This past Sunday, under two giant tents, the American-Vietnamese community of Charlotte celebrated the Vietnamese New Year at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church. The day was packed with activities for all ages including games, traditional singing and dancing, acting and, of course, lots of food. The main events of the day were without a doubt the egg roll and pho eating contests.

• Danielle Brodie
• - Matt Poilock shovels noodles into his mouth as he races the clock during the pho eating contest.

Davidson Farmer's Market and Summit Coffee join together to bring another Breakfast of Champions (the first happened last February) on Saturday, Feb. 16. They've challenged two vendor chefs, Millstone Meadows and Chef Charles Catering, to create their own signature chili, using as many ingredients found in the market as possible. While supplies last, 60 tickets will be sold (at $10 apiece, starting at 9 a.m.) to sample the spicy goodness these two chefs come up with. To wash it down, patrons will also get to sample four different North Carolina beers, provided by Summit Coffee.

And now I can't get the song "We Are the Champions" out of my head.

Whether you're single or part of a couple, everyone gets sick of the traditional wine and dine Valentine's Day experience from time to time. If the thought of a fancy meal has you yawning, here are a few alternative Valentine's Day plans for the more adventurous spirit.

• National White Water Center

Valentine's Day Zipline and Dine
The National Whitewater Center (5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy) will host the Zipline and Dine event on Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 15. However, the Feb. 14 time slots are sold out, so register quickly to grab the last spots on the 15th. The event will feature an evening zipline experience for two, followed by dinner by a roaring fire with craft beer and wine.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, but please call Guest Services to let them know of your dietary restrictions at 704-397-3900. Tickets are $75 per person, which includes two drink tokens, and may be purchased on the event website. This event is not limited to couples.

"It's so hard ... to say goodbye ... to yesterday ... ayyyyy."

That lyric from the classic Boyz II Men song played in my head when I read the press release from Pewter Rose Bistro, announcing its Farewell Party to benefit its displaced employees after closing Jan. 20 and to help cover the unexpected damage costs after structure and equipment problems.

The food, wine and silent auction will take place Feb. 10 at Bonterra Restaurant (1829 Cleveland Ave.) at 7 p.m. Wine selections are courtesy of Saintsbury, Bouchaine, and Solena vineyards.

• Saintsbury (as well as Bouchaine and Solena) has donated its products to help maximize fundraising.

"As we begin to mend our hearts from the loss of this family gem, our only desire is to give back to those who have been so loyal to The Pewter Rose over the years. The event will establish a 'trust fund' of sorts to help our faithful employees as they begin to find new work in this difficult economy," said Pewter Rose owner Susie Peck in a press release.

For your invitation to The Pewter Rose Farewell Party, email Peck at FarewellPewterRose@gmail.com.

Between returning emails, editing stories, updating our social media pages and website and a slew of other work-related duties, I somehow manage to squeeze in texting my best friend during the day. Today was no exception. (And here's the part where you, Eat My Charlotte readers, get interested.) We were discussing the potential restaurants we would visit during Queen's Feast - Charlotte Restaurant Week.

It's baaacccckkkkkkkk.

From Friday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 27, you can dine at all those fancy-schmancy restaurants you've always wanted to check out but were too broke to do so: $30 per person gets you a three-course meal. (Reservations are strongly recommended.)

What my best friend and I weren't discussing, however, is how indulging in the fine dishes of these restaurants probably doesn't bode well for our "Sexy Beast Mode" resolutions. One dish, maybe. But a three-course meal, beginning with a savory app like the one pictured below and capped off with a chocolatey dessert? Hello, calories.

• Terrace Cafe - Ballantyne Facebook
• Chicken Lollipops are one of the choices for an appetizer at Terrace Cafe.

But can you blame us?

Peruse the prix-fixe menus of more than 100 restaurants in the Charlotte area, from Lake Norman all the way down to South Charlotte and Fort Mill, to help you decide which restaurants you will grace with your presence. For my friend, her top choice has a lot to do with the restaurant's offerings rather than its reputation or upscale factor.

So, where are you going for Charlotte Restaurant Week? And how in the world did you decide?

The other day I was watching some mindless movie on TV - so mindless I can't even remember the name of the movie. Anyway, a snobby young woman made the comment that [insert whatever she and another girl were talking about] was as 1990s as brunch. And that got me to thinking - is the concept of brunch played out? I mean, I love going to brunch on Sunday afternoons, and I know plenty of people in Charlotte who do, too. Are we not cool?

Enter Indulge, the latest event co-promoted by The Sol Kitchen and Digital Divas (two local promoters known for throwing a good party). On Sunday, Jan. 13, Osso Restaurant & Lounge will host this brunch experience, featuring the three-piece band Harvey Cummings, followed by music courtesy of DJ Smitty.

The flier promises "great music, perfect ambiance and a cool & sexy crowd." There's no hint of old-school nor played-out here.

Reservations are limited - make 'em here. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• OssoCharlotte.com
• Blue Crab and ricotta crostini with a spicy chili jam.

There is no lack of New Year's Eve parties in Charlotte willing to help you ring in the new year as you hand them $100+ for a cheap glass of champagne and entry into their "exclusive" party. But if I'm going to spend $100+, it's going to include a meal, and a good one at that. Lucky for us, there are a few restaurants in Charlotte doing it up big on New Year's Eve. Here are a few to choose from.

• Kelly Davis
• Grateful Growers Pork Saltimbocca with country ham, sage, and white wine pork demi

LOCAL DELICACIES AT HARVEST MOON GRILLE

Harvest Moon Grille will be offering a three course menu featuring some items you won't find on its everyday menu. For $65 a person, diners may choose among four different options for their appetizer and entree, and three different options for dessert. The cost of the meal also includes a glass of champagne.

Entrée choices include:
- NC Grass Fed RIbeye Roulade, Roasted NC Oyster Mushrooms, Parsley Demi
- NC Striped Bass Medallion Fried NC oysters, Spicy Tomato Olive
Cream
- Grateful Growers Pork Saltimbocca, Country Ham, Sage, White Wine Pork Demi
- Ricotta Gnocchi, Grilled and Roasted Veggies

Chef Patty and Chef Cassie put their heads together to develop this menu, and their pick for favorite entrée is the Grateful Growers Pork Saltimbocca (pictured above). The pork comes straight from a heritage breed of pig from Chef Cassie's farm, Grateful Growers. Pork Saltimbocca is a traditional Italian dish, which translates to "jumps in mouth." The dish is typically served with prosciutto, but Harvest Moon Grille gives the dish a Southern twist and serves the pork with country ham that has been aged an entire year.

Reservations can be made by calling 704-342-1193 or through Open Table. Harvest Moon Grille is located at 235 N. Tryon St.

The Charlotte Lady Cats, Charlotte Checkers cheerleaders and heaps of fine hams are here to make dreams come true. No, not those kinds of dreams, you dirty bird. Be assured, it's something much more honorable.

Queen City Q, fine purveyors of pork on plate, have partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, the Charlotte Bobcats Lady Cats and the Charlotte Checkers CheckMates cheerleaders to combat hunger this holiday season with Hams for Hunger, an event aimed at feeding local families. Now through Dec. 19, Queen City Q, located off 6th Street in Uptown, will be collecting hams or the dollar equivalent to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. In exchange for the donation, participants will receive a $5 voucher toward food and drink at The Q.

• A good size for bowling?

The event culminates this Wednesday, Dec. 19 with a special frozen ham bowling contest, where
the Lady Cats and CheckMates will battle it out against the Bobcats mascot Rufus and Chubby, the Checkers mascot. The Q will also donate 10 percent of its sales that night to Second Harvest for the purchase of additional hams for local families. It is estimated that nearly half a million people live below the poverty line in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, and many of those people do not have enough to eat.

The event on Wednesday begins at 7 p.m. and goes until close. Food and drink specials will accompany the charity event. Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina adds, "On behalf of the almost 500,000 people living in poverty in our region, Second Harvest would like to thank Queen City Q for helping to raise awareness of hunger and for providing hams so that families in need can have a brighter holiday."

Ladies and gentlemen, let's see those hams!

Queen City Q is located at 225 E. 6th St.

Tomorrow, Dec. 15, Good Eats and Meets, along with the Charlotte Beer Club, will host SantaCon 2012.

According to the organizers, "Santacon is a non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political and non-sensical Holiday party that occurs once a year for absolutely no reason in over 260 cities and 36 countries around the world."

At all SantaCons worldwide, participants dress up in Santa costumes, but what happens during SantaCon is different from city to city. Richard Gruica of Good Meets and Eats explains what makes Charlotte's SantaCon so unique: "As far as we know, we are the only one that is a LOCAL craft beer crawl. We love supporting local."

The event begins at Four Friends Brewing at 11 a.m. and costs $10 to participate. For an additional $20, participants get a designated driver with a seat on the SantaCon bus. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite. There are only a few spots left on the bus, so buy your tickets ASAP to secure your place.

The group will eat lunch at Heist Brewery; however, there will be food trucks at all other stops. Due to the large number of Santas, it will be very difficult to use credit or debit cards, so participants are asked to bring cash to pay for all drinks and food. Specials on beer will be offered at every brewery.

The SantaCon schedule is below.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (SantaCon Sign-in)
Four Friends Brewing,10913 Office Park Drive

1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
NoDa Brewing, 2229 N. Davidson St.; Birdsong Brewing, 2315 N. Davidson St.

3 p.m.-4 p.m. (Serving lunch)
Heist Brewery: 2909 N. Davidson St. #200

4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 215 Southside Drive

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Triple C Brewing Company, 2900 Griffith St.

7 p.m.-10 p.m. (The CLTSantaCon After Party)
Location TBD

• Charlotte SantaCon 2012