Gayot, the respected restaurant ratings guide, has named Chef Mavro restaurant "one of the top 40 restaurants in the country" and again awarded it three toques and 18 out of 20 points, the only restaurant in the Islands to achieve that rating. Gayot's report states "Chef Mavro's multi-course menu truly showcased the formidable skills of this master chef and his dedicated team, helmed by chef de cuisine Kevin Chong." Says chef George Mavrothalassitis in a press release, "We start each morning with nothing. No ingredients from yesterday. ... We're happy when guests and critics give us positive review but tomorrow we start from nothing again." The restaurant features seasonal, wine-matched menus. To see the Gayot report: www.gayot.com/newsletters/hawaii/2009.html. Information and reservations for Chef Mavro: www.chefmavro.com.

SCHOOL LUNCH CAMPAIGN

LOCAL EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF FRESH FOODS

Local activists concerned about the nutrition of school meals are joining with Slow Food USA's Time for Lunch effort, a national campaign asking Congress to provide America's children with fresh foods at school. A cornerstone of the campaign is a series of Eat-Ins Sept. 5-7 to draw attention to the issue. Local Time for Lunch partners are Kokua Hawai'i Foundation and Slow Food O'ahu. They've planned these events: an Eat-in Potluck 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday on the Brigham Young University-Hawai'i cafeteria lawn; free screenings of "Food, Inc." 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Brigham Young University's auditorium in La'ie and 4 p.m. Monday at Punahou School's Thurston Memorial Chapel; and a series of school "garden parties," at schools that have student-tended gardens. Information: Kokua Hawai'i Foundation, 638-5145 or www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org; www.slowfoodusa.org/timeforlunch.

— Wanda A. Adams