Sip and Slurp: The Twelve Tastiest Culinary Events This Week

This week is all about giving back. You can get eat, drink and otherwise indulge at several events for great causes. Have a shell of a good time at the third annual High West Oyster Fest, travel the culinary globe in Around the World in 180 Minutes or explore a match made in heaven at Brews and Stews. Here's a taste of what's on the culinary calendar.

Monday, March 9 

Humboldt: Farm, Fish, Wine will be the guest of honor at The Seasoned Chef Cooking School today from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Humboldt's executive chef, DJ Nagle, will be leading students in a hands-on course on the skills and techniques used in the restaurant, while creating a selection of beautifully plated appetizers – all taken straight from Humboldt’s menu. The class includes a complimentary glass of wine on arrival, and wine with your meal. Tuition is $69; to register, click here.  

Frasca Food and Wine will be welcoming Claudia Cigliuti of Barbaresco for its Monday Night Wine Dinner, a four-course, prix fixe tasting menu for $50 with optional wine pairings ranging from $40 to $50. Tonight's dinner will feature an all-red flight. For reservations and more information, call Frasca at 303-442-6966.

Guard and Grace is holding its first wine dinner of the year. The Mauro Molino Wine Dinner, featuring winemaker Matteo Molino, will feature tastings of Molino's Contratto Brut, Barbera d'Alba, Barolo 2010, La Spinetta Moscato d'Asti and more. The four-course dinner begins at 7 p.m., and reservations can be made here.  

Tuesday, March 10 


Sip, slurp and shuck your way through the third annual High West Oyster Fest today from 6 to 9 p.m. at eTown Hall in Boulder. Guests will enjoy Jax food and drink favorites, the best Oyster Eating and Shucking Competitions this side of the Mississippi, live music from Denver's DJ Styles Davis, and a special guest appearance from Louis Psihoyos, founder of the Oceanic Preservation Society and Oscar-Winning director of The Cove. Tickets are $50 per person and include four drink and four food tickets. All proceeds will benefit the Colorado non-profit There With Care. For tickets and more information, click here. 


Wednesday, March 11 

Head to Firenze a Tavola tonight to celebrate the great unknown wines of Italy. Mario Scanu of the Winebow Group will be teaching participants about the great "unknowns" through four wines paired with a multiple-course menu. The dinner, which starts at 6:30 p.m., is $55 per person and includes wine pairings. Seat are very limited, so call 303-561-0234 to reserve yours. 

Thursday, March 12 

The Nickel will be welcoming Pacific Northwest winemaker Andrew Rich, of Andrew Rich Wines, for an interactive wine tasting and reception hosted by Kendra Anderson, advanced sommelier and author of SwirlGirlDenver. From 6 to 7:30 guests can experience four Andrew Rich wines, paired with savory bites prepared by The Nickel executive chef Chris Thompson, and learn the basics of food and wine pairing. This wine-dinner experience is $39 per person; call the Nickel at 720-889-2128 to reserve your spot. 

Around the World in 180 Minutes returns to Denver for its second edition from 7 to 10 p.m. today. The event, which takes place at the Tivoli Turnahalle, will feature food, entertainment, arts and spirits from around the world; you'll have the chance to enjoy spicy South American empanadas, Italian wines, German beers, exotic cocktails and more. Tickets are $30; buy yours at imbibe-events.com. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the international community via Calico the International Center. 

The Natural Grocers store at 2401 Ford Street in Golden and the Natural Grocers store at 1433 South Washington Street in Denver will be holding their first ever "Market Day" from noon to 6 p.m. Representatives from local businesses will hand out samples of their products; the group includes Grateful Bread, which will be selling its hard-to-come-by bread at both locations. For more information, visit naturalgrocers.com.  

Fado Irish Pub is gearing up for its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration this weekend with a little bit of Irish trivia tonight.  The Magners Girls will be on hand at the Irish-themed edition of Geeks Who Drink, and there will also be giveaways, a photo booth and plenty of beer, food and whiskey. 

Friday, March 13 


FNA, a former-street-food-turned-apparel company that sells T-shirts and uses proceeds to fight local hunger among the poor and homeless, will be launching their apparel-only brand today with a party at Prost Brewing Company from 7 to 10 p.m. Prost and FNA will be handing out free food and drinks, and there will be T-shirt giveaways as well as an opportunity to learn how FNA helps to fight hunger in the community. For more info, head to FNA's Facebook page. 

The Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton is celebrating this Friday the 13th with a very special craft dinner and screening of the original Friday the 13th film. The film will be preceded by a live Q&A via Skype with co-creator and original screenplay writer Victor Miller. The evening of horror starts at 7:15 p.m. and tickets, which include three beers and dinner, are $50 per person. For more information, visit drafthouse.com.

The second Annual Brew & Stew will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mile High Station. The fundraiser for Hope House of Colorado will feature all-you-can eat and drink beer and stew, as well as games (including a corn hole competition) and live music, all for just $40. For tickets and more information, head over to hopehouseofcolorado.org.   

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].

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