It dawned on me today that there are only eight shopping days until Christmas—which means it's time to get cracking. Last-minute gift scramblers can't go wrong with the EatDenver Deck [2]. Fifty bucks buys a stack of 52 playing cards, each of which entitles your loved one to $10 off a food purchase of $25 or more at participating restaurants. To total it up, that's a savings of $520 if all the cards are used (valid January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, with blackout dates during Denver Restaurant Week [3]). These are no languishing restaurants either—in fact, they're some of the city's best, including Olivéa [4], Solera Restaurant & Wine Bar [5], Tables [6], and Root Down [7].  

Bonus: One dollar from each Deck sold goes to Slow Food Denver [8].

Find the Deck at Tattered Cover Book Stores [9] (usually at the register) or order online [2].