Portobello primer

Big, beefy, rich portobellos bellow for their own cookbook.

Americans bought 30 million pounds of portobello mushrooms last year and now there's a guide to their preparation by Jack Czarnecki, a Reading, Pa., restaurateur and 1996 James Beard Cookbook Award winner for his "Cook's Book of Mushrooms."

Mushroom maven Czarnecki wrote "Portobello Cookbook" (Artisan, 80 pages, hardback, 1997, $14.95). The collection features 40 recipes, including braised portobellos with herbs, spaghetti with portobellos and kielbasa, and portobello and bacon quiche with roquefort and cheddar.

Kahala Caterers sautes portobello, shiitake and oyster mushrooms with balsamic vinegar and olive oil at a free tasting, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Strawberry Connection, 1931 Kahai St. Call 842-0278. (Other free samplings during a four-day Sale Daze include Arturo's tortilla wraps, 5 to 7 p.m. tomorrow; Murphy's grilled greens, potatoes and Italian sausages, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday; Coffee Works coffee and espresso shakes, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and chef Kusuma Cooray's curry spicings, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.)

Lutece at Liberty House: Andre Soltner, owner of New York City's Lutece restaurant, will autograph copies of "The Lutece Cookbook" and demonstrate his recipe for Salmon (or Bass) en Croute; noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the Ala Moana Liberty House, Henry's Market. Call 941-2345.

Rice and roll: Learn styles of sushi with Paul Onishi, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Kapiolani Community College. Costs $30. Register at 734-9211.

May of malaysia: "Le Jeune Chef" series continues with Chef May Yap from Malaysia 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday at Lyon Arboretum. Costs $22. Register at 988-7378.

Living with herbs: The Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel hosts a Special Tea Affairs 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, with Nalo Farms' Dean Okimoto talking about ways to use herbs. Costs $14. Reserve at 623-1303.

Vegetarian series: National nutrition consultant and cooking instructor Jennifer Raymond will talk about life-saving nutrition and offer sample foods 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Castle Center for Health Promotion, 46-001 Kamehameha Hwy., Suite 104. Free, but you must register at 235-8737. Also: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Honolulu Central Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2313 Nuuanu Ave. Free. Call 944-8344. And 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 6 at Haiku Elementary School, 105 Pauwela Road, Maui; $2.

Cinco de Mayo: Compadres will host a four-course dinner in conjunction with Kona Brewing Co. beginning 6 p.m. April 30. On the menu will be fish ceviche, masa (corn) "boats"with tomatoes, avocado and cotija cheese, enchiladas de Kona and an array of Big Island-brewed beers. The cost is $25 per person. Reserve at 591-8307.

MacRecipe: Entries are sought for the Hilo Macadamia Nut Festival's Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Recipe Contest, Oct. 25 in Hilo, with a top prize of $1,000. Recipes must use a macadamia nut product. Deadline: Sept. 1. Contact Gene Erger at P.O. Box 2934, Kamuela, 96743. Or call/fax (808) 885-0018.

Country roads: Kraft teams with country music singer Vince Gill to offer a brochure titled "Recipes From the Road." For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped business envelope to: Kraft Country Tour Booklet Offer, P.O. Box 2251, Maple Plain, Minn. 55593-2251.