TABLE TALK: Reserve spot at progressive dinner early

The ever-popular Old Colorado City Progressive Dinner is back. It’s an event not to be missed, starting at 6 p.m. March 8. For $49 per person you visit four eateries along West Colorado Avenue, where you walk from place to place to be served four courses with four wines. It’s so much fun that the dinner fills within hours of being announced.

Call Pizzeria Rustica at 632-8121 for reservations. Seating is limited to 40 people.

Here’s a look at what to expect: Start at Pizzeria Rustica for a mixed antipasto plate with a glass of 2009 Terre Margaritelli Pietramala. Then you stroll down the street to Gertrude’s for tuna carpaccio salad with balsamic blood orange dressing and a glass of 2009 Chateau St Michelle sauvignon blanc. The entree will be across the street at Paravicini Italian Bistro: lollipop pork chop simmered in four-mushroom sauce over gnocchi with Melini chianti. You end the evening at Jake & Telly’s Greek Taverna for chocolate baklava and sipping of Kourtaki Mavrodaphne.

Tasty event
The Pikes Peak Colorado Restaurant Association Food Expo will be at the International Center at The Broadmoor noon to 3 p.m. March 6. Here is where you can sample food from more than 40 restaurants and watch the “Iron Chef”-style cooking competition. Cost is $27 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets will be available at The Airplane Restaurant, 1665 N. Newport Road; McCabe’s Tavern, 520 S. Tejon St.; and Pizzeria Rustica, 2527 W. Colorado Ave. Or visit ppcra.org.

Chefs warming up for contest
You’ll get a chance to taste the masterpieces created by chefs from 23 of the Pikes Peak region’s best restaurants and caterers as they go all out in the most-challenging culinary competition held in Colorado Springs: The Chefs’ Gala, starting at 5 p.m. March 6 at the Antlers Hilton Heritage Ballroom. Tickets for this sell-out event cost $95 per person, or buy nine and get one free ($855 per table of 10). Call 634-3737 or e-mail csc@cschorale.org. Visit cschorale.org to see a complete list of the participating chefs.

Pick that name
The owners of B&E Filling Station, 25 S. Colorado 105 in Palmer Lake, are getting customers involved with picking a new name for the eatery.

“The restaurant was named for the former owners, and we decided we wanted to personalize the place for us,” said Shrese Rudd, who with her husband, Trevor, owns the restaurant.

During January they asked customers for name suggestions. They trimmed the selection to four: The Bistro at Palmer Lake; The Bungalow Restaurant; Foli á Deux (a madness shared by two); and Amuse Bouche. To vote, e-mail shrese@bandefillingstation.com.

Prices slashed
Papa Murphy’s Take ’n’ Bake pizza stores in Colorado Springs and Denver have introduced “Everyday Low Pricing.”

They have reduced prices on various pizzas by at least a dollar to as much as $4. For example, the old price for a large (14-inch) pizza with one topping was $10.99. Now it’s $8. Coupons will not apply to the new pricing but will be honored on the old pricing.
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CONTACT US: Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to teresa.farney@gazette.com or call 636-0271. Do you manage a restaurant? Send us your e-mail address so we can keep in touch. Hear her “KVOR Table Talk” radio show noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays on 740 AM.