Elsewhere in the wine world, a two decades old French champagne scored the only perfect score of 100 in the Wine Enthusiast magazine's 1996 Year in Review ratings. Krug 1976 Collection Series from Champagne, France, topped a list of six world champion vintages. Only 200 bottles of the Krug 1976 are extant at $250 per bottle.
Other top winners included Vega Sicilia of Spain, top red wine at $175 a bottle; Stillman Brown 1993 Petite Sirah of Paso Robles, the California best buy at $12; Kiona 1994 Merlot of Columbia Valley, the Washington state best buy at $13; and Adelsheim 1993 Pinot Noir, the Oregon best buy at $16.
For a complete list of the 100 best wines, send name, address and a $2 check made to: Beverage Testing Institute Inc., 310 S. Peoria St., No. 504, Chicago, IL 60607. Call (312) 226-7857 or e-mail at winsell@aol.com
Moon on the wax: High school students get a special low rate at the "Le Jeune Chef" (The Young Chef) cooking series. Chef/kitchen manager Dave Hamada of Kahala Moon restaurant kicks off the cooking demonstration/tasting series, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Lyon Arboretum; $22 general, $7.50 students. Call 988-7378. A two-year staff member at Kahala Moon, Hamada graduated from Kauai High School, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in history, and Kapiolani Community College in culinary arts.
Indigo-go: Indigo chef Glenn Chu leads a "To Become a Fish Cook" cooking class/tasting, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, JMD Educational Center in Halawa; $38. Call 956-8400.
On the grape vine: Alan Suzuki of Southern Wines and Spirits leads a "Pinot Noir" workshop, 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, JMD Educational Center in Halawa; $38, includes wine samples and pupu. Call 956-8400.
Sausage a la sommelier: Richard Field of R. Field Wine Company discusses Chinese New Year on his "In Good Taste" radio show, 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, KHVH. A tasting follows with master sommelier Chuck Furuya preparing Spadaro sausage dishes, Dean Okimoto showcasing his Nalo greens and a tasting of a Spanish merlot, Vinas del Vero, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, R. Field Wine Company in Ward Centre; free. Call 596-WINE (9463).
Waianae escargot: Francis Hun of Boke Farms is featured on "Hawaii Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on KHET TV. Also, guest chef Jean-Louis Palladin, formerly of Palladin's in Washington, D.C., prepares Maui onion soup with fresh turmeric and crispy taro root. Call 973-1190.
Claws and effect: Chef/restaurateur Anne Rosenzweig of the Lobster Club and Arcadia in Manhattan, N.Y., is featured on isle producer Melanie Kosaka's "New American Cuisine" series, 3 p.m. Sunday, on KHET TV. Call 973-1190.
Nothing says luvin': Hyatt Regency Waikiki pastry cook Donnabel Ventura makes a dessert torte, three cakes and other confections during a Valentine's baking and dessert class, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kapiolani Community College; $25. Call 734-9211.
Statistic of the week: According to the Scripps Howard News Service, only one in nine Americans consume the recommended number of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To remain healthy, individuals need to eat more than 40 different nutrients. No single food supplies all of them, so a variety of foods is important.
Win with Mr. Food: Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers cheeseheads, notwithstanding, Art Ginsburg is hosting the "Mr. Food Grilled Cheese to the Rescue!" recipe contest.
Use five ingredients or less to develop a creative and tasty grilled cheese sandwich by March 21.
The contest is open to cooks 18 years and older. Send recipe, name, address, phone number and age to: Mr. Food's Grilled Cheese to the Rescue! Recipe Contest, P.O. Box 81560, Chicago, IL 81560-0560.
For official rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Mr. Food's Grilled Cheese to the Rescue! Official Contest Rules, at the same P.O. Box number.
Cheeseheads and others are familiar with Ginsburg, whose 90-second "Mr. Food" vignettes appear in more than 300 U.S. cities in markets totaling 65 million households.
Locally, Mr. Food airs on KHNL Hawaii News 8. Spots appears twice during the 5 to 7 a.m. morning show. Another spot airs during the 5 to 5:30 p.m. news.
Viewers of the 14-year-old syndicated program can join the Mr. Food Recipe Club by calling 1-(800)-619-FOOD.