This is the weekend foodies have been waiting for.

And it is the weekend that might not have happened, except that the nonprofit organization Abilities Unlimited stepped up to the plate to take over for Easter Seals Hawai'i, which announced in December that after 15 years, it would no longer sponsor the Taste of Honolulu festival.

Now the three-day gorge-a-thon is called Flavors of Honolulu and sits in the same Taste spot, on the grounds of the civic center. The same rules apply: You pay an admission fee, purchase scrip to trade for sample dishes from various restaurants ... and grind the night (or day) away.

Veteran Taste-goers know that food isn't the only fodder at this event. There's entertainment, celebrity cooking knockdowns and — must we say it — more people than you can shake a spatula at.

Abilities Unlimited, also known as Winners At Work Inc., serves those with disabilities in their efforts to reach their full potential in the workforce.

Here's what's going on when and who's serving up the meals.

THE RESTAURANTS

• Bali By The Sea
• Ciao Mein
• The Colony
• Da Spot Health Foods & Juices
• Dave & Buster's
• Down to Earth
• Big Wave of Flavors Tomato Bar
• Golden Dragon
• Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
• Greek Marina
• Hong Kong Harbor View Restaurant
• Ichiriki
• Lily Koi Restaurant & Lounge
• The Mandalay
• Musashi
• The O Lounge
• Seoul Jung at the Waikiki Resort Hotel
• Shanghai Bistro
• 3-Star Gourmet Restaurant & Catering
• Tony Roma's
• Top of Waikiki
• Tudo de Bom
• Village Steak and Seafood

ENTERTAINMENT

Today

• 5 p.m.: Lion dance
• 5:15 p.m.: Okame Daiko
• 5:50 p.m.: Mayor Mufi Hannemann welcomes the crowd
• 6 p.m.: Simplisity
• 7 p.m.: Touch of Gold
• 8 p.m.: Maunalua
• 9 p.m.: Rolando Sanchez

Tomorrow

• Noon: Royal Hawaiian Band
• 1 p.m.: eightOeight
• 2 p.m.: Dita Holifield
• 3 p.m.: Bluzilla
• 4 p.m.: Touch of Gold
• 5 p.m.: Pali
• 6 p.m.: The Elements
• 7 p.m.: "Best of" winners announced, followed by Jordan Segundo and Nueva Vida
• 8 p.m.: Tribute to Don Ho
• 9 p.m.: Go Jimmy Go

Sunday

• Noon: Off Night
• 1 p.m.: Herb Ohta Jr. and Keoki Kahumoku
• 2 p.m.: Ka'ala Boys
• 3 p.m.: Kapena
• 4 p.m.: Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku
• 5 p.m.: The Makaha Sons

CELEB COOKING COMPETITIONS

Today

• 5:30 p.m.: San Francisco 49er Eric Wright vs. chef Alan Wong
• 7 p.m.: Matson vs. Horizon
• 8:30 p.m.: Honolulu Police Department vs. Honolulu Fire Department

Tomorrow

• 12:30 p.m.: House Speaker Calvin Say vs. Senate President Colleen Hanabusa
• 2 p.m.: Democratic Party chairman Mike McCartney vs. former Republican Party chairman Sam Aiona
• 3:30 p.m.: chef Eric Letere (Pacific Club) vs. chef Fred d'Angelo
• 5 p.m.: San Francisco 49ers Isaac Sapoaga vs. Jesse Sapolu
• 6:30 p.m.: Jimmy and Vicki Borges vs. special guests
• 8 p.m.: Dave Kennedy (Honolulu Star-Bulletin and MidWeek) vs. Joe McNamara (KHON 2)

Sunday

• 12:30 p.m.: Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona vs. University of Hawai'i basketball coach Bob Nash
• 2 p.m.: Augie T. vs. special guest
• 3:30 p.m.: Wilson (Artie) vs. Wilson (Dave)