SPECIAL EVENTS

"Coffee Shop Treats," Leslie Ashburn shows how to make vegan macrobiotic sweets and goodies with healthier ingredients, 5:30-7:30 p.m. tomorrow, UH-Manoa Leisure Programs, Hemenway 101; $35 general, $30 students. Register: 956-6468.

La Crema Winery Dinner, winemaker Melissa Stackhouse pours La Crema wines paired with a four-course French-Creole cuisine from chef Scott Nelson, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Brasserie Du Vin; $80 plus tax and tip. Reservations required: 545-1115.

"Viva Vino!" 26th annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival with cooking demonstrations, tastings, lectures, dinners with available ala carte events beginning 10 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui; ala carte tickets range from $125-$450 per event (four-day passes are sold out). (877) 772-5425, www.kapaluamaui.com.

Flavors of Honolulu (formerly Taste of Honolulu), three-day benefit event with food and spirits tastings, cooking competitions, entertainment, family activities and prizes, 5-10 p.m. Friday, Honolulu Hale Frank Fasi Civic Grounds; continues noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday; entertainment includes Maunalua and Rolando Sanchez on Friday; Bluzilla, Pali, Jordan Segundo and a tribute to Don Ho on Saturday; and Ka'ala Boys, Kapena, Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho & George Kahumoku and The Makaha Sons on Sunday; proceeds fund the programs of Abilities Unlimited; $6 general, free for seniors, military and children under 12. Tickets: 532-2115; information: 948-0088, www.abilitiesunlimitedhi.org.

Going with the Grain, chef Alyssa Moreau teaches you to be creative with common grains including barley, wild and "forbidden" rice, quinoa, millet, kamut and spelt, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Kapi'olani Community College 'Ohi'a 109/112; $48. Register: 734-9211.

Napa vs. Sonoma, sample California wines and guess their valley of origin, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, The Wine Stop; free. 946-3707.

"Flavors of Morocco III: Luscious Lamb," chef Magdy Elzoheiry teaches how to make lamb tagine with prunes and honey and savory couscous, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Kapi'olani Community College 'Ohi'a 109/112; $55. Register: 734-9211.

Basic Knife Skills, chef Grant Sato teaches how to choose, maintain, sharpen kitchen knifes, as well as basic cutting techniques, 6-9 p.m. Monday, Kapi'olani Community College 'Ohi'a 109/112; $45. Register: 734-9211.

Geeky Wines Dinner, three-course gourmet dinner prepared by chef Scott Nelson paired with offbeat wines, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Brasserie Du Vin; $65 plus tax and tip. Reservations required: 255-8796.

TOURS, TASTINGS & CLASSES

Matthew Gray's Hawaii Food Tours offers three guided restaurant tours — Hole-in-the Wall, Hawaiian Feast and Gourmet Trilogy — in and around Honolulu; $99, $149 and $199. Reservations: 926-3663, www.HawaiiFoodTours.com.

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; $15. Also, Rhee leads a tour of Chinatown eateries, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays, meet at same location; $59. Reservations: 391-1550.

Merriman's Farm Visits and Dinner, half-day excursions to two Big Island farms that supply the restaurant, followed by a four-course dinner prepared from locally grown ingredients, 2:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, Merriman's Restaurant, Waimea, Big Island; $155 (all-inclusive). Reservations: (808) 331-8505.

Vanilla Experience Luncheon, five-course lunch with dishes prepared using Hawaiian vanilla and fresh Island produce, noon Tuesdays-Fridays; $39 plus tax and tip. Also, Hawaiian Vanilla Tasting, 10 a.m.-Mondays-Fridays; $15 plus tax and tip; Upcountry Brunch Tea, 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; The Vanilla Mill, Pa'auilo, Big Island; $39 plus tax and tip for the lunch or tea, $15 for the tasting. Reservations required: (808) 776-1771, (877) 771-1771.

Pacific Gourmet Cooking Classes, learn cooking techniques and recipes, explore flavors of world cuisines and meet others with similar interests. Complete schedule and prices of classes offered at the YWCA on Richards St. at www.pacificgourmethawaii.com.

Gourmet Cooking Hawaii offers hands-on and demonstration cooking classes with Island chefs in their restaurants. Choose your own chef, menu and date or join classes offered on Saturdays throughout the year. Schedule, pricing and booking information: www.gourmetcookinghawaii.com, 735-7788.

MARKETS

Farmers' Market, cooking demonstrations, produce, meats, seafood and flowers, 7:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Kapi'olani Community College, Parking Lot C. 848-2074.

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

Farmers' Market, sponsored by Hawaii Farm Bureau, 8-11 a.m. Sundays, Mililani High School, in front of the gym. 848-2074.

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

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

Fresh Tuesdays, locally grown produce with free food samples, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, Kaiser Nanaikeola Clinic lobby. 432-2270.

Waikiki Farmers' Market, fruits, vegetables, musubi and chow mein, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, Waikiki Community Center parking lot. 923-1802.

Fresh Wednesdays, 8-11 a.m. first and third Wednesdays, Kaiser Ko'olau Clinic (432-3800); also, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, Kaiser Waipi'o Clinic (432-3100).

Fort Street Open Market, produce, plants, flowers and arts and crafts, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays, Pauahi and Fort streets; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays and Tuesdays, Wilcox Park (in front of Macy's). 538-8005.

Fresh Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays, Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center. 432-2270.

Kailua Farmers' Market, with prepared foods, such as plate dinners, pies, cookies, jams and sauces in addition to fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, herbs and flowers, 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Kailua Town Center parking garage (behind Longs Drugs on Kailua Road). 848-2074.

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

Aloha Friday Farmer's Market, fresh produce, food products and entertainment, noon-6 p.m. Fridays, Maui Community College, Kahului. (808) 268-3276.

TV SHOW

"Dining Out With Chai," Chai Chaowasaree, of Chai's Island Bistro and Singha Thai Cuisine, hosts a TV show with cooking tips and information on Hawai'i and Mainland restaurants, 5 p.m. Sundays, KHON 2. 381-8483, 585-0011.

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.