MORSELS

Chefs celebrate a decade of Chai's

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chai's Island Bistro in the Aloha Tower Marketplace with “;An Evening Under the Stars”; from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20.

Regular restaurant entertainers the Brothers Cazimero, Sista Robi Kahakalau, Jerry Santos and others will join an A-list of guest chefs who will be helping out that evening, including Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, Rodney Uyehara of Beach House at the Moana, Jason Miyasaki of dk Steak House, Hardy Kintscher of Michel's, Elmer Guzman of Poke Stop, Keith Endo of Vino's and Joy Saetung of Singha Thai Cuisine. A selection of wine, spirits and sake will also be available.

Tickets are $90; $1,000 to $1,500 per table of 10. Call 585-0011.

Public TV to feature Alan Wong

Hawaii will be showcased in an upcoming episode of the PBS “;green cuisine”; show “;Chefs A' Field: Culinary Adventures with Family & Friends.”;

Chef Alan Wong will share one of the secrets to his success: the produce of Richard Ha of Hamakua Springs Farm. In Pepeeko on the Big Island, Ha grows award-winning tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and bananas.

Wong also will be shown catching shrimp at one of his secret spots, the ponds of the Mauna Kea Golf Course.

In the kitchen, Wong explains how immigration throughout the generations has influenced his unique take on island cuisine. He will prepare Hawaiian Shrimp & Clam Paella with Island Spices & Veggies, along with Sauteed Moi on Heirloom Tomato Salad.

The James Beard Award-winning “;Chefs A' Field,”; now in its fourth season, was one of the first in the cooking genre to focus on environmental issues pertaining to food, travel and lifestyle.

The Hawaii episode airs at 5 p.m. Sunday on KHET and will replay at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 30.

Stuff it at Windward Mall

It's going to be “;Man vs. Food,”; local style, Saturday at Windward Mall.

At the mall's new Pa'ina Ko'olau Food Court from 3 to 5 p.m., eight contestants will be given four minutes to devour 10 portions of food provided by food court tenants. For each portion consumed, contestants will win a $10 gift card, with the chance of winning up to $100 in cards. Adult contestants only.

Tenants include Blazin' Steaks, Bull Kogi (Korean fusion), Chinatown Express, Cinnabon, the Cookie Corner, Hot Dog on a Stick, Papa John's Pizza, Maruki Tei, Subway and Yogen Fruez.

Visit http://www.windwardmall.com.

Swiss Inn chef joins book signing

Galyn Wong—co-author with Muriel Miura of “;What Hawai'i Likes to Eat: Hana Hou!”;—will be signing the cookbook alongside Martin and Jeanie Wyss, owners of the award-winning (and lamentably defunct) Swiss Inn.

Wyss contributed five recipes to the book from his time spent at both the Swiss Inn and the Kahala Hilton: Roesti Potatoes, Veal Emince, Trout Caprice, Celery Seed Dressing and Tournedos Madagascar.

Book signings will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble Kahala, noon Nov. 20 at Costco Waipio, 6 p.m. Nov. 22 at Macy's Ala Moana, 7:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 28 at Kapiolani Community College Farmer's Market and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Costco Iwilei.

Mavro menu highlights Beaujolais

Be the first to taste the “;fun and fizzy”; 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau wine, paired with a three-course menu at Chef Mavro.

The French-Hawaii accents of the appetizer and main course are being created by chefs George Mavrothalassitis and Kevin Chong to pair with what's being called the best Beaujolais in 50 years by premium producer Georges Duboeuf.

The menu: Sauteed Maitake Mushrooms, Crispy Suckling Pig, and Big Island Meyer Lemon Curd with Japanese Cheese Cake.

Dinner will be served from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 19 to Dec. 5. Cost: $69 with a glass of wine; $59 for dinner only. The meal includes a pre-appetizer, pre-dessert and handcrafted candies. Call 944-4714 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

DONATE

Foodbank drives keeping in step with the season

Several drives for Hawaii Foodbank are in the works this week and for the holidays. Visit hawaiifoodbank.org.

» Shoppers statewide can donate to the “;Check-Out Hunger”; program through Jan. 11. Purchase donation coupons at the checkout at Safeway and Times supermarkets, Don Quijote stores, Tamura's markets, Kokua Market Natural Foods Co-op and KTA Super Stores on the Big Island.

» Dillingham Self Storage kicks off its first food drive Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hamburgers and hot dogs for those who drop off canned goods. Soul Vibe will entertain. Those who donate 20 or more cans will get a free turkey and 20 chances to win prizes, including free storage. The storage site is at 935 Dillingham Blvd. Call 841-9555.

» Visit the University of Hawaii at Manoa tomorrow with a can of food and help break a world record for food collected in a day. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Campus Center Court-yard, UH's food manage-ment vendor, Sodexo, teams with the UH Campus Center Board to set a record for “;largest food drive by a nonchar-itable organization in a 24-hour period”; as governed by the Guinness Book of World Records. Call 956-2190.

PEOPLE

Pupukea beauty is Miss Hawaii USA

Renee Mokihana Nobriga from Oahu's North Shore was crowned the 2010 Miss Hawaii USA Monday night at LEVEL4 in the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki.

Nobriga, 25, is a model and works in sales. She is the daughter of Kealoha and Iwalani Nobriga, lives in Pupukea and graduated from Kahuku High School in 2002. Nobriga has an associate's degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in liberal arts.

Miss Hawaii USA is a preliminary contest to the Miss USA pageant. Miss USA then moves on to compete for the highly coveted crown of Miss Universe. The last Miss USA from Hawaii, Brook Lee, went on to win Miss Universe in 1997.

Other award winners in Monday night's contest:

» Academic Achievement: Melissa McMurray
» Miss Photogenic: (tie) Kawena Chun and Delys Recca
» Hawaiian Language: Kawena Chun
» Community Service: Cydney Chu
» Miss Congeniality: Delys Recca
» Miss Popularity: Melissa McMurray
» People's Choice: Kellene Chun
» Advertising: Kawena Chun
» Best Interview: Colette Errico
» Best Swimsuit: Kawena Chun
» Best Evening Gown: (tie) Renee Nobriga and Kawena Chun

More than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes was awarded, according to the organizers.

On Sunday night, Julianne Chu, a freshman at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a 2009 Kalani High School graduate, won the Miss Hawaii Teen USA title.

Etcetera

LOOK
» Meng-Ling Erik Kuo won Sunday's Tom and Warren Matsuda Student Culinary Competition. For details, visit www.hsblinks.com/1a8

LISTEN
» “;Chasing Pirates,”; by Norah Jones, below, www.myspace.com/norahjones

DO
» Learn how exercise, especially tai chi, can be used to treat arthritis at a free talk at Aina Haina Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. For information, call 377-2456.