EVENTS
Bácaro Venetian Taverna
The Boulder restaurant is celebrating its 13th anniversary with a variety of customer-appreciation specials in November. First Bite Boulder, a multicourse meal for $26, is offered through Saturday; Prezzo Fisso/Fixed Price dinner menus, $16 per person, Sunday-Nov. 28. 921 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-4888,
Beaujolais & Beyond Wine & Food Festival
Thursday: The French-American Chamber of Commerce presents the 12th annual festival offering a variety of French wines along with appetizers, entrees, cheeses and desserts from more than 20 Colorado chefs, 6-10 p.m. $65, $55 in advance. Mile High Station, 2027 W. Colfax Ave., 303-695-7818, ext. 104,
“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About: BEER”
Today: Learn about the history of beer, botany of hops, and brewing at home with guest speakers Maureen Ogle (historian and author of “Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer”), Darwin Davidson (technical director at S.S. Steiner, Inc.) and Charlie Papazian (president of the Brewers Association), 7 p.m. Free. University Memorial Center (UMC) and Glenn Miller Ballroom, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-6892,
First Bite Boulder
Through Saturday: Restaurant week in Boulder county featuring $26 fixed-price menus at dozens of restaurants in Boulder, Niwot, Lafayette, Longmont and Louisville. Reserve now. Visit for more info
Flagstaff House
Through Nov. 30: Offering two special menu additions this month: a Truffle Tasting meal with white truffles from Alba, Italy, and black truffles from Burgundy, France. The five-course meal is $250 or a white truffle appetizer is $80. There’s also a five-course Fall Tasting Menu for $68, additional $36 for paired wines. Reservations required. 1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, 303-442-4640
Frasca Food & Wine
Today: Four-course dinner with Michael Chiarello, chef and owner of Bottega restaurant in Napa Valley and the author of seven cookbooks. $160, excludes tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Diners receive a signed copy of Chiarello’s most recent cookbook, “Bottega,” and NapaStyle sea salt. Monday: Ricco Thompson presents the Wines of Cordero do Montezemolo at the next weekly four-course dinner. $45 per person; wine pairings are an additional $30-$45. Reservations required. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966,
Magnolia Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Through Saturday: Offering a three- course menu for $26 as part of First Bite Boulder. Reservations required. 1381 Forest Park Village, Lafayette, 303-665-3080
Restaurant Kelly Liken
Tuesday: “Bites and Flights Night” offered until 7 p.m. at the bar every Tuesday through Dec. 20. The menu will change weekly based on what is in season and include side-by-side pairings of wine, cocktail, and beer flights along with canapes. $25. Reservations recommended. 12 Vail Road, Vail, 970-479-0175,
Thanks-for-Giving Tea
Saturday: Moms, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, sisters and girls of all ages are invited to this traditional afternoon tea, 1-2:30 p.m. $12, $10 residents. Reservations required. Commerce City Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Drive, Commerce City, 303-289-3659
BENEFITS
“Colfax Fights Hunger”
Through Dec. 31: The second annual community food drive benefits Denver Urban Ministries () and Metro CareRing at (metrocare ). Visit the website for a list of locations where food/non-perishables may be dropped off.
Denver Rescue Mission
Requesting donations of at least 6,000 frozen turkeys, weighing 12 pounds or more, to feed the homeless and poor during the holiday season. Turkeys can be dropped off at the Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter, 1130 Park Avenue West. 303-297-1815,
“Wines for the Holidays”
Friday: The fourth annual wine tasting features local and international wines from Balistreri Winery, Spero Winery, Creekside Cellars and others along with a silent holiday auction, 6-8:30 p.m. $25. Reservations required. Proceeds benefit the Arvada Community Food Bank. Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St., Arvada, 720-898-7400
CLASSES
Camp Culinary Holiday Cooking Classes
Saturday: “Side Dish Secrets: Timing is Everything,” 3 p.m. $25. Reservations required. Boulder, 303-819-9017,
City of Aurora
Today: “Holiday Small Plate Buffet,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $56, $43 residents; Thursday: “Holiday Sweet Treats,” ages 3-6 with parent, 10 a.m.-noon, $31, $24 residents; “Fowl Tasting,” holiday wine tasting, 7-8:30 p.m. $29, $22 residents; Saturday: “Phyllo & Puff Pastry,” 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $56, $43 residents; Monday: “Holiday Pies,” ages 12-16, 4-6:30 p.m. $42, $32 residents; Tuesday: “Take and Bake Thanksgiving Pies,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $60, $46 residents. Reservations required. Kitchen on the Green, Expo Recreation Center, 10955 E. Exposition Ave. 303-326-8630, recreation
Generous Servings
Saturday: “Thai Cooking,” 6-9 p.m. $68; Monday: “The Zen of Chopping: Knife Skills (Vegetarian),” 6-8:30 p.m. $60. Reservations required. 3801 W. 32nd Ave., 303-455-9730,
Seasoned Chef Cooking School
Today: “Easy and Elegant Thanksgiving Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $70; Thursday: “Sumptuous Sides Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 $65; Saturday: “Gourmet Gifts From Your Kitchen Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $65. Reservations required. 999 Jasmine St., Suite 100, 303-377-3222,
CONTESTS
Alexia Foods
Through March 1: “Reinvent a Classic With Alexia,” vote for a potato and seasoning pair and then match it with a French-fry cut. The new Alexia fry chosen by the most consumers will be available in stores in fall 2011.
Chocolate Adventure Contest
Through Jan. 2: Scharffen Berger’s and present the fourth annual “Chocolate Adventure Contest — Cupcake Edition 2010.” Bakers are invited to develop an original cupcake recipe using Scharffen Berger chocolate and one or more of 14 “adventure ingredients.”
Folgers Home for the Holidays
Through Nov. 30: Five families will win a holiday trip home by submitting a 200-word essay answering, “What is the best part of wakin’ up at home during the holidays with Folgers coffee?”
Hungry Jack
Through Dec. 17: Hungry Jack and Adam Gertler from the Food Network present the second annual “Use Up the Box” contest, a recipe challenge using Hungry Jack pantry staples such as instant mashed potatoes, pancake mix and syrup.
Man-O-Manischewitz Cook-off Through Dec. 31: Fifth-annual competition is designed to inspire home cooks to prepare a kosher meal using Manischewitz broth. manischewitz
Mango Holiday Menu Challenge
Through Dec. 10: Mango fans are invited to create a “mango-centric dish.” Categories change every week; visit the website for information. E-mail their recipe and an optional photo to lindsay.lehfeld@fleishman .
Pei Wei Asian Diner
Through Dec. 20: Searching for an international correspondent to accompany executive chef Eric Justice on his travels to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea in search of culinary inspiration for Pei Wei’s next dish. The correspondent will document the journey and share the experience via blogs, photo posts and video uploads. Pei Wei Asian Diner is owned and operated by P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. Entry page: blogasia; website:
Pillsbury People Essay Contest
Through Dec. 20: Submit a brief essay on your favorite sweet treat and the reason why you love to bake it.
Smokebrush Porter Beer Label Design Contest
Through Dec. 10: Bristol Brewing Co. and the Smokebrush Foundation are seeking designs from Colorado residents for the 2011 edition of the Smokebrush Porter Beer. Design entry is free. ,
Smucker’s
Through Dec. 10: Share a family recipe that has been passed down for at least two generations and the story behind it. Grand-prize winner will receive $20,000 to plan their dream family reunion.
Taste of Home Teachers Recipe Contest
Through Nov. 30: Accepting submissions in six categories including “Appetizers & Snacks,” “Soups, Salads and Sides,” “Entrees,” “Desserts,” “Bake Sale” and “Healthy Recipes.” Three winners will be selected. or
Welch’s Fruit Snacks “Lunchbox Notes”
Through Dec. 31: Share a note you have included in your child’s lunchbox along with a photo.welchsfruit
SAVE THE DATE
Creede’s Chocolate Festival
Nov. 26-27: The 21st annual two-day festival celebrates all things chocolate, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Festivalgoers can vote for their favorites each day. Tickets are $8, reservations encouraged. Various locations in downtown Creede, 800-327-2012, 719-658-2374, e-mail: office@creede.com
Mail items at least 10-14 days in advance to Food Calendar, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202; fax 303-954-1679, e-mail living@denverpost.com.
