When we set out to document the history of Island foodways in "The Island Plate: 150 Years of Recipes and Food Lore from The Honolulu Advertiser" (Island Heritage, 2006) we had no idea how interested people would be in the subject. But we should have known. Hawai'i? Food? Always a match! We sold 16,000 copies, and now a new shipment is on its way, due Aug. 13. You can order your copy at www.honoluluadvertiser.com ($20, plus $6.95 shipping, plus tax; order five books and shipping is free); our fulfillment company, www.e808.com, will send the book to you. Or fax them at 356-0756 (include name, billing address, shipping address, email address, phone number and credit card information).

COME AND PLAY

ELLEN, SJP AND RACHAEL RAY ON SESAME STREET

"What's the word on the street?" That's the question Chris Brown, James Blunt, the Jets and other celebrities help answer on the new episodes of the 38th season of Sesame Street, which premieres Monday on PBS. The classic children's show aims to expand watchers' vocabularies this year; watch for Sarah Jessica Parker breathily demonstrating "sigh"; Ellen DeGeneres doing a little "ballet"; and Rachael Ray being pretty perky about "pumpernickel."

And there's a Hawai'i connection: Grover goes to Kaua'i on an upcoming episode, where he learns to play a taiko drum.

FINAL WORD

"I never felt I was beautiful. ... I'm a slacks-and-shirts woman — if possible, men's linen shirts without collars. But every so often I'm given something (fashionable) ... and I love that. I appreciate it far more than when I was young."

Vanessa Redgrave, in Vogue's "age issue"