2 Salt Lake food events are sure to tempt your taste buds

Two foo events are taking place in downtown Salt Lake City in the next week.

The Downtown Dine O'Round, Thursday (Sept. 14) through Sept. 30, has more than 30 Salt Lake restaurants offering a special three-course dinner for either $15 or $25 (drinks and tips are extra). According to organizers, the Downtown Dine O' Round has attracted thousands of diners to Salt Lake City restaurants since it began three years ago.

Diners can enter a drawing to get a free meal at each of the participating restaurants. The restaurants will still offer their regular menus, as well.

Participating restaurants, with phone numbers and addresses, are listed online at www.downtownslc.com.

Eateries serving $25 three-course meals are: Avenues Bakery & Bistro, Bambara, Butterfly, Caffe Molise, Garden Cafe at the Grand America Hotel, Ichiban Sushi, Market Street Grill, Market Street Oyster Bar, Martine, Melting Pot, Metropolitan, Mikado Downtown, The New Yorker, Red Rock Brewing Co., Samba Grill, Spencer's for Steaks and Chops, Takashi, Thaifoon, Taste of Asia and Vienna Bistro. I'd call ahead to find out what entrees are offered and if reservations are required.

Those serving $15 three-course meals are: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, Buca di Beppo, Cafe Pierpont, Cannella's, Cedars of Lebanon, Christopher's Seafood & Steakhouse, Faustina, Garden Restaurant at the Joseph Smith Building, Lamb's Grill Cafe, Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine, McGrath's Fish House, Oasis Cafe, Panache Wine Bar, Sage's Cafe, Squatters Pub Brewery and Zola.

The 20th Annual Great Salt Lake Chili Affair is Sept. 20 at the Salt Palace Exhibition Hall C. At this fund-raiser for The Road Home, local restaurants donate their own style of chili, as well as salads, breads and desserts. At 5:30 p.m. there's a social hour, live and silent auctions and a judging of the chili. Diners can begin sampling the food at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, or $300 for a table of eight (355-1433).

Some participating restaurants are Blue Boar Inn, Boston Deli, Catering by Bryce, Fiddler's Elbow, Gastronomy, Loco Lizard, The New Yorker, Pinon Market and Cafe, Terrapin Station and Cowboy Grub.

The proceeds will support The Road Home's services and programs for the homeless.

Here's the chili recipe from the Pinon Market and Cafe, one of the restaurants participating this year:

CHICKEN AND WHITE BEAN CHILI

2 cups chopped yellow onions

2 cloves minced garlic

1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons dried oregano

4 cups cooked and drained white beans