EVENTS
Chocolate festival
F & SA|Creede hosts its annual tasting event featuring samples of chocolate specialties 1-4 p.m. Reservations recommended.|$7|800-327-2102
Lunch date with Santa
SA & DEC. 3|Friar Tuck’s Restaurant hosts a buffet with Santa Claus, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. |$12.95, $4.95 children|
Radisson North Denver Graystone Castle, 83 E. 120th Ave., 303-451-1002, ext. 145| THORNTON
BENEFITS
Check Out Hunger
-DEC. 31|Shoppers are invited to donate to Food Bank of the Rockies’ Children Nutrition Network at Vitamin Cottage. |various locations
CLASSES
Paragon Culinary School
SU|”Basic Sommelier Series: Italy,” 12:30 p.m.|$65 | 3125 Sinton Road, 866-FOOD-101|COLORADO SPRINGS
Cook Street School
M-DEC. 1|Classic techniques cover the essentials, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.| $389 |
1937 Market St., 303-308-9300, cookstreet.com
The Seasoned Chef Cooking School
M & TU|Seafood secrets workshops, 6:30-9 p.m. |$125 |999 Jasmine St., Suite 100, 303-377-3222, theseasonedchef.com
CONTESTS
Great American Cake-Off
-SA|The Whirlpool Corporation hosts a nationwide search for America’s Most Unique Cake and the stories that go with them. To enter, send cake recipe, photograph and the story that exemplifies the “unique cake” to Whirlpool Brand Great American Cake-Off Contest, 444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60611. Entries may be submitted at whirlpool.com/uniquecake
Honey of a BBQ Tailgating Contest
-DEC. 1|Submit your favorite sauce, glaze or marinade recipe including at least 1/3 cup 100 percent pure honey for a chance to win $1,000. |honey.com.
Beer drinker of the Year
-DEC. 31|Wynkoop Brewing Co. is searching for the most passionate, knowledgeable beer-lover in the U.S. Submit a “beer resume” detailing your beer-drinking philosophy and displaying your understanding of beer, its history and its importance to civilization. The winner gets free beer for life at the Wynkoop.|wynkoop.com
In-Sink-Erator challenge
-DEC. 31|Write a creative essay (100-word maximum) describing how an instant hot-water dispenser would help heat things up for a chance to win a $10,000 kitchen makeover. Visit the website for an entry form. Mail entries to In-Sink-Erator Kitchen Makeover, 733 N. Van Buren St., Milwaukee, WI 53202| insinkerator.com
National Culinary Challenge
-JAN. 9|High school seniors may enter an original dinner or dessert recipe for a chance to win a full scholarship to Johnson & Wales University and a private lesson with celebrity chef Tyler Florence.|jwu.edu/culinary
AirBake Ultra Cookie Challenge
-JAN. 15|Parent-child baking teams are invited to enter their favorite “out-of-
the-box” cookie creation for a chance to win a kitchen makeover and college scholarship. Submit original recipes and entry forms to AirBake Ultra Cookie Challenge, care of M. Booth & Associates, 300 Park Ave. South, Floor 12, New York, NY 10010. Complete rules and entry forms available online.|wearever.com
Best Teen Chef 2006
-FEB. 10|High school seniors are invited to enter the competition for a chance to win a full scholarship to The Art Institutes and a private lesson with celebrity chef Tyler Florence. Local competition at The Art Institute of Colorado on March 11. |artinstitutes.edu/btc
UPCOMING
City of Aurora
NOV. 30|Learn tips and tricks for relaxing weekend brunch, including lemon-Ricotta Hotcakes with Blueberry Syrup and Vegetable Frittata, 6:30-9:30 p.m.|$37 residents, $48 nonresidents|Expo Recreation Center, 10955 E. Exposition Ave., 303-326-8630, auroragov.org/recreation|AURORA
Cake crafts
DEC. 3|Bring cookies to class and learn to decorate them like the ones you see in magazines, 1-4 p.m. |$30|4105 S. Broadway, 303-761-1522, cakecrafts.net|ENGLEWOOD
Cook Street School
DEC. 3-4|Holiday gingerbread houses class for ages 8-13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.|$89 |1937 Market St., 303-308-9300, cookstreet.com
Culinary School of the Rockies
DEC. 3-4|Fancy holiday cookies class, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.|$175|637 S. Broadway, Suite H, 303-494-7988, culinaryschoolrockies.com|BOULDER
Saverino
DEC. 3|Cooking class features traditional candies and cookies of Italy.|$40 |2191 Arapahoe St., 303-308-0764
Mail calendar items at least 10 days in advance to Food Calendar, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202; e-mail living@denverpost.com.
