Looking for a unique gift for foodies on your gift list? How about tickets for some of the fabulous food and wine events that will be coming next year? Here are a few ideas.

Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic presented by Bon Appetit, Jan. 28-30This event includes the MasterChef Challenge (an Iron Chef-style contest), grand tasting, cooking classes, and wine and cocktail workshops. Guest chefs include Joey Campanaro, Cat Cora, Ming Tsai, Hidekazu Tojo and François Payard. Events are priced separately.Call 1-888-920-2787 (Vilar Performing Arts Center) or visit beavercreek.com for prices and to make reservations.

“Salute to Escoffier” at The Broadmoor, Jan. 29-31This elegant weekend affair is an annual tribute to Auguste Escoffier, the man who became known as the king of chefs and the chef to kings, and who is credited with raising the status of chefs as professionals.The evening of Jan. 29 kicks off with a welcoming reception, where wine flows and appetizers abound. You can make a meal of the appetizers, or pace yourself and make reservations for dinner at the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Penrose Room.This will cost you extra, but it would be the icing on the cake for this decadent weekend.The Jan. 30 highlights include cooking demonstrations, a wine luncheon and an interactive cocktail class. That evening, the Grand Buffet offers five courses, in honor of the lavish cuisine that Escoffier made famous, and features more than 100 dishes. French wines and champagnes will be served.The next morning, enjoy an amazing brunch.A two-night package, which includes lodging, starts at $449 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes weekend events except the lunch Feb. 9, which costs $60 per person (and includes tax and tip).The Grand Buffet tickets can be bought separately for $180 per person.For information and reservations, see broadmoor.com or call 577-5733.

Wine Festival of Colorado Springs, March 5-6This fun-filled and informative weekend benefits the Fine Arts Center. The featured winemakers will be from South Africa. Friday evening there will be a winemaker seminar before the Grand Tasting & Wine Market Auction at the Broadmoor. The highlight of the event is the Gourmet Winemaker Dinner & Live Auction at the Garden of the Gods Club on Saturday night. The Friday seminar is $30 per person.After the seminar is the Grand Tasting & Wine Market Auction, where you can sip more than 300 wines and snack on treats from our city’s finest restaurants and caterers. Cost is $65 per FAC member; $70 per nonmember.Saturday features the Classic Wine & Cheese Seminar at the Garden of the Gods Club. Cost of the seminar is $30 per person.That evening is the Gourmet Winemaker Dinner & Live Auction at the Garden of the Gods Club. Cost is $150 per FAC member; $175 per nonmember.A package deal that includes all events is $300 per FAC member;$340 per nonmember. Call 634-5583.—Reach Farney at 636-0271. She appears Tuesdays on KOAA’s Comcast Channel 5 at noon.

Photo by