Seems like just yesterday chef Emeril Lagasse was here for the June Kahala Food & Wine Classic at The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and he's already planning a return: April 9 and 10 for a Classic reprise.

Lagasse, an empire unto himself with 13 restaurants, 14 cookbooks and a new one-hour TV series (debuts March 28 on ION television), will preside over a food and wine dinner, "E Komo Mai, New Orleans," 6 p.m. April 9 ($150 per person), give a live cooking demonstration, 11 a.m. to noon on April 10 ($100 per person), and prepare a final night dinner, "Emeril's Kama'aina Affair," 6 p.m. April 10 ($100). Details on events and special room rates: 739-8888, 800-367-2525 or http://www.kahalaresort.com.

ON MAUI

'ALICE'-THEMED PARTY TO AID FOOD BANK

With a lifelong devotion to Lewis Carroll's classic "Alice in Wonderland" and the release Friday of Tim Burton's new film based on the book, Maui food writer Molly Jacobson knew she had to do something special for her March 4 birthday. The plan: a benefit party for the cash-strapped Maui Food Bank catered by and held at the new Whole Foods Store in Kahului's Maui Mall, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Wanda A. Adams