Here's a taste of what's ahead:
Monday, April 5:
Celebrate the official release of the West End Tavern's exclusive Pappy Van Winkle 17-year bourbon. The party starts at 6 p.m.; call 303-444-3535 or visit www.thewestendtavern.com. The tavern is at 926 Pearl Street in Boulder.
Stop by 1515 Restaurant, 1515 Market Street, for the Green Route Restaurant Tour, free tours with appetizer and drink specials plus the chance to meet with owners and chefs. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m.; call 303-720-6850 or visit www.greenroutedenver.com to sign up.
The Denver Central Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, presents Food Fight: Retaking Our Plates, a film series focusing on food. This week: Fast Food Nation. The film screens from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend; call 720-865-1111 or visit http://denverlibrary.org/fresh.
Frasca Food & Wine, 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, hosts its Monday Night Wine Dinner with winemaker Duncan Arnot Meyers, who will present the wines of Arnot-Roberts, a Sonoma winery. Admission is $45, plus extra for the wine pairings; call 303-442-6966 or visit www.frascafoodandwine.com.
Reserve your spot by today for the Wines of the Pines French Wine Tour, which runs April 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ridge at Castle Pines North, 1414 Castle Pines Parkway in Castle Rock. Admission is $35; visit www.winesofthepinesinc.com.
Tuesday, April 6:
Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace, 950 Pearl Street in Boulder, hosts another installment in its monthly introduction to Latin Wines. This month, the course will cover Spain; it costs $18, and reservations are required. Call 303-442-7771 or visit www.centrolatinkitchen.com.
The Blending Cellar, 946 Pearl Street in Boulder, offers a seminar titled Wine 101: Organic & Sustainable Wines. Learn about the difference between organic, vegan, sustainable and biodynamic wines with sommelier Manual Sanchez of West End Wine Shop and taste five fantastic organic wines from around the world. It runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and costs $25; reservations are required. Make yours by calling 303-447-0475 or e-mailing [email protected].
Wednesday, April 7:
Lola, 1575 Boulder Street, hosts Dos Casas, an event with three options: An after-hours starting at 9 p.m. and featuring appetizers, small bites and live music for $35; a five-course seated dinner paired with wine for $75; and the dinner plus exclusive patio seating and a chef meet-and-greet for $125. Proceeds benefit Brent's Place, and participating chefs include Sheila Lucero, Goose Sorenson, Matt Selby, Troy Guard, Brian Laird, Tyler Wiard, Jamey Fader, Sean Yontz and Kerry Johnson. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.; call 720-570-8686 or visit www.loladenver.com.
Stop by WaterCourse Foods, 837 East 17th Avenue, for the Green Route Restaurant Tour, free tours with appetizer and drink specials plus the chance to meet with owners and chefs. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m.; call 303-720-6850 or visit www.greenroutedenver.com to sign up.
Enjoy fabulous wine and the most exquisite fare of Vail Valley's world-class restaurants at Taste of Vail, which runs through Saturday, April 10. Call 1-800-475-4543 or visit www.vail.com.
Thursday, April 8:
Strings, 1700 Humboldt Street, hosts a Spring Wine Dinner: five courses paired with wines from the Montinore Estate Winery in Oregon. It runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and costs $70; call 303-831-7310 or visit www.stringsrestaurant.com.
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York Street, hosts Zen & the Art of Tea, a Chinese tea ceremony that will teach you how to integrate the four principles of tea (harmony, respect, purity and tranquility) into your everyday life, with every cup you drink. It runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and costs $28 for members; call 720-865-3500 or visit www.botanicgardens.org.
Saturday, April 10:
Culinary Connectors has expanded into Boulder with its intimate, chauffeured tours around some of the best area restaurants; includes personal and demonstration time with chefs, mixologists and sommeliers. Tours are $99. For a full schedule and information, visit www.culinaryconnectors.com.
Help raise funds for Michele O'Donnell's medical expenses at Bagali's Italian Kitchen, 570 Zang Street in Broomfield, starting at 7 p.m.; 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the family. Call 303-465-9463 or visit www.bagalis.com.
The Denver Brass offers a three-course dinner paired with Australian wines on the DU campus at 6:30 p.m. for $79. Visit www.denverbrass.org.
Enjoy Bed & Breakfast with the Denver sheriff Department; stay overnight at the new detention facility, 490 West Colfax Avenue. The stay includes dinner and breakfast. Check-in is 4 p.m. and the night costs $60; call 720-865-9567.
Take your kitchen garden to the next level and maximize your space for optimum production with the Small Space Kitchen Garden Design Workshop, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York Street. Admission is $130 to $166; call 720-865-3500 or visit www.botanicgardens.org.
Insect chef David George Gordon appears live to give bug-cooking demonstrations at the Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Drive in Broomfield. Watch him make tempura-battered mealworms, scorpion scaloppini and more; the demonstrations take place at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. and are included with admission, first come, first served. Call 303-469-5441 or visit www.butterflies.org.
Sunday, April 11:
Mod Livin' and Deluxe Burger, 5325-5327 East Colfax Avenue, host Create Modern Denver, an evening of all things modern in celebration of Create Denver Week; there will be DJs, Mad Men-inspired fashion and food. Admission is free and the party runs from 6 to 8 p.m.; call 720-941-9292 or visit www.modlivin.com.
Heirloom Gardens, 4460 Winona Court, presents Brunch Favorites. Learn to make crepes with fresh fruit compote; asparagus, gruyere and shallot quiche; buttermilk biscuits with gravy; cinnamon pecan rolls and pomegranate-orange mimosas. It starts at 9 a.m. and costs $50, including recipes; call 303-956-7203 or visit www.eatwhereulive.com.
For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings.
