ON THE PLATE

Wine dinner goes for Big Easy style

Brasserie Du Vin presents three-course wine dinners every Monday, and next up is “;N'awlins Summer.”;

The menu: Crawfish Bisque and Puff Pastry paired with Flora Springs Chardonnay 2006; Green Lip Mussels Baked on the Half Shell, topped with Manchego Cheese, with Borsao Grenache Rose 2007; and Crispy Skin Duck Confit with Black Pepper Corn Bread and Rhubarb Compote, with La Posta Bonarda 2006.

Seating is at 6 p.m. Cost is $49. Reservations required; call 545-1115.

Rieslings focus of wine tasting

Master Sommelier Roberto Viernes will discuss rieslings at Formaggio Grill, 6 p.m. Aug. 12.

Featured wines include '02 Domaine Wachau Riesling, '02 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvee Reserve Personelle, '03 Strub Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Spatlese, '07 Marquis Philips Roogle Riesling, '07 Leitz Dragonstone Riesling and '06 JJ Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett.

Cost is $40 and includes tapas. For reservations, call Patrick at 263-2633 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Resort announces menu specials

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is featuring the following menu specials for August. Call 739-8760:

» Plumeria Beach House, Tuesday to Aug. 17: Three-course lobster menu, including pan-seared moi and butter lobster with truffle mash and lobster cream sauce. $45

» Hoku's, Aug. 18 to 24: Five-courses of lobster, including Caribbean lobster consomme with house-made lobster ravioli and green apple essence, and Maine lobster risotto with caramelized baby fennel and leeks. $75

» Kahala o ke Kai, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21: Hawaiian buffet with performance by HAPA. $50

» Plumeria Beach House, 6:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 23: Waffle Day buffet celebrates National Waffle Day. $30; $15 children.

MORSELS

Jamba Juice doubles the fun

That great summer deal from Jamba Juice, for “;buy one, get one free”; smoothies, continues through Sunday.

Visit www.summerblissisback.com/bogo_print.php and print a coupon to present at all Jamba Juice locations.

Writer to laud fish-diet benefits

Scientist and writer Gary Paul Nabhan will lecture on “;Reviving Food Traditions: Fish and Poi Nation”; at 4 p.m. Sunday at Queen Emma Summer Palace.

Nabhan, a MacArthur fellow who's written more than 30 books, has most recently focused on sustainability and food traditions. He will join farmers Eric Enos of Waianae and Paul Reppun of Waiahole for a panel discussion at 6 p.m.

Suggested donation at the event, presented by Slow Food Oahu and Honolulu Weekly, is $10. For more information on Nabhan, visit www.garynabhan.com. Call 261-1172.

Dinner presents macrobiotic food

Enjoy macrobiotic cuisine next Wednesday by chefs Leslie Ashburn and Kathy Maddox at the first of their twice-monthly community dinner, held at Church of the Crossroads at 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Italian-inspired vegan menu includes white bean soup, kabocha squash ravioli, polenta and collards with nut “;parmesan cheese.”; The lineup also features fruit gelato and kukicha tea for dessert.

Cost is $13 for dinner, $16 dinner and dessert, and $3.50 dessert only. Dietary substitutions can be made for those with food allergies or intolerances, but call early. Reservations are requested two days in advance. Call 398-2695 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Church of the Crossroads is at 1212 University Ave.

Resort to debut Mai Tai Festival

Heading to Kona later this month? Check out the Royal Kona Resort's First Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival, to be held all day on Aug. 22.

Contenders for the world's largest mai tai will vie for $10,000 before a panel of expert mixologists and guest judges. Plus, foodies can taste fare from a “;Battle of the BBQ”; contest and attend a seminar about the history of the mai tai.

A Big Island marketplace will highlight local produce and products, and in the evening HAPA will perform.

Visit www.hawaiianhotels.com to enter the mai tai contest. Call (800) 222-5642.

DA KINE

Pearlridge plans 'Canstruction'

“;Canstruction”; returns to Pearlridge Center's Uptown when 10 teams of architects, designers and engineers will create giant structures from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15.

The public will be able to vote for their favorite piece with cans of food (one can equals one vote). There also will be other awards, including the Jurors' Favorite, Structural Ingenuity, Best Use of Labels and Best Meal. Last year the Jurors' Favorite award went to “;Aloha Means Goodbye to Hunger in Hawaii,”; by Belt Collins.

Winning teams go on to compete in the national level.

Now in its fourth year, all “;Canstruction”; canned goods are donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. The structures will be on display through Aug. 29.

DHT needs actors for 'Chaperone'

Diamond Head Theatre is looking for actors for its season opener, “;The Drowsy Chaperone.”;

If chosen, performers will get to work with guest director/choreographer James Patterson, who was in the Broadway and touring companies of “;Beauty and the Beast”; and “;State Fair”; and in the national tours of “;The Drowsy Chaperone”; and “;Cats.”;

The musical includes the tunes “;As We Stumble Along,”; “;Toledo Surprise,”; “;Show Off”; and “;I Am Adolpho.”;

The show will run from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11. Auditions will be held Aug. 14 to 16 at the DHT Rehearsal Hall, 520 Makapuu Ave.

For more information, log on to www.diamondheadtheatre.com.

Sand Isle cleanup help is needed

Hawaii is home to some of the world's best beaches. Help keep it that way by participating in the Magic Island cleanup.

Volunteers are needed on Oct. 4. Plastic trash bags, work gloves and refreshments will be provided along with 500 bento lunches and 500 printed tees for all those lending a hand.

Can't make it but still want to help? Donations and sponsorships are being accepted for entertainment, tents, T-shirts, print work, light cotton work gloves, food, refreshments, ice and ice chests, picnic supplies and drinks.

Also on Oct. 4, the Hawaii Foodbank will be conducting a canned-good drive for nonperishable items.

The event is sponsored by the Associated Builders & Contractors, ABC Hawaii Chapter, the State of Hawaii the and City and County of Honolulu.

To sponsor or donate, call 845-4877.

STUFFS

LOOK » Coming soon to a theater near you—a full-length motion picture filled with footage of Michael Jackson's last rehearsals. The movie would come with product tie-ins, merchandising and even a director's cut. But that's only if a Los Angeles probate judge approves the deal by Monday.

LISTEN » “;Go All the Way”; by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (www.myspace.com/sidnsusie)

DO » Buy tickets for “;The Joy of Sake”; event by Friday and you also get to attend the “;Sake 101”; workshop, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Tickets are $70 in advance; $80 at the door. It will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Call 532-6099 or visit www.honoluluacademy.org.