The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
April 12: Ninth annual Spring Fling to showcase the release of several wines, 1-4 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres included. $25. 3011 E. US Highway 50, Canon City, 719-276-5191, 877-422-9463
Bistro Vendôme
April 14: “Adventures on the Wine Route” dinner series continues with selections from Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant of Santa Barbara, Calif. This month focuses on Languedoc. The series follows Lynch’s book through the regions of France and guests receive a passport to have stamped at each dinner (the second Monday of each month through November). Those who attend most of the dinners and purchase six bottles of wine from Marczyk Fine Wines receive the book, a bottle of wine and a gift card to Bistro Vendôme to use in 2015. Reservations required. 1420 Larimer St., 303-825-3232, bistrovendome.com
Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Through April 19: The resort’s Mountain View Restaurant has partnered with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for a Kidz Zoo Breakfast featuring animal interactions and a zookeeper Q&A, 8:30-10 a.m. April 13 and 19. $16 buffet, $12 continental, half-price for kids ages 9-12, free for age 8 and under. Mountain View also offers a Sunday Champagne Brunch. $32, $16 ages 9-12, free for kids age 8 and under. 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, 719-538-4000, cheyennemountain.com
Denver Art Museum
April 11: DAM Uncorked Wine Tasting with more than 300 wines along with hors d’oeuvres and beers, 6-9 p.m. Tickets vary; April 12:DAM Uncorked Dinner & Auction includes a seated dinner with live and silent auctions, 6-10 p.m. Tickets vary. 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, 720-913-0034, denverartmuseum.org
Frasca Food and Wine
April 14: Weekly four-course dinner series continues with Red Wines of Pax Mahle. $50 per person; wine pairings additional $45-$50. Reservations required. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966, frascafoodandwine.com
Izakaya Den
April 13-14: Kyoto Style Kaiseki eight-course dinner with sake pairings, 6 p.m. cocktails, 6:30 p.m. dinner April 13; 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner April 14. $125. Reservations required. 1487-A S. Pearl St., e-mail info@ sushiden.net, store.sushiden.net
Mizuna
April 13: Drink Pink Rose Tasting with Bonnano Concepts Wine Director Kelly Wooldridge, noon-2 p.m. $45. Reservations required. 225 E. 7th Ave., 303-832-4778, mizunadenver.com
Sports Column
April 9: The Smith & Forge Show of Strength launches a new hard cider, with activities including a photo booth and arm-wrestling machine, 4:30-7:30 p.m. 1930 Blake St., visit bit.ly/1fS6Ame to RSVP.
BENEFITS/ DONATIONS
Easter/Passover Denver Community Food Drive
Through April 13: Mile High United Way, Jewish Family Service’s Weinberg Food Pantry and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are teaming up to collect canned juice, fruit, pasta sauce, proteins and vegetables. Find a donation site at j
Joe’s Crab Shack
Through April 30: Second annual fundraiser for Autism Speaks and the Light It Up Blue campaign. Donations in exchange for coupons, t-shirts and more are offered.
CONTESTS
Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest
Deadline May 8: The 47th annual contest invites original recipes of seven ingredients or less and 30 minutes or less of prep time.
Classes
Almost Vegan Cooking
April 12: Grocery Store Tour, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $59. Reservations required. 16504 E. Dorado Ave., Centennial, 303-699-8661, almostvegancookingschool.com
Ashley Famous Cooking
Classes include The Perfect Brunch, Summer Salads and Dressings, Desserts, Bread Making and other cooking-class parties in the school or your home. Dates, fees vary. Reservations required. 8101 E. Dartmouth Ave., 720-535-4934, ashleyfamouscooking.com
Bear Creek Nature Center
April 12: Goat Cheese Demonstration & Tasting, 2:30-4 p.m. $10. Reservations required. 245 Bear Creek Road, Colorado Springs, 719-520-6387, elpasocountynaturecenters.com
City of Aurora
April 11: Couples Cook: Italian Pasta Creations & Vino, 6:30-10 p.m. $119, $90 residents (per couple), $69, $53 residents (per person); April 12: Cooking Techniques, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $90, $70 residents. Reservations required. Kitchen on the Green, Expo Recreation Center, 10955 E. Exposition Ave., 303-326-8630, auroragov.org/cooking
Cook Street School April 9: Gastro Tour, 6-9:30 p.m. $99; April 10: Cooking with Herbs and Spices, 6-9:30 p.m. $89; April 11: Culinary Date Night, 6-9:30 p.m. $89 (per person); Wine 101: A Guided Tasting, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $59; April 12: NYC Baking, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $89. Reservations required. 1937 Market St., 303-308-9300, cookstreet.com
Kitchen Table Cooking
April 9: Wine Foundation Class: Wine Tasting 101, 6-8 p.m. $55; Moroccan: A Night in Marrakesh, 6-9 p.m. $95; April 10: Thailand: The Land of Enchantment, 6-9 p.m. $95; April 11: Couples Class: Passionate in Portofino, 6-9 p.m. $240; April 12: Chicken 101, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $80; Couples Class: Spring in Siena, 6-9:30 p.m. $240 per couple; April 13: A Bunch for Easter Brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $80; April 14: Meatless Mondays: Southern Italy, 6-9 p.m. 80. Reservations required. 6380 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Suite 108A, Greenwood Village, 303-220-9769, kitchentablegv.com
South Denver Heart Center
April 9: Heart Healthy nutrition class/demonstration: Super Seeds, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Reservations requested. 1000 Southpark Drive, Littleton, 303-744-1065, southdenver.com
The Truffle Table
April 12: Perfect Pairings: Cheese Accompaniments, 4-5 p.m. $40. Reservations required. 2556 15th St., 303-455-9463, truffletable.com
SAVE THE DATE
MOPS Chops
April 17: A benefit for MOPS International’s Membership Scholarships features Melissa d’Arabian from the Food Network and a four-course dinner with selections from her “Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes & Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week” cookbook, 6:30 p.m. d’Arabian will also share her favorite tips in the kitchen and her own MOPS story. $125. Palazzo Verdi at 6363 S Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village, mops.org/mopschops
EASTER DINING
Chinook Tavern
April 20: Special menu with soups, appetizers and entrees along with a children’s menu, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations recommended. 6380 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village, 720-266-6000, chinookdenver.com
Elway’s Downtown
April 20: Special a la carte menu, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., 303-312-3107, elways.com/downtown
Ocean Prime
April 20: Opens at 11 a.m. with a special brunch menu and full dinner menu all day. Reservations on the website. 1465 Larimer St., 303-825-3663, ocean-prime.com Send items 10-14 days in advance to living@denverpost.com
