LEBANON - To Randy Law's third-graders at Cascades Elementary School, nothing says Halloween like lo mein, fried rice and a giant bag of fortune cookies.

Law's students usually choose root beer floats or other sweet treats for their annual Halloween party. But this year, Keeanna Selby, 8, and Britany Stagnoli, 9, asked for Chinese food and the idea swept the class.

"I said, well, I've never done that before, but maybe we can do it," Law recalled. "We voted, and I was a little bit shocked, because most kids want a candy party."

His first thought was to have a few parents contribute takeout, but someone suggested calling Bing's Kitchen. When owner Kwong Mah heard the students had voted to give up candy for Chinese food, he offered to host the entire class.

So late Friday morning, Law, a handful of parent volunteers, and 25 third-graders trooped the few blocks between school and restaurant. They toured the kitchen, saw the in-restaurant bean sprout garden and learned about the different ways chefs slice vegetables for each dish.

Preparation and presentation takes longer than cooking the meal itself, Mah explained to the group. School takes just as much preparation: If you want to learn, he said, you have to do your part.

"A good school, Cascades," said Mah, whose six children all went through the elementary school and later graduated from college. "There are good teachers, good people, good principal."

Gillian Jacobsen didn't want to come at first. "I didn't like Chinese food," she explained. But after trying the lunch, she changed her mind.

"He's a nice guy," she said of Mah. "Someday, I want to marry a Chinese guy."

Alex Harrison was another no vote, to begin with. He was holding out for pizza. But then he learned he'd be dining on fried shrimp - a particular favorite - and learning to use chopsticks.

"A toast to Mr. Mah, the best Chinese cook in Lebanon!" he called, as the class applauded.