Arizona: Free German, French & Italian Wine Tasting (Dec. 19)

Illinois: "The View From the Kitchen: An Upstairs-Downstairs Look at Frank Lloyd Wright's Most Famous House" (Dec. 19)

New York: 8th Annual Coquito Tasting Contest (Dec. 19)

Texas: "Treats of Texas" Food Bank Benefit (Dec. 19)

Michigan: School of Rock Food Drive (Dec. 20)

California: Gingerbread House Building Class (Dec. 21)

Oregon: Kids' 2-Day International Cooking Camp (Dec. 21-22)

Vermont: Candy Cane Making Demonstrations (Weds., Fri., and Sat. until Dec. 23)

California: The Science of Gingerbread (through Jan. 3)

New Hampshire: "America's Kitchens" Exhibit (through Jan. 17)

December is the season for Year-End Roundups of all stripes: The Year in Music. The Year in Movies. The Year in Tube Socks.

My favorite roundup so far has been Time Out's list of the 100 best things to eat in my hometown of New York, because reading it prompted me down a happy memory-lane tour of some of my best meals out this year. (Mmm, the fried chicken with cheddar waffles. And that banh mi at the Brooklyn street fair. And oh yeah, the bowl of noodle soup that was bigger than my head...)

And it's prompted the irresistible question: In a year of great eating-out opportunities, which meal was the best? For myself, I'd have to say it was the positively intimidating lobster I ate while on vacation this summer in Maine, at The Edge restaurant outside of Camden.

What's the meal that stands out in your own personal Year in Restaurant Food?

Love food and wine festivals? We've gathered a few of the delicious events happening this week - what's going on where you live?

New York: City Harvest Gingerbread House Display (through Jan. 31)

New York: Patsy's Serves Frank Sinatra's Favorite Dishes (Dec. 11-12)

Washington: 2009 Holiday Wine Tasting Event (Dec. 11-12)

London, England: Chocolate Festival (Dec. 11-13)

California: A MarketBar Farm Dinner Benefiting Marin Organic (Dec. 12)

Italy: "Birre sotto l'albero 2009" Christmas Beer Festival (Dec. 12)

Oregon: Amnesia Brewing's Second Annual Winter Ale Festival (Dec. 12)

Washington, DC: Certified Specialist in Wine Certification Course (Dec. 12-13)

Vermont: Holidazed & Confused Pt. 1 (Dec. 14)

South Carolina: Dickens Dinner (Dec. 16)

England: Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival (Dec. 1-5)

Germany: Chocolate Festival chocolART (Dec. 1-6)

Connecticut:  Christmastime Teas (Tues.-Sat., Dec. 1-19)

South Carolina:  Progressive Dinners for the Holidays (Dec. 1-23)

Oregon: Annual Holiday Ale Festival (Dec. 2-6)

California: December Nights: International Cottage Christmas Festival (Dec. 4-5)

Texas: Texas Hill Country Holiday Wine Trail (Dec. 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20)

New York: Wild Tea Party (Dec. 5)

Oregon:  "Season's Eatings" Benefit for Foodbank (Dec. 5)

California: Indio International Tamale Festival (Dec. 5-6)

Massachusetts: Hot Chocolate Tasting (Dec. 8 and 15)

Michigan:  Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival (through Nov. 14)

Louisiana: Port Barre Cracklin Festival (through Nov. 15)

Ohio: Fabulous Food Show (Nov. 13-15)

Illinois: 3rd Annual Pinot Days Grand Festival Public Tasting (Nov. 14)

Nebraska: Nebraska Food Festival (Nov. 14)

New York:  2nd Annual New York State Gingerbread House Competition (Nov. 14)

Oregon: Lincoln City Chowder Cook-Off (Nov. 14)

Oregon: NW Food and Wine Festival (Nov.14)

Rhode Island: Great International Beer Festival (Nov. 14)

Virginia: RFM Oyster Roast (Nov. 14)

Florida: Orlando Food and Wine Fest (Nov. 14-15)

North Carolina:  National Gingerbread House Competition (Nov. 16)

California: San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (Nov. 18-22)

Way back in January, Epi-log readers were invited to throw in their two cents and suggest a name for the new, upscale restaurant at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Museum writer Don Dale explained at the time: "The goal is to have a one-word name, something simple, creative, and evocative, ideally with references to the museum, art, or the environment."

Well, you posted 36 comments, some with more than one idea, giving the museum directors plenty of food for thought.

Don has just written to tell us that the name has been chosen....

Pundits have been declaring that Spain is the new France for years. That modern chefs look to Spanish cuisine for culinary innovation. I wanted to taste some of this revolution so I packed up my bags and flew to Barcelona in late October. I knew my trek was limited: I had neither the time nor the money to go Madrid, Valencia, or Basque country; El Bulli was closed; and wine country would have to wait for another vacation.

My short take: Yes,  I had some terrific food. But I also chowed down on a few truly awful meals. In retrospect, I should have known that not every tapas joint serves up miracle morsels. Barcelona is like any city: You need to know where to go and when to go. Actually, you need reservations, a lot of money, and/or tons of patience because the most critically revered spots are mobbed. Even on Monday nights at 10pm. Below is a partial report, with original photos (like the gorgeous fruit bowl above), as well as tips for anyone thinking about visiting Barcelona.

California: Big Sur Food and Wine Festival (Nov. 6-7)

Florida: Florida Seafood Festival (Nov. 6-7)

Hawaii: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (Nov. 6-15)

Oklahoma:  Oklahoma WineFest (Nov. 7)

Pennsylvania: 5th GoodTaste! Pittsburgh Food & Cooking Expo (Nov. 7)

Tennessee Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Nov. 7)

Virginia: Brunswick Stew Festival (Nov. 7)

Louisiana: Giant Omelette Celebration (Nov. 7-8)

Washington, DC: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show (Nov. 7-8)

Jamaica:  Kingston Restaurant Week (Nov. 7-14)

California: Great Chefs of Los Angeles "Go Green, Go Organic" (Nov. 8)

Texas: New World Wine & Food Festival (Nov. 8-15)

New Jersey:  Vanilla 2009 (Nov. 10-11)

Michigan: Food, Wine and All That Jazz (Oct. 30)

Seoul, Korea: Amazing Korean Table: World Feast of Gastronomy (Oct. 28-Nov. 1)

Georgia: National BBQ Festival (Oct. 30-31)

Mississippi: 12th Southern Foodways Symposium (Oct. 30-Nov.1)

New York: 12th annual Chocolate Show (Oct. 30-Nov. 1)

Alabama: National Peanut Festival (Oct. 30-Nov. 8)

Alabama: Elberta German Sausage Festival (Oct. 31)

Lincoln, England: Sausage Festival (Oct. 31)

Massachusetts: Pudding Hollow Pudding Festival (Oct. 31)

New York:  A Haunted Tasting (Oct. 31)

Massachusetts: 14th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival (Oct. 31-Nov. 1)

Minnesota: Pumpkin Mania Day (Nov. 1)

Washington, DC: Women Chefs and Restaurateur's National Conference (Nov. 1-3)

New Jersey: 10th Annual YCS Festival of Flavors Benefit (Nov. 2)

Twilight: The Restaurant (No, Seriously): Last year, a female friend who was gaga over Robert Pattinson dragged me kicking and screaming to the first Twilight movie. But I am not flying to Forks, Wash., to eat at the new Twilight-themed restaurant Volterra. (Steak and seafood.) Do you hear me, Marina?

Know Your Bread: Ever wonder how wheat in the field became the bread in your sandwich? Find out with this demo from the Wheat Foods Council.

Was It "Empire State of Mind"? Teens at a McDonald's drive-thru in Utah get in trouble with the cops after rapping their order.

Wrapped Candy This Halloween, Please: Swine flu, and all. (At the very bottom.)

More Food News after the jump.