Filmmaker will discuss veganism

Vegan advocate and filmmaker Aaron Schneiber will discuss "Back to Basics: A Whole Foods Approach" at 7 p.m. Saturday at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park.

Schneiber made the 2008 Australian documentary "A Delicate Balance," which outlines the effects of diet on health and the environment. His presentation will simplify the vegan diet and discuss transitional vegan alternatives.

Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. Call 944-8344 or visit www.vsh.org.

Whole foods course available

The eight-week "Easy Whole Foods Cooking for Busy People" vegan, macrobiotic cooking series kicked off on Sunday, but there’s still time to catch up with the remaining classes.

Taught by Chef Leslie Ashburn, the classes center on easy, fast and affordable options using whole foods and plant-based ingredients.

Classes are held at the Baby aWEARness storefront at Manoa Marketplace, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 27. Cost for the entire remainder of the series is $185, or $30 per class. Call 398-2695 or visit www.macrobiotichawaii.com.

Cooking classes teach organic way

Learn to cook local, organic — and easy — at a four-part series of classes by Ola Loa Wellness.

Students will dine on dishes made from scratch using whole, unrefined ingredients, mostly sourced from local, organic farmers.

Classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17 and April 21at the Kalama Beach Club in Kailua. Registration required; cost is $240 for the series ($200 for beach club members) and $65 per class ($55 members). Call 377-6320 or visit www.olaloawellness.com.

Chef Simmons shares soup savvy

Local chef Janet Simmons will share winter recipes for bread and soup at Kahuku Public & School Library’s "Tuesday Night at the Library" event at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25.

The demonstration will include samples of the recipes. Registration required; call 293-8935. The library is located on the Kahuku High and Intermediate School campus at 56-490 Kamehameha Highway. 

Brasserie Du Vin has wine primer

Brasserie Du Vin starts the new year with a new event, "Wine 101: Behind the Cellar Door."

Starting 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, the event will focus on the basics of wine, mixing knowledge with tastings.

Guests will learn the vernacular used to talk about wine, such as acidity, tannins and minerality. A selection of appetizers will complement the featured wines.

Cost is $25. Space is limited; reservations recommended. Call 545-1115 or visit www.brasserieduvin.com.

Cooking class goes Mediterranean

Use fresh produce to create "Marvelous Mediterranean" fare at a cooking class at Castle Medical Center on Jan. 26. Chef and cookbook author Rebecca Woodland will draw on the cuisines of European and North African countries along the Mediterranean Sea.

The class, part of the Wellness Cuisine series at Castle, will be held in the Wellness Center auditorium from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Cost is $15, $20 per couple or $10 seniors and students. Seating is limited, and reservations and payment are required two days in advance. Call 263-5400 or register online at www.castlemed.org.

Space available in school imu pit

The Kailua High School Canoe Club plans to spend a weekend tending an imu and is offering space inside for trays of food.

Food goes into the underground oven on Feb. 5, emerging the next morning steamed full of luau flavor.

Cost is $15 per large aluminum tray. Food — such as whole turkeys (leave the cavity empty), roasts or pork butt (meat chunks should have three deep cuts in them), sweet potatoes, taro or luau leaves — must be thawed, seasoned and well wrapped in foil. Drop in pan and wrap again in foil. Weight limit per tray is 25 pounds.

Reservations due by Jan. 28. Make checks payable to Kailua High School Band Booster and send to the school, 451 Ulumanu Drive, Kailua 96734. Write "Attention IMU" in lower left corner of the envelope. Include your name, telephone number and a self-addressed, stamped envelope so a confirmation ticket can be sent to you. To be included in an e-mail list for future imu, provide e-mail address as well.

Call Todd Hendricks at 728-7389.

Beer tastings scheduled for Bar 35

Want to explore the world of beer? Bar 35 continues its House of Brews every Wednesday. Each week brings the opportunity to taste eight featured beers, themed by topic, and includes Chef Valentini’s gourmet pizza.

Tastings starts at 6 p.m. Admission varies but starts at $20. Bar 35 is located at 35 N. Hotel St. Call 537-3535 or visit www.bar35.com.

 CORRECTION: Kailua High School Band Booster is holding a fundraiser imu. A brief in a previous version of this story said the school’s Canoe Club was organizing the event.