Watch Chefs Battle, Learn and Cut Loose: Seven Tastiest Events This Weekend

Famous chefs are all over this weekend, duking it out Iron Chef-style in Cherry Creek and in your living rooms on PBS. But if you're preoccupied by Valentine's Day blues, Blackbird has a casual event for singles that might just lighten your mood. And on Saturday, get your chance to...

By Chris Utterback

February 6, 2015

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Famous chefs are all over this weekend, duking it out Iron Chef-style in Cherry Creek and in your living rooms on PBS. But if you're preoccupied by Valentine's Day blues, Blackbird has a casual event for singles that might just lighten your mood. And on Saturday, get your chance to make a difference as Colorado House Majority Leader Representative Crisanta Duran hosts a conversation on Denver's food deserts. There's something for everyone and anyone this weekend on the culinary calendar; keep reading for a taste.

Friday, February 6

Cherry Creek North's I Heart Fridays kicks off with a culinary battle between Food Network star and chef Nikki Shaw and Bad Daddy's Burger Bar Executive Corporate Chef Tim Kast. The free event at Beacons starts at 4 p.m. today, RSVP at [email protected]. Allez cuisine!

Valentine's Day always comes too early for some of us. Head off the V-Day blues with a singles happy hour at Blackbird. No pressure, just fun as you and fellow lone wolves talk, mingle and play games over special drinks and snacks from 6 to 8 p.m. Twenty bucks gets you bites and two drinks; call the restaurant at 303-733-3923 to get tickets. Saturday, February 7

According to the USDA, there are 113 food deserts in the Denver metro area -- places where good, fresh food is hard to come by and health and community suffer. Saturday morning at Jake's, Representative Crisanta Duran is hosting a town hall discussion on how to address Colorado's vast food disparity, and all attendees are invited to participate in the discussion. RSVP by e-mailing [email protected].

Chef and restaurateur Frank Bonanno's Colorado-centric food show, Chef Driven, is entering its second season, with six new episodes ready to air beginning today at 1:30 p.m. on Rocky Mountain PBS. This season, Bonanno is focusing on culinary innovations in Denver and the people behind them: The premiere episode shines a light on the craft beer industry with visits to Great Divide Brewing Co., Crooked Stave and more.

Sunday, February 8

Bonanno will be hosting a viewing party of the second season premiere of Chef Driven at his own Lou's Food Bar starting at 7 p.m. tonight. As you watch, you can sample beer from the same breweries Bonanno visits and munch on comfort food from Lou's. $30 a person gets you plenty of brew and food; get your tickets at Imbibe Denver's site.

If you work in the food and beverage industry, chances are you could use a break. Cut loose at the Colorado Restaurant Association's Drink Red Wear Red party. (And yes, the public is invited as well.) Enjoy wine and "heavy" hors d'oeuvres with entertainment from the Hazel Miller Band. Proceeds from the event and a silent auction go to benefit Project Angel Heart, CRA Mile High Chapter Hardship Fund, and CRAEF. Tickets are $75 a person for entry to the Cable Center on the DU campus.

The whole family can enjoy Valentine's Day treats with a Family Baking for Valentine's Day class at The Seasoned Chef. Bring the kids and eat your heart out -- or at least, heart-shaped things out -- and learn to bake homemade Oreos, cookies, and cupcakes. The class is full, but you can try calling 303-377-3222 to see if anything opens up.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings -- and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to [email protected].

Follow @CafeWestword

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.