SPECIAL EVENTS

"Pearl Tasting," seminar on how wine and pearls are made, with wine tasting; 6-8 p.m.; Sept. 26; Accents Honolulu, 1240 Ala Moana Blvd.; $5; 597-1003.

HMSA Island Fresh Festival, learn about healthy eating, featuring cooking demonstrations, farmers market, information booths, food and entertainment; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sept. 29; Kaka'ako Gateway Park; free.

18th annual Honolulu Wine Festival, benefit for the Lupus Foundation of America Hawaii Chapter; 6:30-11 p.m.; Sept. 29; Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; $150; 538-1522, www.lupushawaii.org.

Seventh annual Flavors of Technology, gala honoring winners of 2007 Technology Industry Awards; 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 30; Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; $95; 237-3673.

"Beyond the Basics of Food and Wine Pairing," learn the secrets of creating great food and wine combinations; 3-4:30 p.m.; Sept. 30; The Wine Stop, 1809 S. King St.; $30, club discounts apply; reservations and payment confirmation required: 946-3707.

Sam Adams Oktoberfest Dinner, special menu samplings paired with Samuel Adams beers; 6 p.m.; Oct. 3; Hula Grill Waikiki; $45; reservations: 923-4852, dianne@hulagrill.com.

MARKETS

Farmers Market, fruits and vegetables; 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays; Hawaii Kai Towne Center; free; 396-0766.

Fort Street Open Market, produce, plants, flowers, and arts and crafts; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesdays; Pauahi and Fort streets; free; 538-8005.

Fresh Wednesdays; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays; Kaiser Waipi'o Clinic; free; 432-3100.

Fresh Thursdays; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursdays; Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center; free; 432-2270.

Kailua Farmers Market, with prepared foods, such as plate dinners, pies, cookies, jams and sauces in addition to fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, herbs and flowers; 5-7:30 p.m.; Thursdays; Kailua Town Center parking garage (behind Longs Drugs on Kailua Road); free; 848-2074.

Waikiki Farmers Market, fruits, vegetables, musubi and chow mein; 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Fridays and Sundays; Waikiki Community Center parking lot; free; 923-1802.

Fort Street Open Market, produce, plants, flowers, and arts and crafts; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fridays and Tuesdays; Wilcox Park (in front of Macy's); free; 538-8005.

Fresh Fridays, locally grown produce, healthy cooking demonstrations, educational information on disease prevention through good nutrition, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Fridays; Kaiser Honolulu Clinic; free; 432-2000.

Aloha Friday Farmers Market, fresh produce, food products and entertainment, 12-6 p.m.; Fridays; Maui Community College; Kahului; free; 808-268-3276.

Farmers Market, cooking demonstrations, produce, meats, seafood and flowers; 7:30-11 a.m.; Saturdays; Kapi'olani Community College, Parking Lot C; free; 848-2074.

Sunset Country Market; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturdays; Sunset Beach Elementary School; Hale'iwa; free; 237-8248.

Waialua Farmers Market, produce, herbs, fruit, flowers and huli-huli chicken; 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturdays; Old Waialua Sugar Mill; 637-8589.

Farmers Market, sponsored by Hawaii Farm Bureau; 8-11 a.m.; Sundays; Mililani High School gymnasium; free; 848-2074.

Country Market & Craft Fair; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays; Waimanalo Homestead Community Center; 1330 Kalaniana'ole Highway; free; 259-5349.

TOURS, TASTINGS & CLASSES

Matthew Gray's Hawaii Food Tours offers three guided restaurant tours — Hole-in-the Wall, Hawaiian Feast and Gourmet Trilogy — in and around Honolulu; daily; $99, $149 and $199; reservations: 926-3663, www.HawaiiFoodTours.com.

A Cook's Tour of Chinatown, Walter Rhee leads a tour of Downtown markets: learn about meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices; 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Saturdays; meet near Hawaii National Bank between King and Smith streets; $15. Also, Rhee leads a tour of Chinatown eateries; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturdays; meet at same location; $59; reservations: 391-1550.

Merriman's Farm Visits and Dinner, half-day excursions to two Big Island farms that supply the restaurant, followed by a four-course dinner prepared from locally grown ingredients; 2:30-7:30 p.m.; Mondays-Thursdays; Merriman's Restaurant; Waimea, Big Island; $155 (all-inclusive); reservations: 808-331-8505.

Wrath of Grapes wine club offers tastings of featured vendors and light pupu; 6 p.m.; Tuesdays; Indigo Eurasian Cuisine; $20 plus tax and gratuity; seating limited to 28 people; reservations: 521-2900.

Vanilla Experience Luncheon, five-course lunch with dishes prepared using Hawaiian vanilla and fresh Island produce; 12 p.m.; Tuesdays-Fridays; $39 plus tax and tip. Also, Hawaiian Vanilla Tasting; 10 a.m.; Mondays-Fridays; $15 plus tax and tip; Upcountry Brunch Tea; 9:30 a.m.; Tuesdays-Fridays; The Vanilla Mill; Pa'auilo, Big Island; $39 plus tax and tip for the lunch or tea, $15 for the tasting; reservations: 808-776-1771, 877-771-1771.

Pacific Gourmet Cooking Classes, learn cooking techniques and recipes, explore flavors of world cuisines and meet others with similar interests; complete schedule and prices of classes offered at 3245 Pali Highway at www.pacificgourmethawaii.com.

Gourmet Cooking Hawaii offers hands-on and demonstration cooking classes with Island chefs in their restaurants — choose your own chef, menu and date or join classes offered on Saturdays throughout the year; schedule, pricing and booking information: www.gourmetcookinghawaii.com, 735-7788.

TV SHOW

"Dining Out with Chai," Chai Chaowasaree of Chai's Island Bistro and Singha Thai Cuisine hosts a TV show with cooking tips and information on Hawai'i and Mainland restaurants; 5 p.m. Sundays; KHON 2; 381-8483, 585-0011.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: Culinary Calendar, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Cul Cal" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.