Table talks

Christi Paulson, a first-grade teacher at Riley Elementary School in Salt Lake City, has won the 2010 National Agriculture in the Classroom Program Teacher Award. The awards program recognizes teachers for their efforts to re-establish connections between food and agriculture so that students understand how food is produced and where it comes from.

Paulson, who is also the leader of Slow Food Utah, is one of five national winners. She receives an honorarium of $500 and up to $1,500 for travel-related expenses to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Baltimore, Md., in June. Some of her lessons included cycles in nature, making bread from wheat kernels, composting with worms, learning how burgers, buns and condiments are made, and making a movie showing the students and their schoolyard garden.

Baskin-Robbins is sponsoring its 31 Cent Scoop Night April 28, 5-10 p.m., at stores nationwide. Price for a 2.5-ounce scoop of any flavor ice cream is 31 cents. As in past years, this is also a fund-raiser for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Last year's event sold more than a million scoops of ice cream (www.baskinrobbins.com).

The Blue Boar Inn & Restaurant will offer a five-course, fixed-price Mother's Day brunch menu on May 9, with choices of entrée such as pan-seared salmon with corn and edamame succotash. Cost is $40; seating is from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (888-650-1400 or www.TheBlueBoarInn.com).

Harmons Grocery Stores raised $187,234 for Special Olympics Utah during a monthlong Frozen Food event. Harmons donated 5 percent of its frozen food net sales during March. Local Special Olympics Utah teams sold root beer floats. Harmons also offered Utah Grizzlies discount ticket vouchers, with the Grizzlies donating $4 for every voucher turned in for a ticket.

Roosters in Ogden and Layton is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a "Dine for 2 for $15" special, through June 15. The anniversary menu includes favorites such as fish tacos, hot wings and Italian sausage penne. Roosters commemorative glasses are $5 with drink purchase until April 26. Customers can send in stories and photos of Roosters memories to kym@roostersbrewingco.com. Best stories will be highlighted at the brewpub's anniversary bash in June.

The Sears Chef Challenge is seeking 24 aspiring chefs to compete for a newly renovated Sears kitchen and up to $20,000 donated in their name to a charity food bank in their hometown. Contest information is at www.searschefchallenge.com.