ON FOOD: Please fave foodie with gift of event or trip

If you took a gander at our culinary gift guide today and still didn't see anything that struck your fancy for a special cook on your gift list, here are some more ideas: culinary events and trips. And while you're at it, make yourself part of the gift, because what I'm talking about are food excursions that are more fun to share with someone.

• The Bon Appetit Culinary & Wine Focus in Beaver Creek Jan. 29-31

This is a weekend of dining, sipping and skiing. World-famous chefs compete on the slopes and in the kitchen. The highlight of the event is the Master-Chef Challenge Friday evening. It's an Iron-Chef-style competition, where chefs are given a surprise ingredient and 20 minutes to create winning dishes. Events are priced separately starting at $35 per person for the MasterChef Challenge and topping out at $200 per person for the Celebrity Chef Ski Race and Awards Luncheon on Saturday. There are also cooking classes, wine and cocktail workshops and a grand tasting. Overnight accommodations cost extra. Visit beavercreek.snow.com, click events to see the complete schedule and buy tickets.

• "Salute to Escoffier" at The Broadmoor Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

This elegant weekend is The Broadmoor's annual tribute to Auguste Escoffier, the man who became known as the king of chefs and the chef to kings, and who is credited with raising the status of chefs as professionals. Jan. 30 begins with the "Taste of The Broadmoor" welcome reception, where wine flows and appetizers abound. This can certainly be a fine meal, but I'd suggest pacing yourself and splurge for dinner reservations at the Penrose Room, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Colorado.

This will cost extra, but it would be the perfect way to kick up your heels for a start to the decadent weekend.

Jan. 31 events include cooking demonstrations, a wine-paired luncheon and an interactive cocktail class. That evening, brace yourself for the Grand Buffet, with more than a hundred dishes. In honor of Escoffier, French wines and champagnes will be served.

The next morning, you can enjoy the amazing brunch.

A two-night package, which includes lodging, starts at $449 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes weekend events except the lunch Jan. 31, at $45 per person.

The Grand Buffet can be purchased separately for $180 per person. Call 634-7711 or visit www.broadmoor.com, and click on special events and packages, to make reservations.

• The Colorado Springs Chorale's Chefs' Gala at the Broadmoor's Rocky Mountain Ballroom Feb. 22

For 23 years, this had been the must-do event of the year. The feast and culinary competition pits 23 of the region's finest chefs, from the area's best restaurants and caterers, as they vie for "Best Appetizer," "Best Entree," "Best Dessert," and "Best of Show," judged by a team of celebrity chefs. While the judging is going on you get to taste the competitive entrees and place your vote for "People's Choice." Cost is $95 per person. Call 634-3737 for tickets.

• Taste of Vail, in Vail April 1-4

The weekend includes celebrity chefs cooking demonstrations, the Colorado Lamb Cook-Off, Mountain Top Picnic and Grand Tasting. Cost is $700 per person (does not include lodging). Visit www.TasteofVail.com to read about this year's chef lineup and to make reservations.

• Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen June 19-21

Sure it's down the road a bit, but this fabulous event sells out quickly when tickets go on sale Dec. 15.

This is the granddaddy of all food festivals, with such high-profile chefs as Bobby Flay, Jose Andres and Ming Tsai. More than 90 seminars will cover the latest food trends.

Cost is $1,085 before March 15 and $1,185 after. Call 1-877-900-WINE (9463) or visit www.foodandwine.com/classic for tickets. If you use your American Express Card there's a discount. And, 2 percent of all ticket sales goes to the Food & Wine's Grow For Good campaign, an initiative dedicated to increasing consumer access to locally and sustainably grown foods.

-

Reach Farney at 636-0271 or teresa.farney@gazette.com. She appears Tuesdays on KOAA's Comcast Channel 5 at noon.