Classes focus on macrobiotics

Learn more about macrobiotics at a four-day lecture and cooking workshop to be held Feb. 21 to 24 in Manoa.

Macrobiotic expert Warren Kramer will discuss such topics as the energetics of food and cooking, macrobiotic transformation theory and food cravings. He will also teach seasonal cooking and cooking for men’s health.

Lectures are $35; cooking classes are $55. Space is limited; to register, email macrocommhi@ hawaii.rr.com.

Hilo native wins on ‘Chopped’

Royden Ellamar, executive chef of Sensi restaurant at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, won a $10,000 prize in a Latin-themed competition on Food Network’s "Chopped."

The Hilo native prepared winning dishes using pigs feet and goat meat.

The episode orignally ran Feb. 7; it will repeat on March 5.

Four Seasons hosts ‘Chef Fest’

Culinary stars will converge at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii island for "Chef Fest — Made in America 3," a series of dinners, cooking classes and other culinary events that runs Feb. 26 to March 3.

The who’s who of chefs to participate include Nancy Silverton, Matt Molina, Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre, Josiah Citrin and Waylynn Lucas. They join Hualalai executive chef James Babian, master sommelier Chuck Furuya and mixologist Chandra Lam Lucariello of Southern Wine & Spirits.

Visit www.fourseasons.com/hualalai and click on "offers."

Beef up recipes for competition

If beef is your forte, enter the 30th National Beef Cook-off and vie for the top prize of $25,000.

Home cooks can share a recipe through April 15 that executes the theme "Making the Most of MyPlate," a reference to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate program for creating balanced, healthful meals.

The beef-focused dishes should include ingredients from the fruit or vegetable, grain and dairy food groups.

The contest has categories for belt-tightening (budget- conscious); semi-homemade (using prepackaged products); real-worldly, real simple beef and potatoes (international recipes); and beef and avocado.

Seven regional winners will be selected in July; in November, 14 finalists will compete for the top prize.

To enter, visit www.beefcookoff.org.