A Quartet of Big Culinary Events on the Calendar Today

Get in gear for a great food weekend at one of four culinary events tonight.

Denver Food and Wine, which kicked off last night and runs through the grand Tasting Saturday, continues with a very special event at Panzano tonight.The four-course wine-pairing dinner honoring Chicago’s James Beard Award-winning chef Rick Tramonto has been crafted by Panzano executive chef Elise Wiggins and was inspired by two of Tramonto's cookbooks, Amuse Bouche and Steak With Friends. Tramonto will be on hand for a cocktail meet-and-greet beginning at 6 p.m. in the Hotel Monaco lobby, followed by a four-course dinner paired with wine and cocktails from the Panzano beverage team; each diner will receive an autographed copy of Tramonto’s cookbook. Reservations for the dinner are $100  or $125 for seats at the chef's counter; call Panzano at 303-296-3525. A portion of the proceeds benefit Colorado ProStart, a high school hospitality education program run by the Colorado Restaurant Association and the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association.  

Food Fight, a battle for a cause, will be making noise at the Builders Appliance Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today. The event will bring together some of Denver’s top chefs for a chance to battle it out in three categories: appetizers, main course and desserts. Mark Koebrich of 9News will be the emcee for the evening, and attendees will be able to wine, dine and bid on dream getaways and more during live and silent auctiona. The event is being held to raise support and awareness for the Scleroderma Foundation-Rocky Mountain Chapter. Tickets are $95 for general admission and $150 for VIP; pick yours up here.  

Help Clayton Early Learning by indulging in an evening of caring and culinary treats at the Moonbeam Harvest. Over a dozen local chefs will whip up delicious, seasonal dishes that highlight the fruits and vegetables grown in the Clayton's one-acre gardens. Tickets are $135 for young professionals and $150 for general admission; you can purchase them here.  

The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust is throwing its first annual Fall Harvest Dinner at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. The event will feature music, cocktails and appetizers followed by a family-style dinner. The meal runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, and tickets are $85, with children ten and under free. Proceeds from the event will go toward conservation of Colorado's agricultural lands. To purchase tickets, click here. 

For more Food & Drink events, go to our online calendar. If you know of an event that should be included in that calendar, send information to [email protected]. And watch for our weekend culinary calendar tomorrow.