Although some cooking competitions are better known — the National Chicken Cooking Contest, the Pillsbury Bake-Off — Sutter Home Winery's Build a Better Burger National Contest and Cook-Off competition has grown in popularity and importance in recent years. And who doesn't love some form of burger, even one that actually doesn't involve beef? The 2001 winner, Kristine Snyder of Kihei, Maui, won the grand prize with a soy-glazed salmon burger (ironic, since there are no salmon in Hawaiian waters).

Contest entries are being accepted now through Aug. 18. Last year's $50,000 grand prize winner was a beef burger, but with spicy Thai chips crushed within. If you think you have a good burger idea, check out the rules at sutterhome.com or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Build a Better Burger, Sutter Home Winery, P.O. Box 248, St. Helena, CA 94574-0248. Ten finalists will be flown to Napa Valley for the finals on Sept. 27.

CLASSIC RETURNS

KAHALA HOTEL CELEBRATES FOOD AND WINE

The Kahala Hotel Food and Wine Classic returns Sept. 12 and 13 with guests from Down Under: chef Brent Savage and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt of The Bentley Restaurant and Bar, one of Sydney's most celebrated, plus winemaker Michael Twelftree of Two Hands Wines, master of ceremonies Fred Schrader of Schrader Cellars and cigar expert Michael Herklots of Davidoff of Geneva. And chef Bev Gannon from Maui will be on hand, too.

The event begins Sept. 12 with cocktails and a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.; charge is $135. A "barbie" cooking class, a wine tasting and a cigar event follow Sept. 13 and, at 6:30 p.m., another dinner, "Sinful Sidney," with Savage and Kahala chef Wayne Hirabayashi ($185). Reservations: 739-8760.