EVENTS
Alfred Eames Cellars/Wine, Buffalo & Chocolate Holiday Trail
Saturday & Sunday: Annual Barrel and Wine Tasting with hors d’oeuvres and live music, noon-5 p.m., Alfred Eams Cellars, 11931 4050 Road, Paonia, 970-527-3269, . Wine, Buffalo & Chocolate Holiday Trail, a self- guided Hotchkiss tour offering wines, food and more at various locations, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 970-872-3019
Encore on Colfax
Tuesday: Four-course Spanish Wine Dinner, 6:30 p.m. $60, excludes gratuity and tax. Reservations required. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., 303-355-1112,
Frasca Food & Wine
Monday: Fourth annual White Truffle & Barolo Dinner, 6:30 p.m. The five-course dinner features chef Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson and Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey with vintner Matteo Molino of Piedmont, Italy and San Francisco’s acclaimed Michael Tusk, chef/owner of Michelin-starred Quince and three-time James Beard Awards Best Chef nominee. $550. Reservations required. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966, frascafood
Holiday Tea
Sunday: Annual tea includes refreshments, live music and holiday stories, 2-4 p.m. $9, $6 children and seniors. Tickets available at the check-in desk. Lafayette Library, 775 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303-665-4248
O’s Restaurant
Thursday: Great Divide Beer Dinner, four-course dinner paired with microbrews and live music, 7 p.m. $50. Reservations required. The Westin Westminster, 10600 Westminster Blvd., 303-410-5066,
Q’s Restaurant
Saturday: Q’s Food and Wine Series presents a “Bubbles Dinner” with five courses paired with champagne and sparkling wines, 6:30 p.m. $90, includes gratuity and tax. Reservations required. 2115 13th St., Boulder, 303-442-4880, qsboulder
Star Bar beer dinner
Today: Four-course beer dinner with Chef Michael Long of Opus Restaurant and New Belgium Brewing Co., 7 p.m. Two beers are paired with each course. $49, excludes gratuity and tax. Reservations required. 2137 Larimer St., 720-328-2420,
Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch Wine Tasting
Friday: Highlands Ranch Community Association and Highlands WineSeller presents its annual sparkling- wine tasting with appetizers, 5:30- 7:30 p.m. $20, $17 members and advance tickets. Proceeds benefit the Highlands Ranch Scholarship Fund. 9315 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch, 303-471-8859,
BENEFITS
Argonaut Holiday Wine Tasting
Thursday: Includes wines, champagne and liqueurs, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $35, $30 in advance. Proceeds benefit Canine Companions for Independence. Reservations required. Park Hill Golf Course, 4141 E. 35th Ave., 303-831-7788
Asti d’Italia
Thursday: The Italian restaurant is donating 15 percent of total sales to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Adams and Broomfield, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The volunteer-based nonprofit organization trains and supervises volunteers to represent child victims of abuse and neglect. The restaurant is located in The Orchard Town Center that is participating in the Share the Spirit Toy Drive. Toys can be dropped off at the Business & Community Connection Center through Dec. 15. 14648 Delaware St., Westminster, casa17th
“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/nonperishables may be dropped off. chun
“Parade of Darks”
Saturday: The 2010 Parade of Darks features 74 beers from 30 breweries and a silent auction, 1-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $30, $25 in advance. Proceeds benefit Metro CareRing, a local food pantry. Wynkoop Brewing Co., 1634 18th St., 303-297-9999, ,
CLASSES
Kitchen Table Cooking School
Today: “Lights of Hanukkah: A Specialty Class,” 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $75; Thursday: “Fantastic Confections: A Specialty Class,” 6:30-9 p.m. $55; Saturday: “Italian Regional Cuisine — Piedmont (Northern Italy), A Regional Foods Class,” 6-9 p.m. $95. Reservations required. 5375 Landmark Place, Suite 105, Greenwood Village, 303-220-9769,
Seasoned Chef Cooking School
Today: “The Holiday Candy Box Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $65; Thursday: “Cooking Light Workshop: Holiday Appetizers,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $70; Saturday: “Christmas Cookie Workshop,” 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $65; Monday: “Holiday Cookies Around the World Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $65; Tuesday: “Culinary Techniques Series: The Cutting Edge Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $75. 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 Tutti 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.” scharffen
Healthy Kids Challenge —
Middle School Culinary Contest
Through March 12: Healthy Kids Challenge and Del Monte present “Stirring Up Better Health for Kids.” Middle school students are invited to develop or modify a recipe to make it healthier using Del Monte brand fruits, vegetables or tomatoes as a primary ingredient. healthykids
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 recipe and an optional photo to lindsay.lehfeld@fleishman.com.
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 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. , bristol
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 a dream family reunion.
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
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.
