TABLE TALK: More eateries join ‘Fill Up' days effort

My column last week told you about the generous restaurant initiative to help The Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund. More than 20 restaurants will donate 10 percent of sales each Wednesday in December to "Fill Up for the Empty Stocking Fund."

Each restaurant made a commitment to donate at least one of the Wednesdays. Several pledged to participate in all three Fill Up days, including Chick-fil-A (Colorado Springs locations), Extreme Pizza (North Academy location), The Famous Steakhouse and Rumbi Island Grill.

Here's a look at other restaurants participating this Wednesday: California Pizza Kitchen, 1645 Briargate Parkway No. 203; Chopsticks Asian Bistro, 120 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.; Maggie Moo's, 1605 Briargate Parkway No. 107.; McCabe's Tavern, with beer provided by Bristol Brewery, 520 S. Tejon St.; Salsa Brava, 802 Village Center Drive and 9420 Briar Village Point; The Stagecoach Inn, 702 Manitou Ave.; Summit at The Broadmoor hotel; 1 Lake Ave.; and The Warehouse Restaurant and Gallery, 25 W. Cimarron St.

Family friendly

Feeling the pinch with gift giving near and the economy tanking? Not eating out with the family may seem like one way to stretch your pennies. But before you resort to slow cooker meals at home, check out the following Web sites that offer free or discounted kids meals during the week: mykidseatfree .com; coloradospringskidseatfree .com; coloradokids.com.

Food magazines

Here are a couple of new magazines that will whet your appetite: The Savory Maple and Edible Front Range.

Savory Maple is free and is here and there around town at various eateries. It has reviews of restaurants and chef profiles.

Visit savorymaple.com to post food events, cooking classes, recipes, or ask questions on the publication's message board. Under "Help" at the top of the page, you can find out where to pick up a hard copy.

Edible Front Range covers Colorado's Front Range from Fort Collins to Pueblo and areas south. It's all about the foods of Colorado and how they get to our tables.

Visit ediblefrontrange.com and click on "Find an Issue" to locate distribution points, such as the Whole Foods Markets.

Chef blogs

Brother Luck, executive sous chef at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, is a blogger.

"I just wanted to share one of the greatest sources of communication for anyone in the hospitality industry," he e-mailed. "Almost every chef now has a ‘blogspot' that allows each other to communicate our thoughts, feelings and recent adventures. I started mine a few months ago and have been able to stay on top of new trends and who's doing what in the industry because of them."

Visit chefbluck.blogspot.com to see what Luck is up to and links to some of his favorite food blogs. Check out how he developed his foie gras-stuffed fig recipe that will be a dish he will serve at the James Beard House dinner later this month.

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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.