EVENTS
Frasca Food & Wine
Through Dec. 30: Holiday four-course menu. $80, excludes tax and gratuity. Closed Saturday. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966,
Jax Fish House Denver
Thursday: Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest and Party with judging from 6 to 8 p.m. Specials on oysters and drinks. Must be present to win. Winner gets free crab for a year. 1539 17th St., 303-292-5767,
BENEFITS
Cantina Laredo
Through Thursday: Bring a new children’s toy and receive a free Patron Silver Tequila and Citronge margarita. All toys will be donated to the Salvation Army. Streets of Southglenn, 6851 S. Gaylord St., Centennial, 303-795-0339,
Colfax Fights Hunger
Through Dec. 31: The second annual community food drive benefits Denver Urban Ministries () and Metro CareRing at (). Visit the website for a list of locations where food/nonperishables may be dropped off.
CLASSES
Cook Street
Today: French Classics, 6-9:30 p.m. $79; Thursday: Culinary Date Night, 6-9:30 p.m. $79. Reservations required. 999 Jasmine St., Suite 100, 303-377-3222,
Kitchen Table Cooking School
Monday: Meatless Mondays — Vegetarian regional cuisine, Tuscany Italy, a regional foods class” 6-9 p.m. $65; Dec. 29: Simply Spain — Valencia, land of paella, a regional foods class, 6-9 p.m. $95; Dec. 31: Couples class — Celebrating the New Year, 8-11 p.m. $300. Reservations required. 5375 Landmark Place, Suite 105, Greenwood Village, 303-220-9769,
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.”
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.
Man-O-Manischewitz Cook-off Through Dec. 31: Fifth annual competition to inspire home cooks to prepare a kosher meal using Manischewitz broth.
Welch’s Fruit Snacks Lunchbox Notes
Through Dec. 31: Share a note you have included in your child’s lunchbox along with a photo. lunchboxnotes
Wolfgang Puck recipe contest
Through Jan. 13: Aspiring cooks are invited to create a recipe using one of Chef Puck’s soups.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Arugula Bar & Ristorante
Four-course prix-fixe dinner, $49 before 6 p.m. Five-course prix-fixe dinner, $65 with prosecco cocktail, after 6 p.m. Reservations required. Limited a la carte menu also available. 2785 Iris Ave., Boulder, 303-443-5100,
Chimney Park
Four-course menu with optional wine pairings along with a la carte menu. Extended Happy Hour 9 p.m. to midnight. New Year’s Day special includes 25 percent discount on all bottles of wine. 406 Main St., Windsor, 970-686-1477,
1515 Restaurant
Three-course meal before 7 p.m. and four-course meal after 7 p.m. Prices vary. Reservations required. 1515 Market St., 303-571-0011,
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
Brazilian-trained Gaucho chefs will present and slice 15 signature cuts of meat along with gourmet salad and sides bar. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. or 5-10:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve; 4:30-10 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Lunch is $24.50, dinner is $42.50. Reservations required. 1513 Wynkoop St., 303-623-9600,
Frasca Food & Wine
Four-course menu with options for each course. $110, excludes tax and gratuity. Reservations required. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966,
La Sandia
Three-course tasting menu or signature a la carte dishes. Also drink specials at the Tequila Bar. Two locations: 8419 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree, 303-586-5511; 8340 Northfield Blvd., 303-373-9100
Mercury Cafe
Special menu, 5:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. with virtuoso jazz and classical music by Local Color, Ron Tomasic and Nexus. Reservations recommended. Call or visit the website for additional festivities. 2199 California St., 303-294-9281,
Opus Restaurant
Three-course prix-fixe dinner, includes a toast of Cava. $79 per person, excludes tax and gratuity. Reservations required. 2575 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-703-6787,
Parallel Seventeen
Five-course menu, $45. A la carte also available. New Year’s Day Bottomless Brunch, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., reservations recommended. 1600 E. 17th Ave., 303-399-0988,
Randolph’s Restaurant and Bar
Three-course prix-fixe dinner with flute of champagne, seatings at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. $52, $43 seniors. New Year’s Day Brunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $28, $27 seniors, $15 ages 13-16, $9 ages 5-12, free children 4 and under. Reservations recommended. Warwick Denver Hotel, 1776 Grant St., 303-318-7272,
Tamayo
Three-course prix-fixe dinner of Mexican cuisine. $69, $89 includes wine pairings. Mariachi Vasquez performs 9:30-11 p.m. Reservations required. Tequilas, margaritas and signature dishes in the bar and lounge. 1400 Larimer St., 720-946-1433
Wines of the Pines
Wine dinner with dancing, silent auction and champagne toast, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $79. Cash bar also available. Reservation deadline: Sunday. Rodney’s in the Village at Castle Pines, 872 W. Happy Canyon Road, Suite 100, Castle Rock,
Zengo
Four-course menu of Latin-Asian cuisine. $69. Reservations required. Small plates and cocktails in the bar and lounge. 1610 Little Raven St., 720-904-0965
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@ .
