Shanghai Bistro's cooking classes continue Saturday with recipes for Chinese New Year. Taiwanese chef Chih Chieh Chang will show you how to make jai, the traditional new year's dish, and Shanghai-style mochi cake. The $20 class begins at 10 a.m. and includes recipes, sampling and lunch.

Shanghai Bistro owner Li May Tang said that, due to popular demand, the cooking classes will be held monthly through 2006. Shanghai Bistro is in Discovery Bay, at 1778 Ala Moana, second floor. To enroll, call 955-8668.

— Chris Oliver

SOMETHING ODEN, SOMETHING NEW

JAPAN'S HAKKEI OPENS IN HONOLULU

The long-anticipated Hakkei opened on Sunday. The Young Street restaurant is an offshoot of the onsen ryokan, or hot-spring inn, by the same name in Japan's Okayama Prefecture. That country retreat is known for its food — chef Seiya Masahara beat Masaharu Morimoto in an "Iron Chef" cook-off using angler fish. Masahara trained Kouji Kuwa, who heads the kitchen at the Hakkei in Honolulu. Here, the specialty is oden, a ceramic hot-pot of broth with kabocha, daikon, kamaboko and other tasty ingredients. 1436 Young St., 944-6688, www.hakkei-honolulu.com.