Ten Tastiest Events on Denver's Culinary Calendar, November 1-4

Alert! The Colorado Small Business Development Center Network pulled the plug on its inaugural Microbrewery and Distillery conference in Colorado Springs that had been set for Wednesday, November 2; it's been rescheduled for February 10. But there's still plenty to do this week in Denver, including visiting the first Colorado Restaurant Show at the Crowne Plaza — which is conveniently close to the new Westin Hotel at DIA, which just happens to be hosting a big wine festival. Keep reading for the tasty details.

Tuesday, November 1

The Way Back is launching a Tuesday's Test Table starting today, offering a sneak peek at menu items that chefs Samuel Charles and Marcus Eng are considering adding to the menu. The Tuesday's Test Table items will be available every Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. as either a la carte options or a three-course, $45 pre fixe menu — and the chefs encourage you to freely share any feedback. Call 720-718-8156 for reservations.

The Crimson Room continues its monthly cocktail-class series with a course on putting a little spice in your drink. "Spicing Up Cocktails: Mixology With Herbs and Spices" will run from 7 to 8 p.m, and $20 buys admission to the class, bar basics, two cocktails, hands-on tips on mixing up great drinks, recipes to take home to re-create the cocktails and more. Call 720-639-6987 for more information.

The seventh annual Wine, Women and Football takes the field from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at ViewHouse Centennial. Your $85 ticket includes appetizers, wine, valet parking, a commemorative gift and the chance to rub elbows; best of all, funds raised at the event will benefit the Volunteers of America’s Irving Safe Haven, a shelter for women and children escaping a life of homelessness and domestic abuse. You can find tickets and more information here.

Good Mornings Coffeehouse, the Soiled Dove Underground and local artists are teaming up to throw a benefit for Helping Children Worldwide Child Rescue Centre in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Passion4Arts Showcase will take over the Soiled Dove Underground starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $40 at the door; grab yours here.

Wednesday, November 2

The first annual Colorado Restaurant Show runs today and tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center. The event will feature keynote presentations by industry leaders including Erin Moran, chief culture officer of the renowned Union Square Hospitality Group, the company behind Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Maialino and numerous other NYC-based hot spots; internationally known celebrity chefs Jose Garces and Hugh Acheson; and Bret Thorn, restaurant trend expert and senior food editor at Nation’s Restaurant News.  The premier networking and learning event for restaurateurs, chefs and restaurant and bar managers in the Rocky Mountain region, the show will bring leading restaurant suppliers in Colorado and the nation together with industry leaders and tastemakers. Registration has moved on-site (and there are pre-show events on November 1);  admission is $25. Find the complete schedule here.

The 2016 International Wine Festival lands at the Westin Hotel at Denver International Airport today. The three-day festival will feature a grand vintners' dinner at Barolo Grill, the Pairsine Chefs Fine Food and Wine Pairing Competition, a grand tasting and more. Grab tickets and check out the full schedule here.

Leopold Bros. and Linger are joining forces for a cocktail gathering and four-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. The evening is $75 per person and seating is limited; make your reservation at 303-993-3120.

Thursday, November 3

The Colorado Restaurant Show continues through the day with demonstrations, exhibits and sessions including "Hot off the Presses! Working With Media" at 10:10 a.m. The discussion will be led by B Public Relations, and among the panelists will be Westword editor Patricia Calhoun — who'll tell you how to get in this calendar, among other things. Find out more here.

From 6 to 9 p.m. tonight, the 2016 Pairsine Chefs Fine Food and Wine Pairing Competition at the Denver International Wine Festival will pair ten artistic, wine-savvy Colorado chefs with two of the gold-medal-winning wines (with scores of 91 or higher) from the 2016 Denver International Wine Competition. Their challenge? They must create a gourmet food pairing for each wine, in competition for the coveted People’s Choice Award. It all happens at the Westin DIA, and tickets are $120. For more information, go to denverwinefest.com.

Keep reading for more events this week.

Friday, November 4

Infinite Monkey Theorem is celebrating First Friday, and in honor of the coming cold months, the winery will be releasing its spiced mulled wine tonight for $5 a glass. Skadi’s Food Truck will serve some divine comfort foods, and Ejay the DJ will be spinning tunes. Call the winery at 303-736-8376 for all the details.

Plan Ahead:

Saturday, November 5

Get ready for more snow business at the Never Summer & Breckenridge Brewery Opening Day Party from 6 to 10 p.m. today at Punch Bowl Social, 65 Broadway. The free parking lot party includes snowboard and swag giveaways, live art and music featuring MF Ruckus, a special showing of the Never Summer movie 25, free board waxing from 7Twenty Board Shop, a mechanical bull, party games, bowling and more. Come early to grab your spot, and enjoy Punch Bowl Social happy-hour deals from 3 to 6 p.m. Find out more 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].