Tidbites | A week of special menus

0

With Valentine’s Day a week away on Feb. 14, and Mardi Gras Feb. 12, Boulder restaurants are lining up special menus. Jax Fish House on West Pearl will have specials for Mardi Gras, including chicken-fried frog legs, gumbo, a crab boil, blackened redfish and shrimp and grits.

Jax will also host a four-course meal for Valentine’s Day, offering oysters, scallops, lobster tail, ahi and halibut and ending with a choice of chocolate cake or beignets. Call 303-444-1811 for reservations for the $55 meal, with $25 optional wine pairing.

At the other end of Pearl, French restaurant Mateo will offer a four-course meal Feb. 14 to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The dinner, scheduled to start at 5, 7:15 and 9:30 p.m., includes choices like quail, venison and scallops; desserts options include carrot cake and chocolate soufflé. The meal costs $75 per person and wine pairing is an additional $50.

FORT COLLINS CONSIDERS EXPANDING SMOKING BAN

City officials in Fort Collins are considering banning smoking on the patios of restaurants and bars after dozens of complaints about the little-understood smoking ban exception.

Smoking is banned inside all restaurants and bars in Colorado. In Fort Collins, people can smoke on patios, but must stay at least 20 feet from doors or windows.

The city is hosting a survey online, available at fcgov.com/neighborhoodservices/smokingsurvey.php, until Feb. 15.

BRING IN YOUR BELGIAN

West Flanders Brewing Company is hosting a Belgian-themed homebrew competition. The “We Like It Belgian Style” competition challenges homebrewers to bring in an “audacious, unconventional and creative” Belgian-style beer made with an original recipe.

The winner, chosen by West Flanders’ brewers, will be “the most creative and intriguing beer in the bunch,” with no strict guidelines for judging. The winning brewer will spend the day brewing his or her recipe with West Flanders Brewmaster Brian Lutz, and the beer will be served at the restaurant throughout March.

Participants can download an entry form from wfbrews.com. A beer sample and the entry form must be submitted by Feb. 28.

Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com