Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, begins 6:30 p.m. Friday with the International Lantern Parade, cultural program and Makahiki concert at Hale Halawai, Kona, Big Island; continues through Sunday, with coffee tasting and competitions, cultural displays, art shows, farm tours, and other events at various locations in the Kona area; most events are free. Complete schedule: (808) 326-7820, www.konacoffeefest.com.

Women of Taste, tasting of wines from women winemakers, pupu and silent auction, 5-7 p.m. today, Pegge Hopper Gallery; $125 benefits The Women's Fund of Hawai'i. 737-4999, 524-1160.

5th annual Great Aloha Tower Beerfest, samplings of beers, ales, lagers and stouts from more than 100 breweries, with pupu and entertainment by Newjass Quartet, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aloha Tower Marketplace's Events at the Tower (formerly Kapono's); 21 and older; $28 advance, $35 at the door includes vouchers for 12 beer samplings and two pupu plates (additional beer and food vouchers available at an added cost). 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

"Soul Satisfying Mediterrean Cooking Class," learn how to make hummus, stuffed grape leaves, classic Middle Eastern soup, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, UH-Manoa, Campus Leisure Center, room 101; students $30, all others $35. Register: 956-6468.

Christmas in November, annual breakfast with fresh baked pastries, seasonal fruits, turkey and breakfast meats, sweet bread French toast and more, 6:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Kapi'olani Community College 'Ohi'a cafeteria; $7.50 advance, $9 at the door benefits the college's faculty and staff. 734-9544.

Turkey University, cooking demonstration by executive chef Kenny Omiya using recipes and preparation secrets from Food & Wine magazine's November issue, a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel's kitchens followed by four-course luncheon in Water's Edge ballroom, noon Sunday, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kohala, Big Island; $95 plus tax and tip. Reservation: (808) 886-1234.

Dolcetto vs. Barbera, compare these Italian varietals, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, The Wine Stop; free. 946-3707.

Sushi and Sake Night, sample a variety of nigiri and handrolls with a silent auction, 6-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Osake Sushi Bar; $45 Asian American Journalists Association members, $50 nonmembers benefits the association's journalism scholarships, internships and skill-building programs. Tickets: 535-2456.

Hale 'Aina Awards, winners of Honolulu Magazine's readers' selection of best restaurants receive recognition followed by food, wine and spirit tastings, live entertainment and silent auction, 7-9 p.m. Sunday, The Royal Hawaiian hotel's Ocean Lawn and Monarch Room; $125. Tickets: 534-7587.

Flora Springs, sampling of wines from this Napa Valley vineyard poured by the owner, John Komes, served with pupu prepared by chef Glenn Chu, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine; $20 plus tax and tip. Phone reservations only: 521-2900.

Vegan Macrobiotic Community Dinner, dine outdoors with others or take-out a Thanksgiving dinner, 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Church of the Crossroads; $12. Reservations: 398-2695.

Beaujolais Nouveau Party, pouring of this year's bottling of the French red wine by Georges Dubufs into oversize martini glasses (or enjoy a martini or Samuel Adams beer) with entertainment by Swampa Z, 5 p.m. Nov. 16, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine; $3.50 per glass for wine or martini, $2.75 for beer. 521-2900.

"How to Write a Cookbook," two-hour workshop with Advertiser Food Editor Wanda A. Adams, 10 a.m. Nov. 18, part of the 12 annual Honolulu Writers Conference; $60 includes all-day conference. 395-1161, alohapress@att.net.

ONGOING

Matthew Gray's Hawaii Food Tours offers three guided restaurant tours — Hole-in-the Wall, Hawaiian Feast and Gourmet Trilogy — in and around Honolulu; $59, $99 and $149. Reservations: 926-3663, www.HawaiiFoodTours.com.

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

"Dining Out With Chai," TV show hosted by Chai Chaowasaree, with cooking tips and information on Hawai'i and Mainland restaurants, 5 p.m. Sundays, KHON-2. 381-8483, 585-0011.

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

Culinary Tour of Chinatown, visit noodle shops, dim-sum parlors, food courts, bakeries and other food venues in downtown Honolulu with food writer Anthony Chang, 9:30 a.m. Mondays, meet at Chinese Chamber of Commerce, 42 N. King St.; $10. 533-3181.

Fresh Mondays, locally grown produce with free food samples, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, Kaiser Nanaikeola clinic lobby; repeats 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays. 432-2270.

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

Merriman's Farm Visits and Dinner, half-day excursions to Big Island farms that supply the restaurant, followed by a four-course dinner prepared from locally grown ingredients, noon-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Merriman's Restaurant, Waimea, Big Island; $115 (all-inclusive). Reservations: (808) 885-6822.

Fresh Wednesdays, 8-11 a.m. first and third Wednesdays, Kaiser Ko'olau Clinic (432-3800); also, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, Kaiser Waipi'o Clinic (432-3100).

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

Wine & Cheese Wednesdays, selection of two reds and two whites paired with cheeses, nuts and fruit, plus Hawaiian entertainment, 5:307 p.m. Wednesdays, Neptune's Garden, Pacific Beach Hotel; $25. 921-6112, 922-1233.

"Shig Happens!" food safety TV show with chef Henry Holthaus, instructor at Kapi'olani Community College Culinary Institute of the Pacific, offers tips on avoiding contamination by Shigella bacteria, reports on bugs and bug parts found in food, on current news about food safety, and visits local restaurants and food vendors to test food temperatures, 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays on Oceanic Cable channel 55. www.shighappens.com.

Vanilla Experience Luncheon, five-course lunch with dishes prepared using Hawaiian vanilla and fresh Island produce, 12:30-2 p.m. Thursdays, The Vanilla Mill, Pa'auilo, Big Island; $30. (808) 776-1771.

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. Thursday, Kailua Town Center parking garage (behind Longs Drugs on Kailua Road). 848-2074.

Fresh Fridays, locally grown produce, healthy cooking demonstrations, educational information on disease prevention through good nutrition, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, Kaiser Permanente Honolulu Clinic. 432-2000.

Aloha Friday Farmers' Market, fresh produce, food products and entertainment, noon-6 p.m. Fridays, Maui Community College, Kahului. (808) 268-3276.

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

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

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.

Farmers' Market, sponsored by Hawaii Farm Bureau, 8-11 a.m. Sundays, Mililani High School, in front of the gymnasium. 848-2074.

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.