Come on, face it, with all that has been going on of late, you need to give yourself a little boost by taking in one or more events at the sixth annual Tucson Culinary Festival. And, while you’re about it you’re also helping three great organizations; the Community Food Bank, New Beginnings for Woman and Children and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.

In past years, many of the events have sold out but, as a sign of the times, I’m told this year there are still tickets available for events taking place at four venues over four days.

Following is a rundown of events, but for more information and tickets, go online at www.tucsonculinaryfestival.com or call (520) 488-8601.

• Thursday (Oct. 23), from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., is the World Margarita Championship in Maynard’s Market in the Historic Train Depot, 400 N. Toole Ave. To compete for the "World’s Greatest Margarita" award, entrants must prepare a classic Margarita using a combination of specific ingredients, and don’t be surprised if one is Cointreau since Rémy Cointreau Group, is a new sponsor of the event this year. This year’s finalists restaurants are The Flying V at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Chad’s Steakhouse, Cuveé, Pastiche, Jonathan’s Tucson Cork, Papagayo, El Charro Café, The Lodge on the Desert, Cup Café at Hotel Congress, Blue Fin and Jax Kitchen. There will be a people’s choice award and professionally-judged winners. It’s a fun event. Tickets are $35 each and can be bought in advance online or at at the door up to a maximum of 300 guests.

• Friday (Oct. 24), from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., is the reserve wine tasting in the patio at the Canyon Café at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive. The event features small production, boutique wines, with appetizers created by 15 Tucson Original chefs to compliment the wines. Cost is $145 per person and is limited to 250.

• Oct. 25, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. is the grand tasting in the Grand Ballroom of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, the biggest party of the event featuring 200 wines and spirits and food from all of the Tucson Original member restaurnts. New this year will be a "grand lounge," described as a chic and sophisticated lounge where Master Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and the Cointreau mixologist Erin Williams will offer a Cointreau cocktail demonstration and there will be book signings and silent auction. The cost the grand tasting is $85 per person.

• Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., will be "Sun"Day brunch and copper chef challenge in the Kiva Ballroom at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Nationally-renowned Chef Norman Van Aken and Loews Ventana Canyon Executive Chef Marc Ehler will prepare the "new world" cuisine. As part of the brunch Chef Jim "Murph" Murphy, of Kingfisher and Bluefin restaurants, will go up against 2007 champion Jonathan Landeen, of Jonathan’s Tucson Cork, in the third annual Copper Chef competition.

Chain gang deals

Not that the good readers of Inside Tucson Business would entertain clients there — or would they — the chain restaurants show just how pressed they are in the current economy offering deals never before seen at this time of the year.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is offering a three-course meal starting at $11.99. That price includes a salad, choice of entree and a personal-sized dessert. Romano’s is owned by Brinker International, whose other brands includes Chili’s and On The Border, and just reported its quarterly earnings fell 35 percent per share.

Coco’s is offering a two-course meal for $7.99. Diners can choose from among 20 choices.

If $8 exceeds your budget, there’s Marie Callender’s, which is offering diners a choice from among five menu items for $6.99.

And if that’s too much, IHOP last week launched all-you-can-eat-pancake breakfasts for $4.99.

These prices are as low as I think you’ll find at a sit-down restaurant. As a long-time supporter of locally-owned, independent restaurants I wonder — and I worry — where this will lead.

$25 is the magic number

With that last thought in mind, I pass along these two $25 three-course dining specials from two locally-owned restaurants.

At Vin Tabla, a $25 special menu is available Mondays through Thursdays, except on wine dinner nights, and will be extended to Sundays starting Oct. 26.

Down the street, Terra Cotta has a three-course "bailout special" through the end of October. The offer is good for a starter of either tortilla soup or butter lettuce wedge salad, any entree and a mini dessert. The special went out as an e-mail to its regular customers so if you want it, act like you got the e-mail and ask your server for it. It’s that simple.

Back on Vin Tabla for a moment; the owners are getting ready to open their newest restaurant, Dove Mountain Grill. It’s supposed to open in December at Tangerine Road and Dove Mountain Boulevard in Marana.

• Vin Tabla, 2890 E. Skyline Drive in Plaza Colonial — http://vintabla.com — (520) 577-6210.

• Terra Cotta, 3500 E. Sunrise Drive — http://dineterracotta.com/

— (520) 577-8100.

Contact T.J. Katz at tj.katz@yahoo.com. Meals & Entertainment appears weekly.