Side Orders • January 12, 2017

AROUND TOWN . . . Several Maui  restaurants across the island support Grow Some Good through special dinner promos, where a portion of the proceeds go to fund school garden programs.

Ongoing promotions are happening this month at DUO in the Four Seasons Resort Maui during its Friday Night Market Night special; at Fork & Salad in Kihei with every purchase of a beet and goat-cheese salad; and at Ono Gelato Creamery & Shack Cafe also in Kihei with special menu items. Stop by and try something new with these generous supporters.

Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului will highlight its "Live Local. Live Healthy" focus this month with Healthfest from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The event features an interactive fitness challenge by Justin Yanagida of Yanagida Strength and Fitness, healthful cooking demos by Chris Lederer, executive sous chef of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, aerobic fitness demonstrations, community health booths, State of Hawaii and County of Maui health initiatives, an introduction to the HMSA Blue Zones project and prizes every hour.

"We are delighted to kick off the new year with focus on community health," says Toni Rojas, marketing director. "This will be a fun-filled, active day focused on how we can incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into our island way of living."

The Leis Family Class Act restaurant at the University of Hawaii Maui College in Kahului will reopen for the semester Friday, Jan. 20, and reservations are being snapped up as fast as you can say "chardonnay." The student-operated eatery is open for lunch only Wednesdays and Fridays through the semester and while you may BYOB, this year, there will be a $5 corkage fee. For a seat, visit www.opentable.com and click on "reservations" or call 984-3280.

All of the stars are in town this time of year and Wolfgang Puck was at his Spago Maui in the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea in recent days, bidding adieu to his longtime island Chef Cameron Lewark, who left the company. The new chef's name  is Peleg Miron, who started from the ground up at Spago Maui. He also opened Spago in Istanbul.

By the way, Spago Maui will celebrate Chinese New Year's on Feb. 9 with a fun, all-you-can-eat Chinese night market with live action cooking stations of dim sum, noodles and more with live entertainment to ward off evil spirits. For more details, call 879-2999.

Neil Diamond was spotted at Gannon's in Wailea with his old pal and producer Joe Gannon, who worked with the superstar during "Hot August Nights" at the height of his career.

By the way, Chef Bev Gannon and her Celebrations Catering will cook the gourmet seated dinner for Hui No'eau's Art Affair  benefit in Makawao on Feb. 25 with auctions, live music, dancing, signature cocktails and a chance to celebrate with the community of visual art supporters. For tickets, call the Hui at 572-6560.

Both Longhi's on Maui will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original restaurant through January with a $40 four-course menu of famous '70s signature dishes and offer $40 bottles from the award-winning wine list. In February, savor an '80s menu, and in March, you may savor tastes from the '90s at the same prices.

* Got restaurant / dining-event scoop?

Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.