The Eight Tastiest Events on Denver's Culinary Calendar, March 3-5

Denver Restaurant Week winds down this weekend, with the last prix fixe meals until next year being plated on Sunday. If you couldn't get a reservation at one of the participating restaurants, here are seven great alternative events to make up for it.

Friday, March 3

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is hosting 26 head-shaving events in the Colorado area this month to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. Stoney’s Bar & Grill will host the first gathering from 3:30 to 8 p.m. today at 1111 Lincoln Street; the Stoney's goal is to raise more than $75,000, with 100 registered shavees. Find out more about this round and other scheduled events on the St. Baldrick's Facebook page.

Fans of film and food can't miss CINEChef 2017, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce Street in Boulder. Presented by the Boulder International Film Festival, the event provides eight top chefs the opportunity to create dishes inspired by some of their favorite films. (Fava beans, a nice Chianti and Silence of the Lambs, anyone?) CINEChef tickets are $95 and include a screening of Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table, a documentary about the New Orleans restaurateur and food-culture pioneer; head over to the First Presbyterian Church at 1820 15th Street at 7:15 p.m. for the film (sermon not included). Tickets to the film alone are $12 and can be purchased on the BIFF website or by calling 303-786-7030.

Looking to brush up on your sausage-making skills? Trying to teach your teen about more than just microwaving? The City of Aurora may be a surprising resource for aspiring chefs of all ages. March cooking classes kick off today with a couples' cooking class offering chocolate-based entrees paired with wine; while registration closes prior to the event, check out future classes for all ages and tastes on the Aurora Cooks website. Kids can create a Greek menu of dolmas, spanikopita and baklava, while adults tackle delicate French macarons or a St. Paddy's Day dinner, complete with colcannon, corned beef, pork pie and Irish beer. Register online or by calling 303-326-8650. Individual tuition ranges from $38 to $90, with significant discounts for Aurora residents. Most classes take place at the Expo Recreation Center, 10955 East Exposition Avenue in Aurora.

Keep reading for more events this weekend.
Saturday, March 4
Join the Nourish Community Market at the Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview Boulevard, for a glimpse into a little-known area of American food history: the food co-op. The documentary film Food for Change traces the emergence of member-owned food-distribution centers during the Great Depression, their resurgence during the 1960s, and the present-day efforts of producers and consumers to gain control of local food economies. Food for Change will screen at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion on co-ops in the Denver area, with representatives from Nourish, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Greater Park Hill Community Inc. on hand. See the event's Facebook page for additional details.

Zach's Chili Challenge brings great chefs together for a great cause. From 6 to 9 p.m. tonight at the McNichols Building, 144 West Colfax Avenue, nosh on chili, sip spirits and chug beer while benefiting childhood cancer research. Chili from local restaurants will be paired with a craft beer or spirit and will vie for top honors based on your votes; the event also features prize drawings and DJs.  Find out more about the beneficiary, the Morgan Adams Foundation, on the organization's website, and nab tickets here. General admission is $50; VIP will set you back $100 but includes early entry at 5 p.m.

If you’ve ever been called a beer nerd, we’ve got just the event for you. From noon to 4 p.m., Wynkoop Brewing, 1634 18th Street, is throwing its first-ever Day of the Dorks beer festival, where the brewery says it will pour “the geekiest and most whitewhaley craft brew in all the land.” Sip special suds from more than thirty regional breweries while taking tasting notes and ranking your favorites. Nerd attire is encouraged, and the Wynkoop also encourages you to bring new pens, pencils, notebooks and other school supplies, which the brewery will donate to local elementary schools. The $25 ticket (or two for $40, as if you could land a date) includes unlimited samples, a commemorative glass and beer-friendly snacks. Get yours at eventbrite.com.

Sunday, March 5
The Mile High Swappers want you to join them on Sunday — but, no, not for that kind of swap. The group of cooks and gardeners is hosting a homemade food swap at Isabelle Farm Barn, 1640 West Baseline Road in Lafayette from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.  Bring at least five portions of your homemade specialty  — whether it's cake or cookies, jam or jelly, home brew or hummus— to trade with others. The barter system is strictly enforced, so don't expect to be able to purchase goodies at this get-together. See the Swappers' Facebook page for more information; while the event is free, registration is required.

There's plenty of info online about how to infuse your bud into your biscuits, but if you want to incorporate marijuana into your cooking and actually end up with a palatable product, consider the Introductory Cooking With Cannabis class taught by Torrin Panico, a professional chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. From noon to 2:20 today, learn about infusion methods and dosing in an industrial kitchen space at Colorado Cannabis Tours, 2087 South Grant Street. Enjoy your creations during class (but good luck taking notes). Tickets, $79, are available at eventbrite.com.