TABLE TALK: Celebrate the holidays with an Italian feast

Eric Viedt, executive chef and owner of The Margarita at PineCreek, 7350 Pine Creek Road, brings his love of fish and seafood to us with Feast of the Seven Fishes Italian-themed holiday wine dinner at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 23. For $55 (plus tax and tip), you get eight courses of his expertly prepared seafood dishes paired with wine and a dessert. Call 598-8667. Visit coloradoeats.com/margarita/.

Go nuts

The Little Market and Deli, 749 E. Willamette Ave., is potica (poh-TEET-sah) headquarters for Colorado Springs. Potica, also known as povitica (poh-vee-TEET-sah), is a yeast-raised dough rolled around a variety of fillings that can be sweet or savory. It’s a favorite Slovenian treat, especially around Christmas. The Market takes orders for the one pound sweet variety for $11.99. You can also buy runza ($21.59 per dozen) and pre-order pierogi ($8.39 per dozen) from the store. Call 635-0769. Visit facebook.com/TheLittleMarketAndDeli.

Making the grade
The finalists for the Oscars of American artisan food, The Good Food Awards, were announced this week and some notable Colorado products made the list:
Pagosa Brewing Company Chili Verde Ale, Avalanche Cheese Company Goat Cheddar, Ritual Costa Rica and Madagascar Chocolate, Dancing Pines Distillery Bourbon, Whiskey and Rum, Leopold Bros. Navy Strength Gin, and Syntax Spirits Big Cat White Whiskey and Powder White Rum. There were 184 finalists from 31 states, chosen from among 1,366 entries. The 100 winners will be announced at the San Francisco Ferry Building Jan. 18.

Open for the holidays
Want to give the chef in your family a day off for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Several local restaurants will be open with special holiday dinners. Here’s a sampling:
• The Airplane Restaurant, 1665 N. Newport Road, special buffet 11-4 p.m. Christmas Day. Cost is $28, $20 seniors, $12 ages 4 to 12, 3 and under free. Details: 570-7656, coloradoeats.com/margarita/.
• Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, will have buffets in the Mountain View Restauranton Christmas Eve 6-10 p.m.Cost is $39, $19 for kids 9 to 12 and kids under 8 eat free. Christmas Day the buffet is served 11-5 p.m.Cost is $44, $20 for kids 9-12 and kids under 4 eat free. Details: 538-4060. cheyennemountain.com.
• The Doubletree Hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.will have a Christmas brunch with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.Cost is $24.95, $19.95for seniors, $16.95 for kids under 12. Details: 576-8900, doubletree.hilton.com.
• Ritz Grill, 15 S. Tejon St. will be open Christmas Eve until 4 p.m.and 6 p.m.- 2 a.m.Christmas night. 635-8484, ritzgrill.com.
• Springs Orleans, 123 E. Pikes Peak Ave., opens at 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. They will offer their regular menu; 520-0123, springsorleans.com.
• The Inn, 443 S. Colorado 105 in Palmer Lake, offers a Christmas Eve Buffet 4-8:30 p.m.in their Mozaic restaurant. It costs $30, $15 for children and kids 3 and under are free. Call 481-1800. Visit innatpalmerdivide.com/.

“KVOR Table Talk”
“KVOR Table Talk” guests on 740 AM noon to 1 p.m. Saturday:
• Kyle Gerstner, owner of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchise in Colorado Springs, talks about the new location to open at 511 Garden of the Gods on Saturday and his plans for future locations in the area. Visit freddysUSA.com.
• Lydia Vallejo Martinez, owner of Vallejo’s Restaurant, 111 S. Corona St., talks about her 50 years of preparing her mother’s traditional Mexican food. She will talk about her family’s holiday traditions and special Christmas foods. She takes orders for Christmas tamales for $12.50 a dozen. Call 635-0980. Visit facebook.com/vallejos-restaurant.
• Monse Hines, owner of Monse’s Taste of El Salvador, talks about the Salvadoran foods she prepared in a commercial kitchen and sells at area grocery stores. She will talk about her holiday traditions and special festive foods. Visit healthy-tasteofsalvador.com.
• Benjamin Gallegos, owner of Café Corto Coffee Gallery, 115 E. Kiowa St., talks about his heritage of Spanish and Columbian foods, which he prepares at his eatery. He will also discuss his holiday traditions and favorite foods. Call 577-4347. Visit cafecorto.com and facebook.com/cafecorto.
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Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to teresa.farney@gazette.com, 636-0271, Twitter @tffoodie or Facebook Teresa Farney. Hear Farney’s “KVOR Table Talk” radio show noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays on 740 AM.