Hawai'i Food & Wine Fest; Next Great Baker Renewed

HAWAII— Tickets are now on sale for the 2014 edition of the Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival, slated for August 29 through September 7 at various locations around the islands. Mainland chefs like Michelle Bernstein, Andy Ricker, Jonathan Waxman, and Masaharu Morimoto — along with several chefs from Japan and local favorites like Sheldon Simeon — are scheduled to cook at events with themes like "Love of the Land, Love of the Sea" and "East Meets West." Tickets to each event are available a la carte; more information and the full line-up here. [EaterWire]

FOOD TV— TLC has given the green light to a fourth season of its pastry competition program Next Great Baker, which (in a departure from previous seasons) will feature teams of two competing for a $100,000 grand prize. Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro, chocolatier Jacques Torres, and Bobbie Lloyd from NYC's iconic Magnolia Bakery all serve as judges. Next Great Baker will premiere on TLC June 24. [EaterWire]

VARIOUS LOCATIONS— To help raise funds for the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, chef Masaharu Morimoto is auctioning off a private sushi-making and sake class, redeemable at his New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Napa restaurant locations. The current bid is $3,100 as of this writing, with 11 days left in the auction. [EaterWire]