Thursdays; free; information, 922-2724.

TOURS, TASTINGS & CLASSES

KAPI'OLANI COMMUNITY COLLEGE Summer Culinary Program: cooking/baking classes on a variety of subjects, including knife skills, cooking with shoyu, braising favorites, Thai basics, various regional favorites, ribs and Southern cuisine, entertaining, "man-can-cook," Chinatown cooking tour, health and wellness, beer making, cooking with wine, etc. — limited class size; fees; registration, 734-9211.

"UNCORKED," an interactive wine course for wine lovers and novices, with different wine/wine region focus each month; 6-8 p.m., first Wednesdays monthly; Pearl Ultralounge, Ala Moana Center; $20; reservations required, 944-8000.

A Cook's Tour of Chinatown: Walter Rhee leads a tour of Downtown markets, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays; meet near Hawaii National Bank, between King and Smith streets; $25. Also: CHINATOWN EATERIES TOUR, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays; meet at same location; $69. Information: www.waltereatshawaii.com; reservations: 391-1550, walter@waltereatshawaii.com.

WEEKLY WINE EVENTS: Brasserie Du Vin, 1115 Bethel St.; limited seating, reservations required; 545-1115:

• Dinner/wine pairing, 6 p.m. Mondays; $49; no menu substitutions.

• Wine Tasting Club, with different weekly themes and available meat/cheese plates, appetizers and happy-hour prices, 6 p.m. Tuesdays; $20 (tax and tip additional).

12th AVENUE GRILL "CRAFT BAR," featuring handcrafted microbrews, house-made tapas, and handpicked wine flights; 5:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 12th Avenue Grill, Kaimuki; 732-9469.

COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTINGS, with different themes every week, 1-5 p.m. Saturdays; and Pau Hana Wine & Cheese Tastings, 4-8 p.m. second and third Fridays; The Wine Stop; free; 946-3707.

MONTHLY RECIPE CONTEST, offered by Don Ho's Island Grill, Aloha Tower Marketplace, a different theme each month; winning recipe (must be original with an "Island flair" matching restaurant's menu) will be featured as a monthly special. Entry: drop off typed recipe, name, address and telephone number at the restaurant; information: 528-0807.

Send announcements, at least 10 days before the event, 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.