March food and dining events: Honolulu Festival, Scotch, Belgium beers

Duckhorn Wine Company debuts its new vintage of Paraduxx at Ruth's Chris Steak House. The five-course wine dinner pairs a filet and lobster rockefeller with the Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Blend and a salt and pepper seared lamb with blackberry demi glace with Duckhorn's Three Palms Merlot.
$125, 6:30 p.m., March 1, at Ruth's Chris in Restaurant Row (599-3860), Mauna Lani on Hawaii Island (808-887-0800), Lahaina (808-661-8815).

The 18th annual Honolulu Festival this weekend showcases cultures from around the Pacific Rim, including Japan, Tahiti, Philippines and Taiwan. For the Friendship Gala, the food event of the festival, 10 restaurants such as Chef Mavro (offering scallop on a Kamuela vegetable escabeche) and Nobu (sea bass with jalapeño miso) present the fare. Nanzan Giro Giro will also be participating, with an as yet unknown fish dish.
$90, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, March 3, tickets available at honolulufestival.com or by calling 833-3378.

Taste Belgium beers at Salt through a five-course dinner starting with a hamachi crudo dressed in a carrot caramel and paired with Carlous Hopsinjoor, venison liver pate with pickled brussel sprouts paired with Delirium Nocturnum, and finish with a chocolate terrine topped with candied bacon and root beer creme, accompanying Achel Trappist.
$75, 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 7. For reservations, call 744-7567.

The Grand Scotch Tour lands once again at The Willows restaurant. Explore 30 Scotch selections from distilleries including Caol Ila, Chivas and Glenlivet.
$70 pre-sale/$80 at the door, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, March 23. Call The Willows (952-9200) or Fujioka's (739-9463) by March 16 to make reservations.