Da Kine Star-Bulletin Staff & Wire services

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Tomato pie a sweet treat

What would you say to a green tomato pie on the holiday table? Technically tomatoes are fruit, so a sweet green tomato pie makes sense, right? Well, even if it doesn't, the pie is delicious.

The flavor is amazingly similar to apple pie, with all the same spices. The texture is close to cooked apples, too.

The pie came about as a byproduct of North Shore Farm's fried green tomatoes, sold at the Kailua Farmers' Market. Owner Jeanne Vana said she was trying to use the end cuts of the green tomatoes. Since apples don't grow in Hawaii, green tomatoes seemed a comparable replacement, Vana said, so pie baker Bobbie McNeff got to work and came up with a truly unique pie.

The pies come in 4-inch ($4) or 9-inch ($14) sizes and are available at the North Shore Farm's booth at the Kailua and Kapiolani Community College Farmers' Markets.

Orders will be taken for the holidays at the booths or call 637-2998 or 382-7617. No deliveries. Pick up is at the markets.

Chocolate decadence

Emmanuel Episcopal Church celebrates the fine flavor of chocolate at its Chocolate Extravaganza, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Kailua church.

Home bakers, hotels, restaurants, bakeries and specialty stores are donating chocolate desserts and a chocolate fountain for an all-you-can eat chocolate buffet.

Non DeMello of Agnes' Portuguese Bake Shop will demonstrate the making of a chocolate confection at 7 p.m.

Also part of the event will be musical entertainment, a silent auction for children and a cookie-decorating booth.

Cost is $10 presale; $15 at the door. Call 262-4548. The church is at 780 Keolu Drive.

Dinner for a cause

A benefit gala for the Wailuku Centennial Hui will be held aboard the Pride of Aloha in Kahului Harbor Friday.

Cocktails will be held on the lounge deck and dinner in the Crossings Restaurant.

The musical production "Runnin' Wild" will follow dinner in the Stardust Theater.

Dinner entertainment will be by Willie K and Eric Gilliom; cocktail entertainment by Gypsy Pacific.

The event runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $125, to benefit Project Pono, a history curriculum for grades 6 to 12. Shuttle service is included.

Call (808) 244-5933.

Is meat necessary?

"Are Humans Designed to Eat Meat?" will be the topic at the November meeting of the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii, 7 p.m. Saturday at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park.

The speaker will be Dr. Milton Mills, associate director of preventative medicine for the health policy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and nutrition spokesman for the Discovery Health Channel. His background is in nutrition research, focusing on the role of nutrition in the development of chronic diseases.

Admission is free. Call 944-8344.

Mills will also speak at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Castle Medical Center, Kailua, where his topic will be "Treat & Cure Diabetes." Registration required; call 263-5400.

Kimonos for kids

The Japanese tradition of Shichi Go San is rekindled locally in kimono-dressing events for children.

In November, 5-year-old boys and 3- and 7-year-old girls are traditionally taken to visit Shinto shrines, dressed in their best kimonos, as a way of ensuring good fortune. Thus, the name, Shichi Go San (seven, five, three).

Bring your own camera and capture the tradition at these events:

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha: The Hawaii Dazaifu Tenamngu, 1239 Olomea St. in Kalihi, is offering kimono dressing and blessing by appointment, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 30.

Kimono use and a goodie bag are complimentary; $50 donation is suggested. Call 841-4755.

Education Laboratory School: The lab school on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus offers free kimono-dressing from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 19.

A selection of formal kimonos are available, or bring your own. Donations accepted.

For reservations call 947-8889 or 956-8288. Or e-mail sakiharam001@hawaii.rr.com.