Da Kine Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

---

RESTAURANT REPORT

A beefy brunch

The chefs of Alan Wong's restaurants made a meal -- a large meal -- out of Cal "Doc" Lum's North Shore Cattle Co.'s grass-fed beef last Sunday.

The "You Like Beef?" brunch at the Pineapple Room featured various cuts of beef in 20 different preparations, from Meatloaf Benedict to Poi Stew to Beef Tartare of Tenderloin -- plus loaded tables of desserts and side dishes.

The meal included a "You Plate" buffet and a "We Plate" selection of specialties brought to the table.

The special event is the first of many that Wong plans through the year to feature various local farms.

Paso Robles tour

The Halekulani brings the wines and winemakers of a select region in California together for "The Wines of Paso Robles ... Distinct and Different" on Thursday.

Presenting their wines will be Justin and Deborah Baldwin of Justin Winery & Vineyards, Matt Trevisan of Linne Calodo and Stephan Asseo of L'Aventure.

Halekulani sommelier Kevin Toyama will moderate, and executive chef Darryl Fujita will provide a reception buffet. Cost is $98. Call 931-5040.

Whiskey dinner

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine teams up with Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey for a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17.

Jack Daniels master distiller Jimmy Bedford will host the five-course meal.

Chef Glenn Chu's menu includes Nueske Applewood Smoked Bacon on Polenta (with Jack Daniels Old No. 7), Nalo Farms Baby Arugula with Parsley Pasta (with Gentleman Jack), Pan-Seared Salmon with Coconut Dill Curry (with Single Barrel) and dessert of Roasted Fresh Peach with Blue-Veined Cheese (with Old No. 7 and coffee). The pre-dinner cocktail with be an Indigo version of Jack and Coke.

Cost is $65, $100 with an autographed single-barrel bottle. Call 521-2900.

HEALTH

Kokua Kalihi Valley plans health fair

Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, 2239 N. School St., will hold a health fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to recognize National Health Center Week.

"Celebrating Patient Voice and Community Choice" is the theme of the event, which will emphasize the important role community health centers play in caring for the medically underserved and uninsured.

KKV, in a news release, said it serves more than 6,000 patients a year. Most are on Medicaid or Medicare or have no health insurance, it said.

The health fair will be open to adults and children. Activities will include diabetes screening, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, health information, nutrition/health information, food sampling, interactive games, prizes and entertainment.

Various booths will provide information on the health center's programs and services.

Seniors' eye concerns topic of free seminar

Dr. Hugo Higa of the Aesthetic Vision Center will speak at a free informational program, "Aging Eyes Seminar," at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Aina Haina Public Library.

He will discuss macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma -- three leading eye issues for seniors -- and blepharoplasty, surgery to correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below the eyes.

Call the library if a sign-language interpreter or special accommodation is needed for the one-hour program.

Aina Haina Public Library is located at 5246 Kalanianaole Highway. Call 377-2456 for more information.

Safeway stores to hold fundraiser for MDA

More than 1,500 Safeway and Safeway-owned stores across the United States, including those in Hawaii, have launched a five-week fundraising campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The stores have set a goal to raise $3.6 million. Over the years, Safeway reports, it has raised more than $25 million to support the fight against neuromuscular diseases.

New Web site gathers data on Hawaii seniors

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center on the Family and the state Executive Office on aging have put information about Hawaii's seniors online.

The new data center provides a one-stop reference for information and publications relating to Hawaii's seniors, according to a university news release.

Statistics on health, living conditions and other characteristics of the senior population gathered from federal and state sources are available, along with bibliographies or abstracts from more than 600 publications, including printable files on long-term care, housing, caregiving and other subjects with a Hawaii focus.

The Web site address is www.uhfamily.hawaii.edu/datacenter/aging.