Welcome back to our monthly Dig Into Denver series. At the beginning of each month, we deliver a food and beverage-based itinerary for the best ways eat and drink your way through the city — including what’s recently opened and what’s worth celebrating for no reason at all.

Bookmark this page to reference these Denver food events all month long, and let us know in the comments what Denver food events you’d like to see included in Dig Into June next month.

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But First… Food News

In case you missed it, here are the biggest announcements in Denver food news from last month.

Dairy Block Announces New Tenants

Spilt Milk by Colorado artists George Peters and Melanie Walker. Photo courtesy of Dairy Block.

The Lowdown: The Dairy Block announced six new concepts joining its “micro-district” downtown. The list includes a restaurant, a bar, boutiques and more. The opening dates of each spot haven’t yet been announced, but you can read more about each here.

Whole Foods Delivers in Denver

Photo provided by Whole Foods

The Lowdown: This is bad news for wallets everywhere. Amazon Prime members can now receive free two-hour delivery or one-hour delivery for $7.99 on orders of $35 or more. Learn more here.

Taco Passport Brings 2-for-1 Discounts to Denver

Tacos Dorados de Pollo. Photo by Lucy Beaugard

The Lowdown: What a time to be alive. Much like the Denver Passport, the Taco Passport will earn you two for one taco coupons from 20 of the best taquerias in town, including Comal, El Jefe and Comida. Learn more here.

Barbecue Festival Coming to Sports Authority Field Father’s Day Weekend

Crazy Mountain Tap House & BBQ

Barbecue and beer at Crazy Mountain Tap House & BBQ. Photo by Charles Townsend Bessent.

The Lowdown: Father’s Day Weekend (June 15-17), pitmasters from all over the country will converge to serve barbecue and beverages at Sports Authority Field. The event is expected to serve 18,000 pounds of meat — click here to learn more.

Slow Food Nations Returns This Summer

Photo by Brittany Werges

The Lowdown: After a successful first year, Slow Food Nations will return July 13 through 15. To learn more about what’s new and what’s returning, click here.

Here Are Two More Reasons to Drink at Red Rocks This Summer

Photo courtesy of Cocktails on the Rocks via Facebook

The Lowdown: This is going to be a great summer at Red Rocks. In addition to a beer festival with 50+ participants in August, the amphitheater also announced an additional summer event on June 2 called Cocktails on the Rocks.

Newly Open

These are notable restaurants, coffee shops and bars that opened in Denver last month. For locations that we expect to open this year, click here.

American Bonded

Photo by Kyle Cooper

The Lowdown: American Bonded — named one of the country’s most anticipated bars by Vogue — is open and ready to show you what the future of cocktail bars looks like.

Don’t Miss: Every cocktail is between $8-9. We loved the Two Can Tango ($9) with a 127 proof Jamaican dark rum.

Dead Battery Club

Photo courtesy of Dead Battery Club.

The Lowdown: This all-day cocktail lounge opened as a mid-day break spot in the WeWork building on Platte Street.

Don’t Miss: There’s a cocktail named after its neighbors — the We (don’t) Work is scotch, lemon, hibiscus flower syrup, soda and a lemon twist.

Cherry Cricket

The Cricket burger with a fried egg. Photo by Giacomo Di Franco.

The Lowdown: A Denver institution since 1945, the Cherry Cricket is back with another location — but this time it’s bringing burgers to Blake Street.

Don’t Miss: The food menu is the exact same as the original location, so guests will know exactly what to expect. However, the drinks at this location will be kicked up a notch, including 32 beers on tap and boozy milkshakes.

Los Lounge

Photo courtesy of Los Chingones

The Lowdown: This late-night lounge is connected to Los Chingones in RiNo, operating in the former Sugar Mill space. The lounge will serve the restaurant’s full menu until 9 p.m., with a limited menu extending until 1 a.m.

Don’t Miss: If you’re craving Los Chingones late night, head in for the abbreviated menu — it still has a selection of tacos and the beloved guacamole until 1 a.m.

Famous Original J’s Pizza

J’s Exec Chef Mat Shumaker. Photo courtesy of Famous Original J’s Pizza

The Lowdown: The team behind Rosenberg’s Bagels has now entered the pizza game. True to their New York roots, this place features — you guessed it — New York-style pies.

Don’t Miss: If you love thin crust, this place is for you, but you can also get each flavor “grandma-style” with a thicker, square crust. Learn more here.

High Point Creamery (#3)

Photo by Kyle Cooper

The Lowdown: When it comes to Denver and ice cream, the limit does not exist. Proven by many openings announced for this year, including High Point who opened its third location in Berkeley.

Don’t Miss: This place does not skimp on vegan options. Despite its lack of dairy products, the vegan coconut creme brulee is a favorite amongst all guests.

Pablo’s Coffee (#3)

Photo by Kyle Cooper

The Lowdown: Pablo’s Coffee opened a third location on East Colfax, complete with an on-site commercial roastery as well as a training and tasting lab.

Don’t Miss: If you love Pablo’s, you know that the other two locations are difficult to work in because they have never offered public wifi. This one will be different, pairing perfectly with a work-day cup of caffeine.

Excuses to Celebrate

May 5: Cinco de Mayo & The Derby

Photo by Kyle Cooper

The LowdownSaturday = Cinco de Mayo + The Kentucky Derby. Our heads hurt just thinking about how we’ll feel on Sunday, May 6.

Don’t Miss: There are derby and Cinco parties across town (see our list here). But, an imperative read is always this one: How to Not Culturally Appropriate Cinco de Mayo

May 7: National Home Brewing Day

Photo courtesy of CO-Brew on Facebook

The Lowdown: In the spirit of DIY, May 7 is dedicated to brewing beer in the comfort of your own home.

Don’t Miss: Our recent piece on where to shop for home brew equipment and classes.

May 11: National Eat What You Want Day

Photo by Kyle Cooper.

The Lowdown: It’s exactly what it sounds like. On May 11, it is hereby required that you eat whatever you want.

Don’t Miss: If you’re like us and believe that this holiday means “splurge happily,” you’ll enjoy our round-ups on burgers, pizza, pie and chocolate. For all of our food round-ups (to see if your favorite is there), visit this page

May 14: National Biscuit Day

Photo courtesy of Tupelo Honey

The Lowdown: Find the southern roots you never knew you had when you bite into one of these buttery, salty treats.

Don’t Miss: Denver has a pretty solid biscuit scene, but some of our favorites are at Denver Biscuit Company, Tupelo Honey, Lucile’s and LOW Country Kitchen. Bonus: At Stanley Market, Denver Biscuit Co. serves biscuits all. Day. Long.

May 16: National Barbecue Day

Smokin’ Yards sandwich. Photo by Brittany Werges

The Lowdown: Enjoy a different kind of smoking by enjoying some smoked meats on National Barbecue Day.
Don’t Miss: We love Smokin YardsRolling Smoke and Roaming Buffalo, and we anticipate celebrating again as soon as Owlbear reopens in its own brick-and-mortar.

May 24: Chicken Fight

Photo courtesy of Chicken Rebel on Facebook.

The Lowdown: One of Denver’s finest food events comes in May — Chicken Fight. Restaurants duel over the title of chicken champion, serving wings, fried chicken and all of your favorites from around town.

Don’t Miss: There are tickets still available, click here for more information.

May 25: National Drink Wine Day

Photo Courtesy of The Wine Cellar at LoDo on Facebook

The LowdownIn case you needed an excuse to pour that second glass (or pop that second bottle), May 25 is National Wine Day.

Don’t Miss: Our features on the best wines under $21 in wine shops in RiNo, Capitol Hill, Wash Park, LoDo, Cherry Creek and the Highlands. Or, plan a Memorial Day weekend getaway with this guide to winery hopping in Colorado.

Eat Well, Give Back

Denver is a giving community, and there are countless events every month benefitting non-profits across the city. However, for Dig In, we specifically highlight food and beverage events that support food-focused causes and non-profits — those that tackle hunger, service industry assistance and more.

May 15: Slow Food Social at Sazza

Photo courtesy of Sazza Pizza.

When: Tuesday, May 15 from 6- 7:30 p.m.

Where: Sazza Pizza + Salads (Stanley Marketplace) — 2501 N. Dallas St., Unit 104, Aurora

The Lowdown: Slow Food Denver hosts these socials monthly to encourage people to gather and support local restaurants, breweries and wineries while learning about slow food in practice. Join them at Sazza inside Stanley Marketplace for the newest meeting over small bites and drinks.

May 12: GrowHaus Roots to Health Seedling Program

Photo courtesy of GrowHaus.

When: Saturday, May 12 and May 19 at 10 a.m.

Where: The GrowHaus — 4751 York St., Denver

The Lowdown: Join the GrowHaus to pick out some seedlings for your home garden this summer at this Roots to Health event. Proceeds from all sales will support the GrowHaus’ mission of providing access to healthy food in the community.

May 16: Real School Food Challenge at Zeppelin Station

Photo of Chef Ann courtesy of the Chef Ann Foundation

When: Wednesday, May 16 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Where: Big Trouble at Zeppelin Station — 3501 Wazee St., Denver

The Lowdown: Did you know that the budget for a school lunch is $1.25 per meal? See what some of Denver’s best chefs can turn that budget into for this event benefitting the Chef Ann Foundation. For tickets and more information, click here.

READ: How Boulder Became Ground Zero for School Lunch Reform