Vermont Restaurant Week: April 29 - May 5

Last year's inaugural Vermont Restaurant Week was such a huge success that Seven Days is bringing it back for 2011, and City Market is once again a proud sponsor. This year's celebration is April 29-May 5 — 2 weeks earlier than last year, to give local restaurants a much-needed shot in the arm during Mud Season. We hope you'll agree that Vermont Restaurant Week is the perfect way to usher in spring.

In addition to dining out at 80+ participating restaurants, Seven Days will host a special event series including a Culinary Pub Quiz at Nectar's, a Sangria Smack-down at Red Square, a screening of "Big Night" at Palace 9 and The Visual Feast food art show at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery on Pine Street. Affordable childcare is part of the deal. Parents can enjoy a quiet dinner for two knowing their kids are safe and supervised at the Greater Burlington YMCA. Professional trained childcare providers will be on duty the evenings of Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The cost is $10 per child for Y members; $14 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is required. The full event schedule and list of restaurants is available at vermontrestaurantweek.com.

Interested in giving back to your Vermont neighbors? Look for a virtual food drive to support Vermont Foodbank on the Restaurant Week website, or you can make a $10 mobile donation by texting "FOODNOW" to 52000. Ten percent of the proceeds — from Restaurant Week corporate sponsors and events — will be donated to the Vermont Foodbank.

Several new sponsors are supporting this year's effort in conjunction with our generous veterans: presenting sponsor Vermont Federal Credit Union and premier sponsor City Market/Onion River Co-op. Welcome aboard to new premier sponsors: Vermont Butter & Cheese and Small Dog Electronics as well as hospitality sponsor Willard Street Inn. Farrell Distributing presents this year's official wine: Root 1, and official beer from: Long Trail Brewing. Thanks again to media sponsors WCAX-TV and The Point for helping to once again spread the good word.

For more info, visit vermontrestaurantweek.com.