Our Picks for the Weekend Star-Bulletin staff

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MOVIES

Movie examines life of maverick publisher

This week's Friends of Film Friday screening takes a look at a historic battle over censorship in "Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press."

Rosset was a lauded publisher whose literary and political instincts led him to publish everything from Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" to "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." He also challenged the obscenity laws of post-war America that initially banned such works as "Lady Chatterley's Lover," "Tropic of Cancer" and "Naked Lunch."

Award-winning poet, writer and author Kathleen Norris will present the film at the 7:30 p.m. screening at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts. While free to FFF members, walk-in tickets are $15 general, $14 Academy members and $8 students with ID.

DINING

College fundraising gala honors pioneering chef

They came, they cooked, they conquered.

Nearly two decades ago, 12 chefs launched the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement, which raised the bar for fine dining in the state and drew the attention of foodies nationwide.

At Saturday's fundraising gala -- L'ulu -- Leeward Community College begins a 12-year tribute to the HRC chefs. Each year, the school's culinary program will honor one of founding chefs on an HRC Wall of Fame. First up is Roy Yamaguchi of the international Roy's chain of restaurants.

All the historic, culinary tributes aside, it will be a night of much eating and drinking, with Roy's and other Oahu restaurants serving up signature dishes from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pearl, LCC's on-campus restaurant, on the lanai and throughout the kitchens.

Tickets are $125, to benefit the school's culinary program. Call 455-0298, e-mail tlbenave@hawaii.edu or visit www.lcc.hawaii.edu/lulu08.

FESTIVAL

Museum airs film about influential kumu hula

The Year of the Hula Film Festival continues at the Bishop Museum with a documentary originally aired on PBS Hawaii as part of its "Biography Hawaii" series.

It tells the life story of Maiki Aiu Lake, one of Hawaii's most important kumu hula from the 1940s to the '80s. Her lifelong mission was to perpetuate the study of hula kahiko (ancient), which she learned from master kumu 'Iolani Luahine, Pua Ha'aheo, Alice Namakelua, Vickie I'i Rodrigues and Lokalia Montgomery, with Mary Kawena Pukui as her mentor.

The documentary will be shown at the museum's Atherton Halau at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is $5 and free to museum members. For reservations, call 848-4187 or e-mail courtney.chow@bishopmuseum.org.

MOVIES

Big Island Film Festival showcases 50 movies

Oahu film buffs can travel south next week for the 3rd Annual Big Island Film Festival. It'll be held this year at the Queens' MarketPlace at the Waikoloa Beach Resort from May 15 to 18. Four full days of screenings will showcase more than 50 films from eight countries, as well as some produced right here in the islands.

Special guests include D.B. Sweeney, who will present his comedy "Two Tickets to Paradise" (which co-wrote, directed and stars in), about three lifelong friends who respond to their midlife challenges with a spontaneous road trip. Kona director David L. Cunningham will introduce the international premiere of his latest project, "Hakani," a short film about infanticide in Brazil.

For travel packages, a complete schedule and tickets, call (808) 883-0394 or visit BigIslandFilmFestival.com.

FOOD

Café TajMahal

3036 Waialae Ave. (next to Sabrina's) / 732-6496

Years ago, travel for me meant going out in search of the nearest Indian restaurant as soon as I hit the ground. It's one of my favorite cuisines, and though it's still in short supply in Honolulu, we actually have options these days. You can now add one more, Cafe TajMahal in Waialae at the base of St. Louis Heights.

While Kabir Chowdhury, who owns the restaurant with his wife Hosneara Nitu, grew up with a fusion of Bengali and Calcutta cuisine, Western audiences have their own ideas of what constitutes Indian fare and the couple obliges with a chop suey mix of northern- and southern-style dishes, Punjabi mixed with Goan cuisine. It's heaviest on Northern Indian fare such as the naan bread, vindaloo, tandoori and kebab dishes influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine, as well as Bengali cuisine to the Northeast.

Whether the food is from the north or south, it's all delicious, a blend of complex and well-balanced spices as they bounce off the tongue. It's intoxicating, almost hallucinogenic.

Saag aloo of stewed potatoes and spinach offers a reminder that this is one place where you can stick to a vegetarian diet without feeling you're making a sacrifice.

For a taste of the south, there is coconut rice stirred with homemade ghee and sweetened with shredded coconut and raisins and Goa shrimp sautéed in a red coconut curry sauce.

Lamb appears frequently, and I prefer the curry and stewed lamb dishes to the drier, and pricier, boti kebabs ($17.99). The seekh kebabs ($18.99) of minced lamb fared somewhat better, especially when drizzled with the accompanying cilantro-yogurt sauce.

Indian desserts tend to be heavy and treacly, but I find the halva to be the perfect final touch. Surprise yourself with the carrot halva ($3.99). Who knew eating a root vegetable could feel so decadent?

Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. Dinner for two about $40.