MORSELS

Charity seeks burger recipe

Hawaii Foodbank has partnered with Burgers on the Edge for the “;Burger Genius”; contest this month. Innovative cooks have devised an original burger recipe using the Kapahulu restaurant's eight cheeses, 12 sauces and 18 toppings. Four finalists will go “;burger to burger”; on Sunday in front of cameras for a chance to win a permanent spot on the restaurant menu, cash and a free burger weekly for an entire year.

The winner will be decided by the highest sales this month and will be announced on the Fourth of July, the opening anniversary of Burgers on the Edge.

Part of the proceeds from sales of the four burgers will benefit the food bank.

The public is invited to the TV taping at 5:30 p.m. and is encouraged to bring a canned good with them. The most needed canned foods are meat, tuna, spaghetti, chili, corned beef hash, soups, vegetables and fruit. Monetary donations are also welcome.

Burgers on the Edge is located at 890 Kapahulu Ave. in the Safeway Center. Visit www.burgersontheedge.com.

Eating contest is charity benefit

Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu will celebrate Founders' Day, the company's 38th anniversary, with the 1st Annual Frank's Hot Sauce Chicken Wing Eating Contest, to be held at 3 p.m. Sunday. It's a competition between the five military branches: Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army.

The winning branch will win prizes as well as prize money for their favorite charity.

Also, 71-cent burgers will be available to police, firefighters and EMTs. The restaurant will also offer public servants the famous Hard Rock Legendary Burgers for 71 cents—commemorating 1971, the birth year of Hard Rock. Badge and I.D. must be presented for eligibility.

The restaurant will also be collecting canned for for Hawaii Foodbank.

Admission is free; call 955-7383.. Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu is located at 1837 Kapiolani Blvd.

Supper for sippers

The Wine Stop's monthly Supper Club meets at Longhi's in Ala Moana Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday. The event, held each third Wednesday, features wine and food at various restaurants. Corkage is waived for all wines purchased at the Wine Stop. Call 946-3707 for reservations.

Get healthy at community dinner

Chefs Leslie Ashburn and Kathy Maddox's macrobiotic community dinners will continue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 19 at Church of the Crossroads.

On the menu: corn soup, collard tempeh wrap with tahini sauce, sauerkraut, chilled arame salad with garden fresh veggies and red quinoa. Dessert is tofu cheesecake and fruit coulis with kukicha tea.

Dinner is $13; dinner and dessert costs $16.50. Reservations required; call 398-2695 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Wong to tout best, brightest

Alan Wong's restaurant is presenting a “;Next Generation Dinner,”; featuring up-and-coming cooks Miya Nishimura and Leah Cawagas, and dessert by Kelly Teramoto, next Wednesday.

Cawagas assists Nishimura, a California Culinary Academy graduate, with this menu: Crab Causa and warm shrimp ceviche (optionally paired with Vouvray Champalou, 2007, Loire River Valley, France), crispy skinned moi (Riesling Spatlese, “;Old Vine,”; Kunstler, 1999, Rheingau, Germany) and “;Surf-N-Turf”; of beef tenderloin, poached lobster, seafood “;burrito,”; ulu Tostone and green papaya salsa (Gamay Noir, Paul Mathew, 2008, Knights Valley, California). Dessert is Tres Leches Trio of green tea cake, cinnamon ice cream and mochi (Moscato D'Asti, La Spinetta, 2007 Piemonte, Italy).

Wong and Chef de Cuisine Wade Ueoka offer guidance to new cooks who create their own dishes and put together menus showcasing their personal styles.

Seatings begin at 5 p.m. Dinner is $75, $105 with wine pairings. Call 949-2526.

Sergio's features Mondavi's picks

Michael Mondavi of Folio Wine will be the special guest at a five-course wine dinner at 6 p.m. next Wednesday at Sergio's Italian Restaurant.

Mondavi has selected the Villa Sandi Prosecco Extra Dry NV, Danzante Pinot Grigio, Donnafugata Anthilia and Ben Rye, Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay, Emblem Cabernet Sauvignon, Le Serre Nuove Cabernet Sauvignon and Frescobaldi Nipozzano. The wines are from Italy and California.

Chef Dell Valdez's menu: Kona kampachi carpaccio; vine-ripened tomato salad with haricot vert, frisee and truffle; seared diver scallops with green and white guitarrine pasta; diver scallops with seafood ragout, Kona coffee-marinated smoked pork tenderloin with cippolini onions and rapini; and cannoli with Gianduja chocolate and fresh berries.

The pairing is $69. Sergio's is located at 449 Kapahulu Ave. Reservations are limited; call 737-4461.

ON THE PLATE

Celebrate Dad

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Waikiki and d.k Steak House, located in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, present “;locally grown”; menus Friday through Monday, including Father's Day.

At Sansei, the five-course “;Omakase menu for two”; features Kona kampachi carpaccio, a nigiri sampler, deep-fried moi, Maui Cattle Co. garlic New York steak and chocolate cake brownie bread pudding. Cost is $38 per person; $50 with four sake pairings.

At d.k Steakhouse, the menu includes Kona kampachi tartare, garlic marinated Hawaii Island head-on shrimp, red wine-braised Maui Cattle Co. short ribs and chocolate bombe for dessert. Plates are $52, $64 with two wine and two sake pairings.

On Sunday, Sansei will offer the regular kama'aina early-bird special for 50 percent off to celebrate Father's Day.

Call Sansei at 931-6286; d.k Steakhouse, 931-6280.

Other Father's Day specials include:

» Twist at Hanohano: This brunch presented by Chef Daniel Delbrel includes not only an extensive spread, it offers an opportunity for Dad to win University of Hawaii football tickets, a tailgate picnic, a one-night stay at the Sheraton Waikiki and a massage at Spa Khakara.

On the menu: prime rib, an omelet station, port tenderloin with Fiji-apple stuffing, sake-marinated short ribs, wok-seared shrimp and scallops with lemongrass and black bean, kalbi beef fried rice, Tahitian vanilla-poached onaga, eggs benedict, a poke bar and dessert station.

Cost is $58 adults, $15 children.

Twist is located at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Call 921-4600.

» Kani Ka Pila Grille: Located at the Outrigger Reef, the menu by Chef Harold Beltran features barbecue specials, including rack of lamb with mint pesto ($32.95), mango-guava glazed pork ribs ($27.95), lobster tail with lemon-garlic butter ($39.95) and beef kabob with garlic mustard ($20.95).

Brother Noland will play from 6 to 9 p.m.

Call 924-4990.

STUFFS

LOOK » Catch Kupono Aweau on “;So You Think You Can Dance”; tonight at 7 on Fox. The Kailua resident and Kamehameha Schools graduate made it to the Top 20.

LISTEN » “;NOW (RAC Remix),”; by Mates of State (www.myspace.com/matesofstate)

DO » Tomorrow through June 21, Ward Centers is offering a free hand car wash certificate for shoppers who spend $50 or more, while supplies last. One coupon per person. For details visit www.wardcenters.com/events/2006/FDCarWash.html.