twelve's December menu debuts today

Today marks the first day of that new menu, and, predictably, I'm itching to get back and eat a couple of courses.

We've long admired Osaka's hand with soup, and this month's version, a combination of butternut squash, coconut and lemongrass, looks too interesting to pass up. In the entrees department, the calamari, which was fantastic in appetizer form, made its way onto the trout dish, supplemented by chickpeas, carrots and kalamata olives. And the braised beef, which was second last month only to the scallops (now off the menu), has a hearty setup that makes us salivate; it's paired with Gruyere polenta and onion soup sauce.

Once we actually do belly up to the bar, though, it's going to be hard to resist starting and finishing our meals with maple. The foie gras with maple flan, caramelized pear and griddled brioche sounds like a decadent winter treat, while the spiced pumpkin-dried fruit perdu anchored with maple ice cream looks like a great way to say goodbye to late fall.

The full menu:

STARTERS

greens baby lettuces, shallots, fine herbs, parmesan, banyuls vinaigrette

soup butternut squash, coconut, lemongrass

foie gras foie gras, maple flan, caramelized pear, griddled brioche

spinach spinach leaves, beef tongue, red onion, sherry vinegar, sesame oil

tuna seared albacore, citrus salad, mint oil, baby frisee

romaine romaine hearts, radicchio, buttermilk blue cheese dressing, toasted walnuts

ENTREES

salmon scottish salmon, bacon, garlic, brussels sprouts, whole grain mustard

trout colorado trout, chickpeas, carrot and calamari salad, lemon, kalamata olive

vegetable farro "risotto", wild mushrooms, cippollini onion, ricotta, arugula

lamb spice rubbed lamb shank, rosemary bliss potatoes, french lentils

chicken redbird breast, braised endive, cauliflower puree, broccolini, olive salt

beef braised natural beef, gruyere white polenta, onion soup sauce

DESSERTS

chocolate chocolate trio - pot de crème, mexican ice cream, bittersweet cake

pumpkin spiced pumpkin-dried fruit perdu, maple ice cream

cookies cinnamon cookie-eggnog ice cream sandwich, chocolate syrup

cheese daily selection of three cheeses

Sorbets daily selection of three sorbets

Eat your way through your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for $35 Tuesday through Thursday.

For more information, dial 303-293-0287.