Sample Australia's finest cuisine without getting on a plane

Can't afford a vacation Down Under? The Australian American Chamber of Commerce is offering the next best thing: a tasting of dishes by leading chefs from Melbourne at "Melbourne — Under the Stars" Saturday at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Melbourne is said to be the food and wine capital of Australia, and among the guest chefs will be 2002 Good Food Awards chef of the year Paul Wilson. Also on hand will be Ian Curley of The European and The Supper Club, and Harry Lalai of Cecconi's Cantina.

And the event will offer an opportunity to experience the pooled talents of Philippe Padovani and Donato Loperfido, whose new restaurant, Elua, recently opened. Tickets are $100 per person. Tickets: the Australian American Chamber of Commerce (Hawai'i), 526-2242; Fujioka's Wines Times in Market City Shopping Center. The event benefits the Hawai'i HomeOwnership Center.

— Wanda Adams

BRING YOUR BREATH MINTS

MAUI ONION FESTIVAL PROMISES AN EATING EXTRAVAGANZA

The Maui Onion Festival at the Whalers Village in Ka'anapali is coming up Aug. 4-5 — always an enjoyable event. This year, I'll be among those judging the Maui Onion Professional Recipe Contest, and I'm already banking calories for that eating marathon.

Among the events, besides the cooking competition: keiki and adult raw onion-eating contests, a Maui produce open market, the famous Maui Onion Ring Stand (they fried up 900 pounds of rings last year!) and lots of free entertainment throughout the day. Admission is free. Information: (808) 661-4567 or www.whalersvillage.com.