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 February next month.
Newly Opened
These are notable restaurants, coffee shops and bars that opened in Denver last month.
LeRoux
The Lowdown: Chef Lon Symensma has already impacted Denver with his Asian concepts ChoLon and Cho77. But, his newest LoDo concept LeRoux is entirely European — inspired by the more than a decade he spent working in kitchens across France and Spain.
Ash’Kara
The Lowdown: Daniel Asher — another one of Colorado’s biggest chefs — opened Ash’Kara last month. This LoHi spot features Israeli food using local Colorado ingredients. It’s the perfect place to go if you like sharing food with your friends and family, and we can’t wait to get back.
Eleven Madison Park Aspen Pop Up
The Lowdown: Eleven Madison Park in New York City was named one of the best restaurants in the world. Now the team behind it brought a winter pop-up to Aspen called EMP Winter House with a focus on fondue. We got a sneak peek, and yes — it’s exactly as cozy as it sounds. Check it out before it packs up in April.
Maria Empanada
The Lowdown: Maria Empanada opened its fourth location on Platte Street in a shared office space last month. This beautiful new spot really demonstrates how far the team has come since their humble beginnings in a bakery in Lakewood.
Blanchard Family Wines
The Lowdown: Blanchard Family Wines opened its Colorado outpost in the alley of the popular downtown Dairy Block. Hailing from Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California the 10-year-old winery is the brainchild of brothers Mark and James Blanchard.
Chook
The Lowdown: Last month award-winning chef Alex Seidel of Fruition and Mercantile Dining & Provision and Snooze’s Adam Schlegel opened a joint venture on South Pearl. The word ‘Chook’ is Australian slang for chicken, and the concept is inspired by the two years Schlegel spent living in Melbourne, Australia, enjoying the corner poultry shops that line the streets. Get a taste here.
Steakhouse No. 316
The Lowdown: Spouses and restauranteurs Craig and Samantha Cordts-Pearce opened an outpost of their popular Aspen steakhouse in Boulder last month. The stylish restaurant is completely refurbished from the former the Irish dive Conor Oneill’s that occupied the space. It’s a steak lover’s dream.
Excuses to Celebrate
As if the holiday season didn’t fill your bellies enough, here are a few excuses to celebrate, eat and drink for no real reason. Keep this list handy for nights you’re ready to get out of the house, and also don’t miss our round-ups of Denver’s coziest cocktail bars and our favorite local restaurants with a view.
January 4: National Spaghetti Day
The Lowdown: It’s comforting, filling and tasty. We can’t get enough of this cold weather classic.
Don’t Miss: Last year we made a list of our favorite places for Italian food — it includes Marcella’s spaghetti with a giant veal meatball.
January 20: Cheese Lover’s Day
The Lowdown: We don’t feel that this one needs an explanation.
Don’t Miss: There are so many opportunities to get cheesy in Denver. Try our recap last year of the best cheese shops in the city or a cheesemaking class at Wine & Whey.
January 22: Southern Food Day
The Lowdown: If you’re from the south or just have a love for the region’s food, January 22 is for you.
Don’t Miss: Our recap of places to eat if you’re a southern transplant in Denver is a great resource, and don’t miss Julep in RiNo if you haven’t made time to check it out yet.
January 31: Hot Chocolate Day
The Lowdown: When the weather is cold, there’s only one thing on our mind — hot chocolate. We’ve been sipping it all season long, but January 31 gives us a nice excuse to indulge again.
Don’t Miss: Our breakdown of the best hot chocolate spots in the city is a nice place to start.
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.
January 10: Whole Foods 5% Day – Project Angel Heart
When: Thursday, January 10, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: All Whole Foods locations in Denver, Colorado Springs and Frisco
The Lowdown: On this day, shop at Whole Foods and they will donate five percent of all sales to Project Angel Heart — a non-profit that helps Coloradans facing illnesses like cancer and heart disease get the nourishing, delicious meals they need to heal. See all locations and more information here.
January 16: Impact Dinner at Comal
When: Wednesday, January 16, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Comal Heritage Food Incubator — 3455 Ringsby Court #105, Denver
The Lowdown: For Comal’s first impact dinner of 2019, executive chef Tim Bender will create a four-course meal with specialty beverage pairings by Kevin Galaba of Friends and Family, a nonprofit organization serving Colorado’s restaurant industry employees. The menu will be announced Thursday, January 3 at 10 a.m., and tickets are available here.