Table talk

The Confluence Literary Festival in Moab is celebrating eating and writing, and local food sustainability. Themed "Eat the West," the event is Oct. 20-25, and includes intensive writing workshops with Slow Food Inc. authors, local food tasting events, a farmers market and Mountain Film Festival's films about food. Guests authors from the Slow Food Movement include Gary Paul Nabhan, Deborah Madison, Susan J. Tweit, Ann Vileisis, David Masumoto and Jack Loeffler. The festival will take place in various venues including the MARC, Star Hall, Grand County Library and Swanny City Park. Ticket prices vary from free to $10. Writing workshops are $75-$475 (www.moabconfluence.org).

Costa Vida has added baked fish tacos to the chain's health-conscious menu options. The baked-to-order tacos include a baked cod fillet, seasoned with honey, jalepeno and cilantro, and served with crispy cabbage and avocado ranch sauce. The taco was created by executive chef Dave Prows. The Utah-based restaurant chain also offers gluten-free menu items (www.costavida.net).

Aimee's Taylormade Meals is offering an introductory offer of two meals for $35, groceries not included. Personal chef Aimee Kener does the grocery shopping, prepares and packages meals for your refrigerator or freezer (www.aimeestaylormademeals.com).

Buca di Beppo is celebrating World Pasta Day on Oct. 26. Guests who buy a small or large pasta will receive a free serving of spaghetti as well as a 16-ounce package of Rummo Spa pasta to cook at home (www.bucadibeppo.com).

French's Foods is sponsoring a Live National Cook-Off, with a grand prize of $25,000. Recipes should be original, easy-to-make and use at least one French's product. They should be submitted by Oct. 31 at www.frenchsfoods.com.

Sunflower Farmers Marketsare selling reusable pink grocery bags through October. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The bags are 99 cents each.

Sunflower will also feature product specials and offer nutrition education (www.sfmarkets.com).

Rumbi Island Grill, founded in Salt Lake City in 2000, opened its first California restaurant Sept. 21 in Mission Viejo. Rumbi now has 25 operations in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and California.

The Trailing of the Sheep Festival takes place in Sun Valley, Idaho, Oct. 9-11. There are workshops on cooking with lamb, lamb tastings with Sun Valley chefs, an art and lamb foodie fest, lamb specials at local restaurants, storytelling, the 60th annual Basque Dinner, a folklife fair and a Lamb Feast Fundraiser (www.trailingofthesheep.org).

Marie Callender's annual pie sale runs through Oct. 31. Whole pies regularly priced between $10.49-$15.49 are now $6.99, plus pie tin (www.mcpies.com).