EVENTS
Chocolate Affair
Saturday: Celebrating all things chocolate at the 10th annual Chocolate Affair, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Festivities include a Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Treasure Hunt, a Chocolate Cookie Contest, carriage rides, face painting, storytelling and more. Various locations in Historic Olde Town Arvada, West 57th Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, 303-420-6100
Colorado Mountain College Culinary Institute Scholarship Endowment Dinner
Thursday: The Colorado Mountain College Culinary Institute and Keystone and Breckenridge resorts present “A Celebration of Haute Cuisine,” a six-course dinner of food from various resort restaurants paired with wines from the International Wine Guild. 6-10 p.m. $165 ($100 of each ticket is tax-deductible). Proceeds benefit the student scholarship program at the college’s Culinary Institute at Keystone and Breckenridge resorts. Reservations required. Keystone Ranch Restaurant, 1437 County Road 150, Keystone, 970-947-8378, e-mail kbrubaker@coloradomtn.edu
Elway’s Downtown
Sunday: “Elway’s Big Game Day Celebration,” 2-9 p.m. Festivities include a variety of appetizer and drink specials. The Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., 303-312-3107,
Frasca Food & Wine
Monday: Winemaker Silvana Forte presents her wines of Le Due Terre 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,
Great Chefs of the West
Tuesday: The National Kidney Foundation Serving Colorado, Montana and Wyoming presents the 28th annual Great Chefs of the West fundraiser, featuring hors d’oeuvres, entrees and desserts from several local restaurants and catering companies. Doors open at 6 p.m. A cocktail reception and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m. Musical entertainment is Six Feet Under the Starz. Tickets are $150. Reservations required. Sponsorship and corporate tables available. Exdo Events Center, 1399 35th St.,
Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve wine dinner
Thursday: Five-course wine dinner hosted by comedian Chuck Roy, 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner. $65, excludes tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Lucy Restaurant, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village, 720-274-6800
Miner’s Ball and annual Wine Tasting
Feb. 12; reservation deadline: Monday: A celebration of Leadville’s mining history includes a three-course meal, wines, museum tours, live entertainment, dancing and games, 5 p.m. Victorian or miner attire is encouraged. $80, $75 members. Table rates available. National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, 120 W. Ninth St., Leadville, 719-486-1229
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
Rock Bottom recently introduced its Bold Flavors limited-time menu with eight new dishes inspired by its handcrafted beers. It also has introduced two new cocktails.
BENEFITS
Brighton Sister Cities
Saturday: Annual benefit and auction includes a Polish dinner and auction with entertainment provided by the Krakowiacy Polish children’s dance group, 5 p.m. $10. Proceeds benefit scholarships for annual student exchange and the construction of a replica of Castle Gate in Ziebice, Poland, in Brighton Sister Cities Park. Brighton Recreation Center, 555 N. 11th Ave., 303-637-1252
Mustache Festival
Saturday: The seventh annual benefit for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Colorado at Vesta Dipping Grill, 5-11 p.m. The festival includes awards for the best mustaches and the unveiling of Vesta’s new handcrafted rye whiskey. The complete menu will be available. DJ Bobby C Sound TV will provide entertainment at 9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will help 5-year- old Cole travel to San Diego and SeaWorld. Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St.,
USAirport Parking Food Drive
Through Feb. 28: Customers who donate any quantity of nonperishable food items (cans only) will receive a coupon for a future trip as part of the fifth annual food drive to support the Food Bank of the Rockies. Details at
CLASSES
Cake Crafts
Today-Feb. 23 & Thursday-Feb. 24: “Cake Decorating II,” 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays or Thursdays, $80 includes book and supply kit; Saturday: “Valentine Candy Making,” 1-4 p.m. $45. Reservations required. 4105 S. Broadway, Englewood, 303-761-1522,
City of Aurora
Thursday: “Mexican Cooking: Menu 2,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $60, $46 residents; Saturday: “Savory Soups and Breads,” 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $60, $46 residents; Tuesday: “Japanese Restaurant Favorites,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $60, $46 residents; “Just Desserts,” wine tasting, 7-8:30 p.m. $31, $24 residents (this tasting is at the Summer Valley Center, 17400 E. Lehigh Place). Reservations required. Kitchen on the Green, Expo Recreation Center, 10955 E. Exposition Ave. 303-326-8630,
Hudson Gardens & Event Center
Monday: Speaker and local author Julie Pech (“The Chocolate Therapist”) presents an International Chocolate and Wine Pairing, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Four wines from around the world are paired with selected chocolates. Reservations required. 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, 303-797-5722,
Seasoned Chef Cooking School
Today: “Culinary Techniques Series: Mile High Baking Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $60; Thursday: “Culinary Techniques Series: Mastering Sauces Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $70, knife sharpening available; Saturday: “Amazing Braising Workshop,” 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $70; Monday: “Classic Spanish Cuisine Workshop,” 6:30-9:30 p.m. $75; Tuesday: “Chocolate and Wine for Your Skin Workshop,” 6:30-8:30 p.m. $65. Reservations required. 999 Jasmine St., Suite 100, 303-377-3222,
Wine Making Basics
Saturday: Learn how wine is made, the bottling and labeling of wine and various types of grapes, 2-4 p.m. Reservations required. The class is in Greenwood Village, call 303-797-5722,
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.
Best Teen Chef Competition
Through Friday: High school seniors graduating in 2011 are invited to enter the Best Teen Chef Competition at The Art Institute of Colorado. Seniors must submit an entry and release form by Friday. Deadline for complete entries into the competition is Feb. 25. Selected entrants will progress to the local cook-off competition April 30. 303-824-4901, 303-824-4846,
Folgers Jingle Contest
Through March 1: Individuals and groups of four or fewer may submit video entries of their own original version of the “The Best Part of Wakin’ Up” jingle.
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.
National Corn Bread Cook-off
Through March 1: Accepting entries for original main dish corn bread recipes for the 15th annual National Corn Bread Cook-Off, presented by Martha White and Lodge Cast Iron. Visit the website and click on “Promotions & News.”
Wahoo’s Fish Taco
Through Feb. 28: Create a 30-60 second jingle on the theme that Wahoo’s is “More than fish, more than tacos.”
SAVE THE DATE
Winter Beer Festival
Feb. 12: BierWerks Brewery presents the inaugural Winter BierFest featuring dozens of beers from 10 Colorado breweries including BierWerks, A.C. Golden, Dry Dock Brewing, Great Divide Brewing, Del Norte Brewing, Durango Brewing, O’Dell Brewing and others, 2-6 p.m. $30, $25 in advance, includes souvenir beer mug. The Winter Bierfest is held in combination with the Woodland Park Arts Alliance Wine Tasting, also at the Cultural Center. Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park, 719-248-4468,
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.
