Food Fest: Agave Spirits and Pozole Star at This March 20 Event

Many food and booze-centric events are regularly hosted in Denver, but not all are created equal. Often, there are long lines, not enough samples or overcrowding that detracts from the fun. But since debuting in the Mile High in 2023, Bowl of ‘Zole has proven to be one of the best food and drink fests of the year. And it’s coming back on Thursday, March 20.

The festivities include unlimited samples of pozole from local eateries such as Tamayo, Palenque Cocina y Agaveria and El Chingon. “This year, sadly, we remember and honor Amos Watts,” says Bowl of ‘Zole co-founder Danny Mena. The beloved chef and owner of the Fifth String was part of the Denver event for its first two years but passed away suddenly last April. “Having participated in years prior, already going through adversity, just shows how wonderful and tight-knit the Denver community is and how an event that brings good food, good drinks and good people together is so important,” notes Mena, “and I think Bowl of ‘Zole is just a wonderful example of that.”

The latest additions to the chef lineup include six-time James Beard Award nominee Dana Rodriguez, who opened her new restaurant, Carne, last year; and Chopped champion Zuri Resendiz, who debuted his first restaurant, Luchador, in last August.

Bowl of ‘Zole got its start in New York City in 2019 when Mena, author of Made in Mexico, partnered with spirit expert Arik Torren and longtime hospitality pro Jimmy Carbone, who is also the founder of Food Karma Projects, to create an event that celebrates the rich culture of Mexico.

Part of the fun is tasting the wide variety of pozole that the restaurants cook up. Expect everything from traditional green and red pozole to stews with seafood, plant-based proteins and more.

The main draw, though, is the booze. “You may be familiar with mezcal and tequila, but Bowl of ‘Zole will also feature agave spirits like sotol and raicilla,” Torren notes. Like pozole, “agave spirits are also traditionally Mexican and vary from region to region. If you’re looking for something new and want to support small producers, you’ll be able to sample a diverse selection of mezcals and spirits and pre-order your favorites from vendors.”

“Mezcal is all about the story,” Mena adds. “The people that go to these events are people who really care about what they’re consuming. They’re really adventurous about what they’re eating and understand Mexican culture.

That’s what makes Bowl of ‘Zole feel so different from a typical tasting event: The people representing the small producers pouring on-site are excited to talk about the stories behind the labels, offering a deeper understanding of the spirits inside each bottle. Attending this fest is like a mini trip to Mexico – though with so many agave spirits flowing, we highly recommend taking a Lyft or Uber as you’re highly likely to leave with a pretty good buzz.

Bowl of ‘Zole, Thursday, March 20, Skylight Denver, 833 Santa Fe Drive. VIP tickets, $85, include early admission at 5 p.m. while general admission tickets with entry from 6 to 9 p.m. are $65. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bowlofzole.com.