Several notable, annual food and drink events approach, and now's the time to be buying tickets, since a few do tend to sell out. Here are the deets on all, plus some other imminent events:

• I'll spare you the lengthy lists of every fine dining outfit's special Valentine's Day menu, but one event makes the holiday more than long, lascivious stares over candlelight: Seeds Community Café will host the Vegan Lovers Dinner Challenge at 6 p.m. on Friday. 

Tickets, $35, get you three sample and judge portions of appetizer, entrée and dessert courses (so nine eats in total) prepared by three different local chefs, and proceeds will benefit Seeds, the Vegan Society of Colorado Springs and Wild Places Horse Rescue. More info here: 
See related PDF V-DAY_FLYER.pdf

• The 2014 Colorado Indulgence Festival makes for a good make-up event if you fail to celebrate on Friday. Running from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday at the Antlers Hilton downtown, expect chocolates, mixed desserts, cocktails, wines, beers, coffees and educational seminars. Tickets ain't cheap, but hey, neither is luxury.




• Bristol Brewing Company will host two worthwhile drinking sessions late next week: the Smokebrush Porter release at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19 inside the taproom and the 10th annual Firkin Rendezvous at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 inside the downstairs fermentation room. Get tickets for the latter party here. 


• The Colorado Restaurant Association Pikes Peak Chapter 19th annual Food and Wine Expo quickly approaches on Sunday, March 9 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Broadmoor Hotel. Tickets are a fair $35 to sample widely from local food and drink outfits (seriously, you can punish it here) while enjoying the always entertaining chef's battle and newly added bartender's battle. 

Here's what went down last year and the year prior. And here's a fancy poster reminder you can print and tack somewhere so you don't forget.
See related PDF Expo_Poster_2014.pdf



This year, I'll be the media partner for chefs Nate Dirnberger and Beau Green from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. 

• And another early heads up: The Colorado Springs Choral Society's 29th annual Chef's Gala & Silent Auction 2014 is slated for Sunday, March 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Antlers Hilton. Tickets, benefitting the choral, are $95. Here's how it all went down in 2012, the last year we attended.