From pizza to Peking duck: Celebrate January's food and drink 'holidays' in Oklahoma City

The "holiday season" may be behind us, but that doesn't mean you have to give up food-centered celebrations. It seems like there are never ending options of national and international days, weeks and months anymore, so each month, I'll bring you a list of some of the highlights related to food and drink.

January is both National Meat and National Soup month, the latter of which always makes for a comforting meal during colder weather. Broken down even further there are some great days and weeks to consider taking part in. Here are some notable food and drink "holidays" in January.

National Pizza Week — January 8-14

Pizza is still probably one of the most common answers people will give you if you ask them their favorite food, so it's no wonder the dish gets an entire week in January, along with a day in February and one in April, specifically for deep-dish lovers.

There are no shortage of amazing pizza places around the Oklahoma City. During the week of Jan. 8, why not stop into one of Empire Pizza's four metro-area locations for a slice of Foghorn Leghorn — topped with sweet marinara, roasted chicken, bacon, jalapeno and a Sriracha drizzle — or Figgy Stardust — a combination of basil-almond pesto, marinated mozzarella, roasted chicken, ham and figs? Just don't forget the pink sauce on the side.

You can also cruise over to Eastside Pizza House, 1734 NE 23, and grab a solo dolo for yourself or a whole pie for the family. Try the Jabee — think elotes and pizza combined — or a Clara Luper — a vegetarian option loaded with spinach, tomatoes and goat cheese, and named for Oklahoma's civil rights icons. Be sure to try Eastside's signature black crust.

National Oysters Rockefeller Day — January 10

The classic dish of baked or broiled oysters topped with a delicious sauce and crispy breadcrumbs can be traced back to a chef by the name of Jules Alciatore at Antoine's restaurant in New Orleans in 1889. The recipe is said to have been created as a cheaper alternative to escargot. To date, no one knows the exact original recipe except the owners of Antoine's, but multiple restaurants have their own versions or similar options sold under other names.

Pearl's Oyster Bar, 5641 N Classen Blvd., serves a roasted oyster six pack that includes Oysters Rockefeller and a casino bacon and parmesan Romano option. Meanwhile, Bourbon St. Cafe, 100 E California Ave., serves a version called Oysters Baton Rouge that is a twist on the traditional recipe. Perhaps a bit of a divergence from the Rockefeller, are Rococo's, 4308 N Western Ave., oysters which are baked with bone marrow butter, breadcrumbs and a gremolata.

National Gluten Free Day — January 13

One of my favorite things to do is track down interesting and flavorful gluten-free options. I have a handful of friends that are either gluten-sensitive or Celiac and it's always nice to have places to take them with several menu items they can try.

In Oklahoma City, The Loaded Bowl, 1211 SW 2, offers vegan fare including mac and cheese, enchiladas, nachos and more, which are all available as gluten-free options. Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo, has gluten free items for brunch and beyond, including many seafood and plant-based meals. Red Rooster, 3100 N Walker Ave., combines locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table fare to create a menu with choices fit for those needing to eat gluten-free. Chick N Beer, 715 NW 23, is a great option for gluten-free bone-in fried wings with the bonus of multiple sauces that also skip ingredients containing gluten. For gluten-free baked goods, try Holey Rollers, 3010 Paseo, for donuts or Green Goodies, 5840 N Classen Curve, for gluten-friendly and vegan-friendly cupcakes, cookies and pastries.

International Hot and Spicy Food Day — January 16

Spicy food is one of my favorite things, a trait I must get from my father who has been downing various hot sauces since well before I was born. I don't mean destroy-your-taste-buds spice that abandons all other flavor notes, but give me a good bit of burn and I feel like I'm right at home. The fun thing about spicy food is that must cultures have their way of doing it, so it truly makes for a perfect international day.

Visit Thai Kitchen, 327 Dean A McGee Ave., and get a curry or noodle dish. Spiciness levels can be customized — I usually opt for a 3 or 4, depending on my mood for the day — and there's a lunch buffet option available. If you're looking for something more traditional, stop into to one of the metro area's Nashbird Hot Dang! Chicken locations. Head west to Bethany and try Caribbean Fusion Trini Style, 6717 NW 23, where you can find curries, stews, jerk seasoned dishes and more to bring an island flare to your spicy needs. For a more mellow and laid back, but still delicious approach to spicy, try the chile pork verde at Powerhouse, 1228 SW 2, and get an order of chips and roasted hatch chile queso on the side.

National Gourmet Coffee and National Peking Duck day — January 18

Jan. 18 offers a two-for-one special. Start your day with a great cup of coffee and then grab dinner at a local Chinese restaurant to enjoy Peking duck, sometimes also known as Beijing duck, a classic Chinese roasted duck dish known for its crispy skin.

Check out this list of 11 metro-area coffee shops to try and for dinner, visit Grand House, 2701 N Classen Blvd., Chow's Chinese Restaurant, 3033 N May Ave., Fung's Kitchen, 3321 N Classen Blvd., Dot Wo, 10600 S Pennsylvania Ave., and Golden Phoenix, 2728 N Classen Blvd., all of which list roast duck dishes on their menus.

National Green Juice Day — January 26

Trying healthier options for the new year? Jan. 26 is the day to try some of the city's juice bar options to stick to your plan. Wheeze the Juice, 131 NE 2, and Organic Squeeze, locations in Nichols Hills and Edmond both offer a selection of juices, smoothies and more, including green juice options. Franchise Clean Juice, 5810 N Classen Blvd. - with a second location at 1476 S Bryant Ave. in Edmond set to open soon - is another option offering green fresh and cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Finally, both locations of Plant, Midtown and Edmond, offer a variety of green juice options among their plant-based menu.

National Croissant Day — January 29

Croissants offer warm layers of crispy, buttery, flaky pastry, sometimes with the added bonus of a delicious filling. Head to Harvey Bakery and Kitchen, 301 NW 13, to choose from over a half-dozen options, both sweet and savory. You can also stop by the Norman Farm Market, 210 S James Garner Ave. on the second and third Saturday each month to grab one of several flavors from Jack's Bakehouse, formerly Signature Bakery.

Eat Brussels Sprouts Day — January 31

One of my favorite cruciferous vegetables gets a day of its own as January transitions to February, and there are several places across the city where you can find dishes and sides containing Brussels sprouts. Trust me, these aren't the boiled versions you despised as a kid!

City and State, 19 NE 6, offers both a brunch Brussels sprout salad and a side dressed with pomegranate molasses and almonds. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23, offers flash-fried sprouts with a honey glaze and Frida Southwest, 500 Paseo, offers the with an ancho glaze. Order them up as a side at Kitchen No. 324, 324 N Robinson Ave., and you'll get them served with bacon, walnuts, thyme and red onions, while Goro Ramen, 3000 Paseo, serves them fried as an appetizer with yuzu miso vinaigrette, beets, mint and fried shallots.

Other food-centric days in January

You can find tempura on Jan. 7 for National Tempura day at restaurants across the metro area, including many of the sushi restaurants on our guide from last year. Head to Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar, 1845 Northwest Expressway, on Jan. 23 to order the restaurant's namesake dish — a sticky toffee cake with bourbon anglaise and spiced pecans — for International Sticky Toffee Pudding day.

Other days in January include National Spaghetti Day, Jan. 4, National Hot Toddy day, Jan. 11, National Bagel day, Jan. 15, and National Fish Taco Day, Jan. 25.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Food and drink centered "holidays" to enjoy throughout January