Deals on Meals

Four new restaurants have been added to the roster of participants in the city's third New Haven Restaurant Week, Nov. 8-13, featuring prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at 29 diverse downtown eateries. The deal is a three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert, priced at $16.38 for lunch (after the year New Haven was founded) and $29 for dinner. Reservations are encouraged — this event is traditionally a big hit. Take a peek at lunch and dinner menus online at infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek, where you'll find tempting options from 116 Crown, Barcelona, Basta Trattoria, Bentara, Bespoke, Café Goodfellas, Carmen Anthony Steakhouse, Caseus, Central Steakhouse, Consiglio's, John Davenport's, Downtown at the Taft, Foster's, Geronimo, Heirloom, Ibiza, Kudeta, Leon's, L'Orcio, Miso, Miya's Sushi, Pacifico, Sage American Grill and Oyster Bar, Scoozzi Trattoria and Wine Bar, Soul de Cuba, Thali, Tre Scalini, Union League Café and Zinc.

Mixer Match

Kick off Restaurant Week with the Elm City Signature Cocktail Competition among bartenders from New Haven's 116 Crown, BAR, Bentara, Bespoke, Dolci, Heirloom, Ibiza, Leon's, Miya's Sushi and more on Nov. 8 from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Omni New Haven Hotel (155 Temple St.; 203-772-6664, omnihotels.com). Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win your spot among a panel of local celebrity judges. Tickets ($30) include copies of all the cocktail recipes. Part of the proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for a hospitality management student at Gateway Community College. Call 203-777-8550 or 800-332-7829 for info.

Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens

On Nov. 7 at 6 p.m., Owenego Inn (40 Linden Ave., Branford; 203-488-3805, owenego.com) hosts the annual "Men Who Cook" gala, a hearty buffet prepared by volunteer chefs to benefit Women and Family Life Center (96 Fair St., Guilford; 203-458-6699, womenandfamilylifecenter.org). Master chef Greg Benson of Friends and Company (11 Boston Post Road, Madison; 203-245-0462, friendsandcompanyrestaurant.com) oversees the cooks, who each contribute a dish of choice. Participants — many of whom return year after year — range from politicians (such as state Sen. Ed Meyer, bringing "Shrimp Delight") to area businessmen and teachers (like Yale School of Forestry's Peter Raymond, cooking "Chicken and Beef Satay") to stay-at-home dads and one guy who traditionally brought "Girlfriend's Salad" for years, who now brings "Ex-Girlfriend's Salad." Also on the menu are shrimp pesto noodles, curried lamb with bulgar, smoked spare ribs, veggie sushi and more. For tickets ($100; $35 of which is tax deductible), call the Women and Family Life Center.

Send food news & restaurant tips to kcei@newhavenadvocate.com