Ten Tastiest Non-Super Bowl Events on Denver's Culinary Calendar

The city will be awash in orange and blue all weekend — as well as good food and plenty of brews — as Denver gears up to take on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. But there are plenty of other tasty things to do around town, from Chinese New Year celebrations to wine festivals and more. Check out our list of the best places to watch the Super Bowl for Sunday football festivities, and keep reading for more picks from this weekend's culinary calendar.

Friday, February 5 

In honor of the Broncos' trip to the Super Bowl, the Marczyk Fine Foods location at 770 East 17th Avenue is bringing back Burger Night — make that Burger Night Lunch — for one day only. From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, guests can grab a just-grilled Niman Ranch burger with all the fixings for $8.99. Call Marczyk at 303-894-9499 for more information.

Even Uber is celebrating the Denver Broncos today, when the taxi service will turn delivery service if you order a chicken-parm sandwich—which just happens to be Peyton Manning's favorite — from your phone using the Uber app. To get in on this special UberEATS pop-up, simply open your Uber app between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and request UberEATS. You'll have a DiFranco's sandwich delivered to your door for just $8. 

Asian Avenue magazine is partnering with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network to welcome the Year of the Monkey at the eighth annual Lunar New Year Banquet at King's Land Chinese Seafood. The event will feature a ten-course Chinese dinner, a performance by the Qing Wei Lion and Dragon Cultural Troupe, a silent auction and gifts. The festivities begin with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception, followed by dinner at 6:30. Tickets are $40, $30 for seniors and students, and can be purchased here. 

Organic Sandwich Company is celebrating its one-year anniversary in Boulder and giving back to the community with a weekend of freebies. The sandwich shop will be giving away slices of anniversary cake today, and housemade chocolate chip cookies all weekend. For more information, call the shop at 720-639-3986.  

Every Friday this month, Cherry Creek North reminds you to keep your heart in mind when you dine. "I Heart Fridays" kicks off today with a heart-healthy showdown, as Blue Island Oyster Bar and Del Frisco’s Grille go head-to-head in a Chef Cook-Off. Chefs from both restaurants will present their heart-healthiest street tacos, and you'll get to help crown the champion. In addition to tasting those tacos, you can enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks during the event, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Factory Design Labs, 158 Fillmore Street, on the fourth floor. Today is also National Wear Red Day, when the American Heart Association encourages the public to dress in red to raise awareness for heart disease in women; wear red to get discounts at participating locations throughout Cherry Creek North. For more information, visit cherrycreeknorth.com. 

Keep reading for more great culinary events before the big game.
 Saturday, February 6 

Celebrate the Year of the Monkey at Uncle Joe's during the restaurant's Chinese New Year celebration today. From 8 p.m. to midnight, there will be prize giveaways, drink specials and a DJ. The restaurant will also feature a special four-course menu for $36 per person, available Friday through Monday. Check out the menu and find all the details here.    

Two Penguins Tap & Grill is holding Hop Wars, a blind-tasting IPA contest featuring brews from Odell, Ska, Station 26, Comrade and Dry Dock brewing. Guests can sample all the beers and cast their vote for number one while listening to live music and noshing on appetizers. The IPA smackdown will run from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page.   

Winter Wine Fest, a curated Colorado wine festival designed to celebrate Colorado’s wine scene, takes place today at RedLine from 6 to 9 p.m., bringing together vintners, sommeliers and the public. General admission tickets are $45 and include unlimited wine sampling, small bites, a wine tote and a custom tasting glass to take home; VIP tickets are $60 and include early entry, glassware, unlimited tastings, small bites, a wine tote and a gift. Visit wwfest.com for tickets and more information. 

If you're planning on entertaining at home during the Super Bowl, Grateful Bread has a deal for you today. For $14.99, customers can buy one of the few remaining copies of 5280 The Cookbook and receive a free 24-ounce bag of freshly milled organic whole wheat flour, with which to make founder Jeff Cleary's recipe for honey whole wheat pizza dough — because few things go better with football than pizza. For more information, head to gratefulbread.com.  

It's not Valentine's Day yet, but Olde Town Arvada is having a Chocolate Affair today. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. chocolate lovers can indulge in chocolate-based food and drinks, take part in a chocolate treasure hunt, and enjoy loads of family-friendly fun. You can start your own chocolate affair for just $1 per tasting ticket; tickets will be available on site, and proceeds will benefit local child-advocacy organization Ralston House. For more information, visit oldetownarvada.org.

Sunday, February 7 

Still don't have plans for the Super Bowl? Road trip! The Dickens Opera House in Longmont is hosting a party where you can watch the game on the theater's thirty-foot screen and enjoy an all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet and drink specials. Tickets, $11, can be purchased here.

For the scoop on more Super Bowl happenings around Denver, check out our twelve picks for great places to eat and drink your way through the big game..      

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].