With the annual Big Eat kicking off the long-anticipated Slow Food Nations, food takes center stage in Denver this week. However, don’t completely fill up on these two festivals alone. You will want to save your appetite for all of the other food events happening around town. From a tequila dinner, to a sausage making class, this week is sure to leave you feeling satisfied.
Monday, July 10
Cho77 & Ratio Beerworks Dim Sum Beer Dinner
When: Monday, July 10, 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Where: Cho77 — 42 S. Broadway, Denver
Cost: $49 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Cho77 executive chef Ryan Gorby and Ratio Beerworks head brewer Jason zumBrunnen have put together a five-course meal that pairs southeast Asian cuisine with western beers. For example, the team will serve Cho 77’s award-winning Vietnamese caramel chicken wings with Ratio’s Repeater Extra Pale Ale.
Tuesday, July 12
Test Table Tuesdays Dinner Series
When: Tuesday, July 11, 4 – 10 p.m.
Where: The Way Back — 4132 W. 38th Ave., Denver
Cost: $45 — reserve by calling 720-728-8156
The Lowdown: The Way Back, Test Table Tuesdays allows diners to preview and give feedback on potential new menu items. This Test Tuesday will feature dishes such as Banh Xeo — an egg and rice stuffed crepe — and Blood and Guts — blood pasta with sweetbread ragu. Patrons can try these experimental dishes a la carte or order the entire three-course meal for $45. The Way Back will also be serving its regular menu items.
Good Sugar Baking Cookie & Ratio Beer Pairing
When: Tuesday, July 11, 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Ratio Beerworks — 2920 Larimer St., Denver
Cost: $15 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Seatings for this cookie and beer pairing begin at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. During your one-hour seating, you will get samples of three Ratio summer beers paired with three cookies from Good Sugar Baking.
Beer Dinner: Good River Beer
When: Tuesday, July 11, 7 p.m.
Where: The Walnut Room — 3131 Walnut St., Denver
Cost: $20 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This beer dinner features four dishes from The Walnut Room, four drinks from Denver’s own Good River brewery, a lesson in beer and a good cause. A portion of Good River’s beer sales go to maintaining Denver’s rivers.
Wednesday, July 12
John Currence Takeover of Beast + Bottle
When: Wednesday, July 12, 5 – 9 p.m.
Where: Beast + Bottle — 719 E. 17th Ave., Denver
Cost: $91 — reserve here
The Lowdown: James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef John Currence is bringing his southern flavors to Beast + Bottle. On top of its regular menu, the restaurant will serve a special four-course meal cooked by Currence and Beast + Bottle’s executive chef Paul Reilly. The $91 meal also includes one of Currence’s cookbooks as well as cocktail pairings from Denver’s Leopold Brothers.
Local Tastes
When: Wednesday, July 12, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Clyfford Still Museum — 1250 Bannock St., Denver
Cost: $40 — tickets here
The Lowdown: At this annual event, a wide variety of Denver businesses come together at Clyfford Still Museum to serve unlimited samples of food, beer, cocktails, coffee and tea. This year will include Denver establishments such as Block & Larder, Charcoal Restaurant, Green Russell, French 75, Little Owl Coffee and Teatulia Tea.
Don Julio Tequila Dinner
When: Wednesday, July 12, 7 – 9 p.m.
Where: Denver Matador — 3496 W. 32nd Ave., Denver
Cost: $60 — reserve by calling 303-561-2855
The Lowdown: With National Tequila Day coming up on July 24, Denver Matador is giving you the opportunity to celebrate early. At this tequila dinner, Matador will serve up Mexican-inspired dishes each paired with a different Don Julio Tequila.
Thursday, July 13
The Big Eat
When: Thursday, July 13, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: The Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Center — 1400 Curtis St., Denver
Cost: $65 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Every year, EatDenver hosts this food festival to support the Denver restaurant industry. You can sample food and drinks from more than 70 local restaurants and bars. Check out photos from last year’s The Big Eat to get a taste of it’s like.
Whole Beast Feast
When: Thursday, July 13, 7 – 10 p.m.
Where: Hearth and Dram — 1801 Wewatta St., Denver
Cost: $150 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This feast includes a reception starting at 7 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Each chef will use a different cut of pork to create a small plate for the reception and full course for the dinner. The meat will come from Corner Post Meats — a Colorado Springs ranch focused on sustainable animal farming.
Friday, July 14
Slow Food Nations
When: Friday, July 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 16, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Larimer Square — 1430 Larimer St., Denver and Union Station — Wynkoop St., Denver
Cost: Free – $69 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Hosted by Slow Food USA, this three-day event celebrates clean eating and fair food through a variety of workshops, dinners, tastings, parties and tours. The fun begins on Friday with the Colorado-Made Block Party — a $69 food festival highlighting Colorado farmers, producers and chefs.
On Saturday and Sunday, Larimer Square will turn into the Taste Marketplace where local and international chefs will be hosting demos on the main stage and selling its products throughout the street. At the same time, Union Square will host the Ark of Taste — a photographic exhibition of endangered fruits, vegetables and animals — and The Food Underground — a series of talks on biodiversity, sustainability and food justice. All of these events will be open to the public for free.
The Slow Food Workshop at the MSU Hospitality Learning Center will also be holding a variety of workshops and dinners throughout the weekend. The cost of these extra events range from $35 to $200.
Bastille Day
When: Friday, July 14, 4:30 – 10 p.m.
Where: Alliance Française de Denver — 571 Galapago St., Denver
Cost: Free Admission – $35 — tickets here
The Lowdown: To celebrate Bastille Day, Alliance Française will be hosting a party filled with French food, wine and desserts provided by Colorado eatiers such as Trompeau Bakery, La Baguette De Normandy and La Patisserie Francaise. Other activities include a baguette tasting, face painting and crafts. You can purchase an all-inclusive pass for $35 or individual tickets for each activity. Seven tickets cost $5.
Saturday, July 15
Keystone’s Wine and Jazz Festival
When: Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16, 1 – 5 p.m.
Where: Keystone Resort — 140 Ida Belle Dr., Keystone
Cost: $60 – $100 — tickets here
The Lowdown: For $60, you get five food tickets and a day full of jazz and unlimited samples from 300+ wineries. A two-day pass, which comes with eight food tickets, costs $100. The festival will also include food and wine seminars such as Prosecco and Pancakes and War of the Roses for an additional $25 to $30. Ticket prices increase on the day of the event.
Mystic Mermaid Under the Sea Breakfast
When: Saturday, July 15, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Where: Downtown Aquarium — 700 Water St., Denver
Cost: $14.50 – $24.75 — tickets here
The Lowdown: The Denver Aquarium restaurant will open early to serve a special breakfast along with a mermaid show. Seatings begin at 8:30 and 9:45. On top of breakfast and a show, you will also get photos with the mermaids and 50 percent off admission to the aquarium.
Buffs on Tap
When: Saturday, July 15, 2 – 6 p.m.
Where: The Studios at Overland Crossing — 2205 S. Delaware St., Denver
Cost: $10 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Hosted by CU Alumni Association, this event features beer and wine samples from businesses owned by CU Boulder graduates. Crooked Stave Artisan Beer, Factotum, Gravity Brewing, The Infinite Monkey Theorem, Mike Hess Brewing and Powder Keg Brewing Company will all provide tastings. The team will also be serving up food alongside the drinks.
Sunday, July 16
Chain Reaction Ice Cream Chill Off
When: Sunday, July 16, 12:30 – 5 p.m.
Where: Chain Reaction Brewing Company — 902 S. Lipan St., Denver
Cost: Free Admission
The Lowdown: At this ice cream potluck, you can bring your own ice cream and sample other people’s homemade creations. Although the event is free, there is a suggested donation of $5. Chain Reaction is trying to raise money to help John Sherry build a school and home in Las Trencheras — a small village in Ecuador.
Mark Your Calendars
Cheese Block Party
When: Wednesday, July 26, 1 – 4 p.m.
Where: Cheese+Provisions — 2432 W. 44th Ave., Denver
Cost: Free Admission
Denver Burger Battle
When: Thursday, August 3, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Tivoli Quad Park — 1363 E. 9th Ave., Denver
Cost: $69.99 – $124.99 — tickets here