The Denver Business Journal recently published the article Hunt gets harder for restaurant help in metro Denver, describing the “borderline crisis” state of staffing shortages in Denver restaurants. As the “bright-white age of Denver restaurant expansion” continues with no end in sight, restaurant employers are having difficulty retaining and recruiting staff.
The reason, as Adam Schlegel, part-owner of Snooze and executive director of EatDenver, puts it, “there are far more restaurant jobs than people who can fill them.” And, this “crisis” is not just a local phenomenon. Similar accounts of hiring strife in Chicago, Boston, and Houston, to name a few, have hit the airways in recent months.
While restaurant owners are feeling the pressure, this increasingly high demand for staff has opened the treasure chest for the people working in the restaurant industry “who suddenly seem to hold the power.” It’s good to be a restaurant employee, and it’s getting even better.
Lots o’ job
In 2014 alone, the restaurant industry added more than 400,000 jobs nationally, making it the fastest growing industry in terms of workforce and there are no signs of slowing. More than 150,00 restaurant jobs have been created so far this year, keeping the industry on track to add the projected 300,000 jobs in 2015.
In Colorado, restaurant jobs have grown twice as fast any other industry in the state thanks to Denver’s restaurant boom. To give you an idea of just how big the boom is, restaurant consultant Jon Imbergamo estimates that for every Denver restaurant that closes, 4-6 new ones open.
Needless to say, there are positions available all over town. In fact, Schlegal estimates that a job seeker with service industry experience can get “five to 10 immediate expressions of interest after posting their resume.” The opportunities aren’t just limited to seasoned restaurant workers either as staffing shortages include host/hostess and other entry level positions.
Given the hiring hardships, restaurants are growing ever-more competitive when it comes to maintaining staff, which means growing incentives to keep people around. According to the DBJ’s Hunt Gets Harder article, employee wages, including starting pay, have increased by 15-20% over the last 18 months, with some restaurants going up by 40%.
But that’s not enough. As the choices of where to work grow, employees are becoming extremely selective to the point that they are looking for additional things besides a higher paycheck. Restaurants across the state, and nationwide, are offering new or increased benefits. From 401k plans to paid gym memberships to “kick-ass staff parties”, owners and operators are doing basically anything and everything to keep staff at their establishment.
Some restaurateurs are going out-of-the-box (literally) to solve their staffing woes by going outside of the heart of the city. Both Snooze and Steuban’s have ventured outside of Downtown Denver and opened locations in the surrounding suburbs. Not only does this enable restaurant owners and operators to tap into a new talent pool, but it also provides new job opportunities to the people who live in the area. No longer does working at a top restaurant mean commuting to and from the Denver metro area. Especially now that traffic is getting worse by the day.
The Takeaway
The restaurant industry is growing. So much so that the workforce as it is now cannot accommodate. That means that there are jobs available for the taking plus more money and benefits to those who seize the opportunity. Like I said before, whether you’re a veteran or just getting started, it’s good to be a restaurant employee.
To all those who work in the Service Industry: this one’s for you. Welcome to NATIV Industry Night, the Tuesday night party dedicated to the Service Industry.
NATIV Industry Night is a weekly celebration that kicked off in early July as a way to say thanks to the people who feed us, cloth us, beautify us, pamper us, etc. day in and day out.
Now’s your chance to get special treatment: live music, food & drink specials and the occasional surprise giveaway!
The party starts at 7 pm at Pourtions Keg + Kitchen, NATIV Hotel’s on-site bar and restaurant with a 20-tap, self-pour beer wall. Start the night off with $3 sliders, $5 wines, and $5 specialty cocktails, while grooving to an acoustic set from 7-9 pm.
Then it’s on to the main event at The Lobby Bar, where there’s more live music and more specials! Drink up with $3 domestics, $4 imports, $4 wells, and $100 bottles all night long. And, you’ll never know what other awesome surprises may be in store for you throughout the night.
So come get some much-needed R&R tonight at NATIV Industry Night! You deserve it.
When: July 3-5, starting at 10 am. Where: Cherry Creek North, from 2nd to 3rd Avenues between Columbine St. and Steele St. What: The signature festival is a cultural celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts. It’s a great experience for the whole family with the Artivity Avenue, a full block of interactive activity for youngsters, the Cultural Pavilion, where performing arts come to life, and the Culinary Avenue, featuring some tasty snacks and live cooking demonstrations from popular eateries around Denver. Free for all who wish to attend.
When: Friday, July 3, 4-8 pm. Where: Ridge Street Arts Square, Breckenridge, CO. What: A celebration of street, pavements and graffiti arts featuring guest artists specializing in each media. Also on the schedule is live music (starting at 8 pm), a chalk art contest, and stenciling workshops including kid’s graffiti. No admission fee.
When: Friday, July 3, beginning at 8 pm. Where: Civic Center Park (Colfax & Broadway). What: Start your 4th of July early at the 6th annual FREE community celebration featuring a concert, light show, and fireworks. The concert will feature Funkiphino and 101st Army Concert Band from Buckley Air Force Base. Lawn seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early! Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics, but concessions will be available as well.
When: Saturday, July 4, kicking off at 1:30 pm. Where: Along 23rd Avenue, from Dexter St. to Krameria St. View route here. What: Celebrate Independence Day with family and friends by watching the 6th annual Park Hill parade featuring more than 50 groups including floats, marching bands, costumed characters, classic cars and more! The parade will run along 23rd Ave., with viewing areas available along both the north and south sides of 23rd. Get there early to set up blankets and chairs, then relax and enjoy the fun!
When: Saturday, July 4, starting at 7 pm. Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High. What: Watch the Outlaws, Denver’s professional lacrosse team, face-off against the Boston Cannons this 4th of July. Then after we take home the big W, enjoy the fireworks show- pyrotechnics paired with visuals on a 220-foot wide, HD screen! Tickets start at $28 available for purchase here.
When: July 10-12; Friday 4- 10 pm, Saturday 11 am- 10 pm, Sunday 10 am- 5 pm. Where: TEV Edelweiss festival grounds in Morrison, CO. What: Celebrate traditional German culture with food, entertainment, music, dance and beer! There will be activities for children and a real German all-you-can-eat Frühschoppen (brunch) for $15 on Sunday morning from 10 am- 2 pm. Price of admission: Friday & Saturday $5, Sunday $3 (or $1 before noon); children 12 & under are free.
When: July 10-12; Friday 5- 10 pm, Saturday 10 am- 10 pm, Sunday 10 am- 7 pm. Where: Clement Park, Littleton, CO. What: Experience the largest Irish celebration in the Rocky Mountains with traditional Irish music performances and dancing, Irish drama and storytelling, crafts, games and food and drinks. Known throughout the west for its display of kilts, bagpipes and Irish step dancing, this year’s Irish Festival promises to be a memorable weekend. Price of admission: Friday $10 (or free before 6 pm), Saturday & Sunday $13; children 12 & under are free. Tickets are available online here, King Soopers/Ticket West outlets, and at the event gates.
When: Friday, July 10, starting at 9 pm. Where: VIE Nightclub Denver. What: Meet the person you’ve been stalking on Tinder! Or find your match among Denver’s hottest singles. Show your Tinder app at the door to skip line/cover. And join us as we celebrate Stephanie (a.k.a Sirvo’s fearless leader) turning 27 with bottles galore and beats provided by DJ GARMAN!
When: Saturday, July 11, 12- 4 pm. Where: Millenium Harvest House in Boulder CO. What: Third annual celebration of the best & baddest IPAs organized by The West End Tavern. Try IPA’s from 30+ breweries, enjoy live music from The Goonies & Sixty Minute Men, and food from The West End Tavern. Tickets are $35; 100% of proceeds to benefit Safehouse.
When: Sunday, July 12, 11 am- 6 pm Where:The Breakers Resort Denver What: To celebrate the opening of the Riviera at the Breakers Resort, a lounge and internet cafe, 303 Magazine is throwing a series of pool parties throughout the summer. The next one is just around the corner, and will be featuring DJ Kate Elsworth on the 1’s and 2’s. Tickets are $26 and only available online. Get them here ASAP because they’re going fast.
When: Wednesday, July 15, 6- 9 pm. Where: The Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, CO. What: Ten beer-savvy chefs from around the town will compete to create up to 20 dishes to be paired with one of 20 award-winning beers. On the day of the event, chefs will be preparing then serving their dishes alongside samples of each beer. A panel of food and wine experts will name the winners for “Best Chef” and “Most Creative Chef”, and attendees will also get to cast their votes to decide the winner of the “People’s Choice Chef”. Tickets are on sale here for $75.
When: Thursday, July 16, starting at 6:30 pm. Where: Galvanize Platte in Denver, CO. What: Colorado’s premiere startup party where members of the Galvanize community, local startup scene and all who are interested come together to enjoy conversation, cocktails, giveaways, and interactive demos from presenting startups including yours truly. We’ll be showing off Sirvo and giving away some free shwag, so come and support us! Tickets are available for $15 here.
When: July 17-19, starting at 5 pm. Where:Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. What: If you like electronic music, this concert is definitely for you. The greatest EDM artists from around the globe travel to Colorado to play for thousands of enthusiasts under the open sky at Red Rocks. The lineup includes Tiesto, Kaskade, Above & Beyond, Benny Benassi and many more. Get your tickets here before they sell out!
When: Thursday, July 23, 6- 10 pm. Where: The Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. What: Enjoy bites from over 40 of Denver’s best independent restaurants, then wash them down with cocktails from Denver’s top mixologists and craft beer from our favorite breweries. And like every BigEat, expect surprises and countless fun to benefit EatDenver. Tickets are available online for $55 here.
When: July 25-26, 7- 10 pm. Where:The Mile High Station in Denver, CO. What: The Summer Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond, not to mention live local music, food, and other vendors. Tickets are available online for $35 here, or on the day of for $45. Proceeds benefit Swallow Hill Music Association.
When: July 25, 7- 8 am. Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. What: Get your yoga on in one of the most awe-inspiring venues in the world. After the event, visit the Top Plaza for goodies from participating sponsors. Tickets are $12, available online here; $1 per admission will go to the Whole Planet Foundation.
When: July 31, starting at 7 pm. Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. What: Gather your friends and family and head up to Red Rocks to enjoy this classic. Tickets are $12, available online here.
Alcohol content and volume of each liquor used. In order to calculate cocktail proof, or percent of alcohol by volume, you need to know the alcohol content by volume as well as how much of each liquor was used. This tells you the volume of alcohol you’re adding per liquor.
Total drink volume. The total volume of the cocktail, including alcohol, mixers and melted ice if used, is also necessary so be sure to measure the volume after shaking but before drinking!
A few things to know:
The alcohol volume can be found on the liquor bottle label. If you are using the proof, divide it by 2 to get the % of alcohol by volume. For example, 80 proof is 40% alcohol by volume.
After you know the alcohol volume, move the decimal two places to the left before using the equation. So 40% will be .4 when doing the calculation.
If you’re using a few different types liquors in your drink, remember to add the alcohol content contributed by each before dividing by the total drink volume.
Let’s use a margarita for example:
1.5 oz silver tequila (70 proof, 35% abv)
1 oz triple sec orange liqueur (80 proof, 40% abv)
Not to be confused with Discovery Channel’s shark week, this weeklong celebration is all about the art of Charcuterie. Masters of the craft from Colt & Gray, The Nickel, The Plimoth, and Vesta Dipping Grill will be serving special charcuterie offerings made in-house, sourced from local farms and suppliers. And all you need to do to get in on the action is mention Charc Week when making a reservation (or four). Also part of the event is the official Charc Week tasting party, which will be held on Thursday evening at the Taxi Event Space where each chef will showcase their wares, alongside craft beer and spirits. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.
This soon-to-open whiskey and bar/clothing boutique located in Denver will be holding open call interviews for the following positions: baristas, barbers, bartenders, managers, retail specialists, stylists and all hospitality positions. Be sure to bring resumes, referrals and full body picture to the interview. For more information, email [email protected].
The event features a Nationally Sanctioned BBQ Event by the Kansas City BBQ Society, live entertainment, beer gardens, great food, boat rides and much more! Fri. 5-11pm & Sat. 10am-11pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids (ages 3-12).
You can never have too much wine! Not to mention live music and food. All of which will be available at the Colorado Wine Festival. Twenty-five Colorado wineries will be pouring tastings of their wines and selling bottles. Vendors and food booths will also be stationed throughout the event. Tickets are $30, available online here until June 4th, and at the festival gates until 4pm, which include admission to wine tasting and a Colorado Wine Festival wine glass.
Denver’s First-ever Drink Pink Vino International Rosé Wine Festival held at the Omni Interlocken Hotel. Celebrity hosts will include Top Chef Season 5 Winner Hosea Rosenberg of Blackbelly Market, Madeleine de Jean (aka Madame Champagne) and Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario. General admission tickets are $65, or you can go VIP for $95 and go an hour earlier plus enjoy a Raw Bar and Rosé Champagne Reception.
Music, brews, and chili in Snowmass Village? Yes, please. Get down with a grand beer tasting featuring 25+ microbreweries, International Chili Society tastings, and live concerts from 15 musicians not to mention on-site camping if that’s your thing. If not, there are also lodging deals available! Tickets (including 1-day passes) range from $55-275 and can be purchased here.
Join the celebration of the ever-booming Boulder creative scene! Drinks, entertainment including music by Captain Planet and DJ Ivy, and hashtags (#boulderblockparty) will be provided. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) of Boulder to help families who have nowhere else to turn meet their basic needs. RSVP here to reserve tickets.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is hosting this first-ever event featuring food trucks, pop up boutiques, and fresh produce. Discover local artists and vendors selling their handmade goods and flavorful eats.
The event kicks off on Thursday, June 18, with an evening of live music. The BBQ Challenge will run Friday, June 19 from 11:00am to 9:00pm and Saturday, June 20 from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Approximately 70 BBQers will compete for a variety of awards. Other BBQ favorites include Chef Demonstrations presented on the Viking Stage; Pig Races; a Whiskey Tour (advance registration required); and a variety of musical entertainment.
For an entire weekend, this real town turns upside down to pay tribute to gold fields and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels and saloons, booms and busts. Be sure to try your hand at gold panning with the Gold Prospectors of Colorado during their Colorado Gold Panning Championships and check out the Outhouse Races on Sunday, June 21st on Ridge St. Kids entertainment includes face painting, bounce house, strolling characters and more.
The Showcase is a celebration of our state’s vibrant music scene, featuring Flume as well as the Black Angels, MisterWives and over 100 more of the best bands and artists from Colorado and beyond on a dozen stages in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood. Tickets start at $30 and are on sale here.
Now one of the largest pride celebrations in the U.S., Denver PrideFest turns 40 this year! Honoring community, family, heritage, and culture in the form of an enormous party at Denver’s Civic Center Park, this two day festival is free for all, so come join the fun!
An afternoon of food, drink and fun in “Colorado’s Home,” the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Enjoy tastes of the Colorado Brewers Guild member’s masterfully crafted beer paired with the culinary creations of the chefs of the Colorado Chefs Association while wandering the rooms and gardens of the mansion. The proceeds raised from tickets will benefit the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund, an inclusive, non-partisan 501(c)3 dedicated to preserving the historic Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Tickets are available here for $80, or go VIP for $200 to start an hour early, receive a VIP gift bag, and more.
A master collection of Denver’s best Tacosmiths all in one place on Saturday from 12-9pm and Sunday from 12-8pm, Denver Glitter Dome. Tickets range from $5-60, available online here.
For the days when the standard menu just won’t do, here are a few secret menu items at your go-to spots that your taste buds may find a bit more inspiring.
Chipotle
Burritodilla: The best of both worlds with about half of a regular Chipotle burrito’s fillings sandwiched between lots of cheese, then grilled like a standard quesadilla. This secret menu option may be so secret that servers may not be aware that it exists, but they’ll still make it if explain the recipe!
Nachos: Yes, Chipotle does offer this classic. Just order a burrito bowl and ask for chips instead of rice at the bottom.
Fresh Cilantro: Ask for a bit of this fresh herb to liven up your meal, and it’s free!
Five Guys
Cheese Fries: Ask for melted cheese atop your regular Five Guys fries to get at this secret item.
Double Grilled-Cheese Burgers: This behemoth includes the standard beef patties plus toppings sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
Panera Bread
Power Steak Lettuce Wraps: This healthy meal option comes with seared top sirloin, lettuce for making the wraps, sliced cucumbers, diced onions & tomatoes, and then it’s all topped with both lemon juice and basil pesto. And it’s available at all locations.
Power Chicken Hummus Bowl: Loaded with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, creamy cilantro jalapeno hummus, baby spinach, cucumber slices, diced tomatoes & red onions, and topped with some fresh-squeezed lemon and chopped cilantro, this option is one of Panera’s healthiest dishes.
Starbucks
Liquid Cocaine: 4 shots espresso + 4 pumps white chocolate syrup + milk and ice to fill in a Grande cup= sugar high and caffeine boost that will be sure to get you up and at ‘em.
Nutella Drink: In addition to the standard Caffe Misto, ask for an extra pump of chocolate syrup, hazelnut syrup, and a caramel drizzle for a deliciously sweet drink that tastes just like Nutella.
Dirty Chai: This concoction involves the addition of one shot of Espresso into a Chai Latte. It’s still extremely tasty while giving you a little boost of caffeine.
Thanks to #HackTheMenu for the inside information.
