Da Kine Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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Meet the author

Kristina Wandzilak and her mother, Constance Curry, tell the story of Wandzilak's battle with drug and alcohol addiction, and her mother's desperate attempts to help her in "The Lost Years: Surviving a Mother and Daughter's Worst Nightmare," (Jeffers Press, $15.95).

The book describes how Wandzilak fought her way to a productive life, becoming an expert in counseling families through addiction, intervention and recovery.

She will sign copies of her book at 7 p.m., Nov. 2, at Barnes & Noble Ala Moana. Call 944-3135.

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Dinner Down Under

Chef Athol Wark of Sydney, Australia, is in town promoting the foods of Australia through restaurant dinners and other appearances.

Tomorrow he kicks things off in the "Village Chef Challenge," challenging Hilton Hawaiian Village executive chef Daniel LaGarde to a cookoff involving a mystery ingredient, "Iron Chef" style. The public is invited to watch; 2 to 3 p.m. Free.

On Friday and Saturday, the Hilton's Village Steak & Seafood Restaurant offers "An Australian 'Taste' from Down Under," with a special menu of such dishes as Mountain Peppered Marinated Kangaroo Loin, Wattle Seed Linguini, Pan-Roasted pave of Wakha Pukha Dukha Barramundi and Outback Rhubard Confit.

Prices are ala carte, from $25 to $42 for entrees. Dinner seatings are from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call 949-4321.

Next Wednesday Athol hosts a "Full Moon Wine Dinner" from 6 to 9 p.m. at Blu Water Grill -- a set tasting menu for $60. Call 395-6224.

He'll also be making appearances at Times Super Markets, which have been selling a selection of Australian seafoods for the last few months.

On the Big Island, Athol hosts another "Taste of Australia,"6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Cost of a tasting menu with six flights of wine is $130. Call 808-886-1234.

Sweet thoughts

If you've got a serious sweet tooth, we've got an event for you. Dessert Fantasy 2006, a benefit for United Cerebral Palsy, offers a tasting of 50 sweet things from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Pacific Beach Hotel's Grand Ballroom.

The $25 ticket ($20 tax-deductible) allows two hours of unlimited tasting. Purchase eight tickets for $200 and get two free. Children under age 5 are free.

Entertainment will be by Herb Ota Jr. & Friends.

As a warm-up event, have a full meal at the Gourmet Group Luncheon, 11 a.m. Sunday at Neptune's Garden at the Pacific Beach Hotel. The event includes a preview tasting of the next week's desserts.

Tickets are $100 ($500 for tables of six) and include admission and VIP seating at Dessert Fantasy.

Call 532-6744 or visit www.ucpahi.org.

Farm fresh

Dean Okimoto, president of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, will sign "The Hawai'i Farmers Market Cookbook" (Watermark, $13.95) at noon Saturday at the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange. Co-editor Hayley Matson-Mathes will also appear.

The cookbook is a collection of recipes for using fresh local produce and stories about local farmers and what they grow. Many of the recipes come from the farmers themselves.

Okimoto will also appear at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at Barnes & Noble Kahala Mall, noon Nov. 11 at Borders Pearlridge, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at Borders Ward, and noon Nov. 19 at Borders Waikele.