Your Daily Dose of Food News, Events and Must-Read Miscellany

1. Jason Stratton’s (Spinasse, Artusi) wildly anticipated modern Spanish restaurant Aragona is now open. One of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2010, Stratton’s kitchen crew includes Top Chef New Orleans contestant Carrie Mashaney. (Check out our Q&A with Mashaney here.) In addition to mains and sweets, the menu features bar eats like chicory salad with white beans and tuna and tortilla with Jersualem artichokes. Dinner reservations can be made online; lunch service should be up-and-running after the new year.

2. Re:public in South Lake Union launched Saturday brunch. A full menu, including duck confit frittata and squash fritters with pomegranate jam is now offered from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays as well as Sundays. Check out the full menu over here.

3. Happy fifth birthday, Oddfellows! To celebrate, on December 19 the Capitol Hill cafe and bar will pass out 1,000 free Oddfellow Chip cookies all the day long, and/or while they last.

4. The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance donated more than 40,000 pounds of produce to area food banks this year. Next year, NFMA will receive $150,000 in funding from the city to support its Fresh Bucks program that matches up to $10 worth of produce for every $10 spent by SNAP shoppers. You can pick up a NFMA gift certificate for your veggie tote-carrying loved ones at any market day info booth or by calling 206-632-5234.