Agenda: 1/26 to 2/1

1. Chocolate Chat, finds answers to your burning chocolate questions by participating in a live, online chat with Dr. Robert Steinberg, co-founder of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Wednesday, January 26, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Free.

2. Trawler: A Journey Through the North Atlantic, travel writer and author Redmond O'Hanlon discusses his experiences aboard a Scottish deep-sea fishing trawler in the North Atlantic, Wednesday, January 26, 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., at The Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street. $15/person at the door, first come first served, no advance reservations (212.628.8383).

3. Winter Restaurant Week, three-course lunches for $20.12 and three-course dinners for $35.00 (beverage, tax and gratuity additional) at participating New York restaurants, Monday, January 24, to Friday, January 28, and Monday, January 31, to Friday, February 4.

4. Hudson Restaurant Week, three-course lunches for $15.05 and three-course dinners for $30.05 (excluding tax, tip and beverages) at participating Hudson County, New Jersey restaurants, Monday, January 24, through Friday, February 4.

5. Uncorking Ancient Vintages, exploration of the history of wine (with tastings), led by chef Bill Yosses, Thursday, January 27, 7:00 p.m., at the American Museum of Natural History, Linder Theater, first floor, 79th Street and Central Park West. $15 non/members, $13.50/members, students, senior citizens (212.769.5200).

6. Food Culture in the Meiji Era: Japanese & Western Harmony, The Japan Society hosts a lecture on the development of an East-West "fusion tradition" in Japanese cuisine at the close of the 19th century. Participants include Noriko Yanagihara, Japanese food specialist focusing on the preservation of Japanese culinary tradition and Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka of Leiden University's Centre for Japanese and Korean Studies (the Netherlands). Moderated by Elizabeth Andoh, lecturer and writer specializing in Japanese foodways and cultural affairs. The lecture (including reception and tastings) will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 6:30 p.m., at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street. $20/person, Japan Society members/$17 (212.752.3015).

ONGOING EVENTS

1. Have You Eaten Yet? The Chinese Restaurant in America, an exhibit exploring the Chinese restaurant’s origin and growth in America and its cultural significance, at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas (70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor). The exhibit continues through June 2005. Suggested admission is $3 (212.619.4785).

2. Cookin': A Sizzling Entertainment, "a fast-paced kitchen percussion show combining comedy, rhythm, and non-verbal performance," at the Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane (212.420.8000).