David Reardon, executive chef at The Orchid at Mauna Lani, will demonstrate his souffle technique in the first in a quarterly series of cooking classes, "On the Front Burner: The Flavors of Hawaii."

In his session, titled "Big Island Flavors of Hawaii," Reardon will prepare a lobster salad, short ribs with polenta and the chocolate souffle, with banana cream and tropical fruit coulis.

He and the other featured chefs will demonstrate the blending of herbs, spices and sauces, and ways to cut fat and calories. Many of their dishes will involve ethnic cooking techniques and fresh local produce.

Reardon's class will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Coconut Lanai of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Tickets are $50 per person, or $75 for two and include a taste of the food.

Also on the schedule:

Flavors of Hawaii at Home: Alan Tsuchiyama, Sheraton Waikiki, 5:30 p.m. April 17. Menu: Foie gras and duck won ton with port wine sauce; Waikiki clambake; chocolate-macadamia tower.

Local Style BBQ: Thomas Wong, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 11:30 a.m. July 3. Menu: Grilled pizza with Thai beef salad; kumu paupiate with miso broth topped with ogo, sausage and shiitake mushrooms; grilled banana and lychee flambe.

Flavors of Hawaii: Ralf Bauer, at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Menu to be announced.

For information and reservations call 931-8408.

Dolls adorn Girl's Day cakes

Give your little girl something as sweet and delicate as she is. OK, as sweet and delicate as she would be if she'd come in off the softball field and put on a dress.

The third day of the third month -- a week from today -- is Hinamatsuri, Girl's Day, a Japanese holiday celebrating the goodness of girls.

Shirokiya is selling Hinamatsuri cakes tomorrow through March 3 at the in-store Saint Germain Bakery. The cakes are $19.50 and come in strawberry and chestnut flavors, decorated with flowers and Ohinasama dolls imported from Japan. Pre-ordering is recommended. Call 973-9190 (Ala Moana) and 483-7736 (Pearlridge).

The Shirokiya stores also offer an extensive display of Ohinasama dolls, priced from $95 to $1,100, as well as Hinamatsuri cards.

Study and taste cheeses of France

Nancy L. Gaffney, owner of Sea Stars Goat Cheese in Santa Cruz, Calif., is the guest speaker at Halekulani Connoisseur's class titled "A Tour de France des Fromages" at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Hau Terrace. Gaffney will give a tour of the cheeses of France, discussing variety, contrast and subtlety. There also will be a sampling of cheeses paired with wines from France. Cost is $55 and pre-payment is required. For reservations, call 923-2311, ext. 5300.

Bringing the Bay area into Kahala: Plumeria Beach Cafe at Kahala Mandarin Oriental presents a Bay area Farmer's Market Celebration, 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-March 6. At $38.95 for adults, $19.95 for ages 5-12, the event features dishes prepared with seasonal produce and specialty items from the San Francisco Bay area. There will be interactive chef stations featuring fish and vegetables; cold bars offering seafood and desserts; and a grill station with quail, lamb, pork sausages and chops. A selection of wines from Sebastiani Winery will be available. For reservations, call 739-8760.

Introduction to Chado: University of Hawaii's Outreach College is having a class on the Japanese tea ceremony -- the philosophy, practices and steps. Classes will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays March 3 through April 21. Meetings will be in the East-West Center Tea House. Cost is $55. Register at 956-8400.

"Spring Wine Celebration": The second annual celebration benefiting the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific will be March 6 and 7 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tropics Room. Among the scheduled events are an eight-course Italian dinner by Piero Selvaggio and Angelo Auriana of the Valentino restaurant in Los Angeles on March 6 and a "Grand Wine Tasting" on March 7. There also will be silent and live auctions, sampling of dishes, seminars and informal modeling of Italian fashions

The dinner will begin with a champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. and costs $250 per person.

The wine tasting will be 1-5 p.m. Tickets are $50 if purchased in advance or $60 at the door.

A wine seminar March 7 costs $95 and includes entrance to the tasting.

For more information, call Susan Kam at 544-3385.

Improve odds against cancer

Help cancer fighters better their chances at the American Cancer Society, Honolulu Unit, annual casino night. Proceeds from the fund-raiser, "Winning Against the Odds," 6 p.m. March 13, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, 2454 S. Beretania St., will be used for cancer research and services to cancer patients.

Casino night attendees will receive $1,000 in play money to use at craps, blackjack and roulette. Winnings can be applied to a chance for a door prize. The evening also features a dinner buffet, dance music by Jackie Roberts and the SOULutions, and the auction of such items as artwork; antiques; and restaurant, hotel and travel certificates.

Tickets are $50 and are available from the society at 595-7544.

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