Ok, the holidays are over and by now, most of our New Year resolutions have already fallen by the wayside. Which is great—January is filled with all sorts of fun. From now on, Tuesday will be referred to as Brewsday, you have a chance to eat a five-course meal of bugs, you can take an ETuk to a farm to table dinner, pair bubbles and oysters, or bacon and bourbon, celebrate Buffalo Bill, and prove your worth as a chili champion. These are our eight favorite events this month and we think you should try them all.
1. Fish n Beer and Ratio Beer Dinner
When: Tuesday, January 10, 6pm–9pm
Where: Fish n Beer {3510 Larimer Street, Denver; 303.248.3497}
What: A Brewsday beer dinner showcasing RiNo neighbors Fish n Beer and Ratio Beerwerks. They will offer a five-course beer-paired dinner from chefs Kevin Morrison and Aniedra Nichols. Courses include Grilled Oysters with Domestica American Standard Ale; Mushroom Soup and Scallop Bruschetta with Dear You Citra Hopped French Saison; Crab Cake with Rented World Session IPA; Surf and Turf with Hold Steady Scotch Ale; and Cream Puff with Young Pilgrims Raspberry Belgian Dubbel. Tickets are $60 including tax and tip and can be purchased by phone at 303.248.3497 or by emailing Katie@ktmrestaurantgroup.com
2. Cherry Cricket Cares
When: Wednesday, January 11, 8am-6pm
Where: Cherry Cricket {2641 East 2nd Avenue, Denver}
What: Although the Cherry Cricket is still closed—due to a kitchen fire this past fall—the historic spot is still making room to give back. This Wednesday, bring over your canned goods to the Cherry Cricket to benefit Metro Caring, Denver’s leading organization working to end hunger and food waste reduction. Suggested donation items include canned beans, rolled oats, brown rice, and more. For more information, click here.
3. Denver Bug Banquet
When: Wednesday, January 11, 7pm-9pm
Where: Linger {2030 West 30th Avenue, Denver; 303.993.3120}
What: Support local, edible insect farming by enjoying a five-course prix-fixe Bug Banquet at Linger on January 11, with David George Gordon (a.k.a The Bug Chef), author of The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook. Dishes include waxworm quesadillas; mealworm and chapuline squash soup; ant and pear salad; grasshopper kabobs with orthopteran orzo; and cricket flour pastries. Held as a fundraiser to benefit Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch, Colorado’s first and only edible insect farm, each course will pair an edible insect dish created by The Bug Chef in collaboration with Linger with a wine or craft beer. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased here.
4. Grow to Table at The GrowHaus
When: Sunday, January 15, 3pm–6:30pm
Where: Ratio Beerworks {2910 Larimer Street, Denver; 303.997.8288}
What: Ratio Beerworks is partnering with The Regional for a one of a kind interactive dinner to benefit The GrowHaus. Attendees will meet up at Ratio and be transported by ETuk Denver Shuttles to The GrowHaus greenhouse where they will learn about the urban farm and market program aimed to grow healthy community through food access, production, and education. While there, attendees will harvest vegetables to be used in their first course. Upon returning to Ratio, guest will take part in crafting a salad course that will be packaged and sent back to the GrowHaus to feed families in need. The dinner will feature a four-course meal provided by the region with each course paired with a Ratio Beerworks beer. Tickets are available here for $75 with proceeds going to support The GrowHaus.
5. Bubble Universe at Avanti Food and Beverage
When: Wednesday, January 18, 7pm–10pm
Where: Avanti Food and Beverage {3200 Pecos Street, Denver}
What: Join Avanti F&B Wolf Bar as they host Infinite Monkey Theorem for an evening of bubbly and oysters. Tickets also include unlimited sparkling wine, Syrah, Moscato, and Pear Cider paired with food selections courtesy of Kevin Grossi of The Regional. Tickets can be purchased individually for $65 or two for $100. A portion of ticket sales will be going to Reading Partners Colorado, a community-based volunteer group that empowers students of low-income schools with one-on-one literacy tutoring. Buy your tickets here.
6. Bourbon and Bacon Festival
When: Saturday, January 21, 3pm–5pm
Where: McNichols Building {144 West Colfax Avenue, Denver}
What: The Bourbon and Bacon Fest at the McNichols Building features an afternoon of tasting specialty bourbons and unique whiskeys from distilleries both large and artisanal while munching on a bevy of smoky, porky treats from local restaurants—think bacon mac and cheese, bacon cupcakes, and bourbon-bacon milkshakes. Presented by Buffalo Trace Bourbon and sponsored by Colorado Pork Producers Council and 99.5 The Mountain, a portion of the proceeds will be supported the Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation. VIP tickets are sold out, but if you want to get in at 2:30pm before the crowds, you can purchase First Glance tickets for $75 or get General Admission for $55 at their website.
7. Buffalo Bill Dinner at LOLA Coastal Mexican
When: Thursday, January 12, 7pm
Where: LOLA Coastal Mexican {1575 Boulder Street, Denver; 720.570.8686}
What: LOLA Coastal Mexican will host a celebration of local history and the evolution of modern Mexican-American cuisine with a dinner in honor of their one-time guest, Buffalo Bill, back when the building was the Olinger Mortuary. When Bill Cody aka Buffalo Bill passed away in Denver in the winter of 1917, his remains were lovingly kept at the Old Olinger Mortuary until the ground on top of Lookout Mountain had thawed enough to dig his grave. Today, that same building houses LOLA Coastal Mexican. LOLA Executive Chef/Owner Jamey Fader teamed up with Steve Friesen, Director of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, to recreate the menu of Buffalo Bill’s original pop-up Mexican restaurant, using heirloom and heritage-sourced produce from throughout the state of Colorado. Dishes will include Fried Oysters, Braised Bison Cheeks, Huevos Rancheros, Carved Bison Roast, and homemade donuts. Mr. Friesen will give a short speech about Buffalo Bill and his place in Colorado history, and Buffalo Bill lookalikes will be in the house as well for photo ops with guests. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased in person at LOLA or by calling the restaurant.
8. Chili Cook-Off
When: Sunday, January 29, 12:30pm–4pm
Where: Little Machine Beer {2924 West 20th Avenue, Denver; 303.284.7893}
What: So you think you make a mean chili? What’s your favorite—red, green, or your own special recipe? Well, now’s your chance to prove to the world, or at least the citizens of Denver, that you are truly the Chili Champion! Join Little Machine Beer for this year’s chili cook-off, but be forewarned, last year’s contestants brought their A-game. There are prizes for each category—red, green, and other. The best in show winner will win a free growler refill every month for a year. E-Mail chili@littlemachinebeer.com to sign up. Just like eating chili? Stop by to taste and vote on your favorites. Chili and beer—it’s a match made in heaven. Find out more info here.
By Elizabeth L. Woessner
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