Chef Kusuma Cooray of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific has finally realized a dream: releasing a new line of curry mixtures made to her specifications and fabricated at First Commercial Kitchen in Waipahu. Cooray first began to package her curry powders in 1996, but the death of her husband, Ranjit, 10 years ago, put the project on the back burner.

The Chef Cooray's Spice Products line features four different spice blends in both hot and mild: shrimp, chicken, beef and vegetable. The spices come in 1/4-ounce cellophane packets with a recipe on the back. Each packet flavors sufficient ingredients for four servings. The mixtures are available at Executive Chef and Diamond Head Market & Grill and are being marketed to other venues. Information: 371-8909.

BIG ISLAND ABALONE

GIFT PACKS AVAILABLE AT COSTCO IWILEI

Big Island Abalone is selling gift packs of its farm-raised fresh abalone as well as the popular ready-to-eat BBQ abalone at Costco Iwilei today and tomorrow. The firm, based on the Kona shore, has also been selling the succulent deep-water mollusks at the Kapi'olani Community College farmers market (check the Web site, www.hfbf.org/farmersMarketKCC.shtml, updated weekly, to see when they're there). They will be visiting other Costco stores in January; schedule to be announced.

— Wanda A. Adams