Table talk

Rooster's, 748 W. Heritage Park Blvd., Layton, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a Parking Lot Pig Party from 5-10 p.m. Thursday. The brew pub restaurant will have a live band, prize drawings, birthday cake and free homemade root beer. The nearby Striders running store, 1986 N. 400 West, is hosting a "Striders Party Run to Roosters" at 6 p.m. that night, with special prizes for participants who run, jog or stroll from the store to the Pig Party (801-728-9121).

Chuck-A-Rama Buffet is celebrating its 40th birthday Sept. 6 with a Birthday Bash-a-Rama. Lunch will cost $1, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the restaurant's 744 E. 400 South location. This is the original lunch price when Chuck-A-Rama opened in 1966. At every Chuck-A-Rama restaurant, patrons can spin a prize wheel for prizes and discounts. Between Sept. 6-17, customers at Chuck-A-Rama can enter to win a two-night stay at the Bar-N Ranch in West Yellowstone, or a Dutch oven and cookbook.

Sundance is hosting a Food and Wine Festival Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The $50 admission includes access to all restaurant and wine booths. Participating restaurants are: Foundry Grill, Zoom, The Tree Room, The Blue Boar Inn, Cafe Trio, Chimayo, Fresco Italian Cafe, Grappa, Lugano, Pine, Tony Caputo's Market and Deli, and Wahso (801-223-4567).

The Lion House is sponsoring a pie-baking competition in honor of its 150th anniversary. Preliminary contests take place Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., with 15 spots available at each. First- and second-place winners from these contests will come back for the championship on Oct. 30.

The champion will receive an overnight stay at The Inn at Temple Square, a $75 gift certificate and a set of Lion House cookbooks. The winning pie will be featured in the Pantry Restaurant. Entry pies must be made from scratch and will be judged on appearance, taste, texture and creativity (800-546-6449, ext. 3250).

The Downtown Dine O'Round is set for Sept. 14-30. Patrons can enjoy a three-course meal at either $15 or $25 per person at 35 different participating restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City (www.downtownslc.com).

The 47th National Chicken Cooking Contest is accepting original recipes through Oct. 15. One person from each state will be chosen to compete in the finals in May in Birmingham, Ala. The recipes are judged on taste, appearance, simplicity and overall appeal. Send recipes to NCCC, P.O. Box 27997, Washington, DC 20038-7997 (www.eatchicken.com).

The Utah State Fair's Living Arts Handbooks are now available. These books contain entry deadlines, rules and entry forms for entering State Fair competitions in food categories, as well as cooking contests sponsored by various food companies. Call 801-538-8400 for a handbook, or download rules and entry forms from www.utahstatefair.com.

---

Submit announcements to Valerie Phillips, food editor, Deseret Morning News, 30 E. 100 South, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110; by fax to 801-237-2550; or by e-mail to vphillips@desnews.com.