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.
Linger Eataury, the latest Denver dining establishment to be nationally recognized for its awesomeness, was named 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year by Nightclub & Bar Media Group earlier this month, and rightly so!
The annual Nightclub & Bar Awards, established to honor “well deserving bars, nightclubs and lounges for excellence in the industry,” announced the 2015 winners in early March following a lengthy two-month selection period. Entries submitted by industry professionals on behalf of venues across the country were reviewed by a panel of recognized experts, who then determined the finalists and winners.
According to Jon Taffer, president of Nightclub & Bar and host/executive producer of Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, “the winners are visionaries who are instrumental in setting trends and forging the way for other hospitality venues,” and Linger most definitely fits the bill.
Situated in the former Olinger Mortuary garage – thus the name, which chef/owner Justin Cucci came up with by dropping the O and substituting Mor with Eat – this wildly popular restaurant/bar is the total package, from victuals to libations to aesthetics; the kitchen serves up a salute to the street food of the world, the mortuary theme is touched on without getting too kitschy (Linger tissues available for weepers, a “Harold and Maude” photo mural hangs over the open kitchen, funeral fans hang from a wall), and last but not least, the views overlooking downtown Denver are absolutely breathtaking.
Yup, it’s pretty obvious why locals and visitors alike haven’t stopped rushing the doors since they opened in summer 2011.
And now it’s official: Linger is the 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year. Congratulations, it’s well deserved!
If you’re one of the many that has laid their heart on the line for a date with their server only to be shot down, fear not because those days are dead and gone. Here to assist in romancing your service industry crush are a few guiding principles, that if followed will earn you some serious consideration.
Same Rules Apply
Would you ignore someone you’re planning on asking out? What about making demands before getting a name? And throwing down insults about their work?
Hopefully the answer is no (and if it’s yes, it’s time to re-evaluate your game in general). Well, surprise! The same courting rules that apply to the general public also go for your server, host, bartender, etc. because we’re people too! So avoid the brush off, any version of “get me” especially without saying please and thank you, and any insinuation that we’re not doing our jobs to the utmost of our abilities. Basically, mind your manners and treat us how you’d like to be treated, or else you’re just digging your own grave in the dating department.
For most, this goes without saying, but better safe than sorry. Pet names are generally not appreciated, even if we put up a good front about their use. Neither is gawking, catcalling, and definitely not copping a feel.
Now you may not even be aware that you’re guilty of a few of these no-no’s, because let’s face it, sometimes when we’re not trying to be on our best behavior, things slip through the cracks. So, to counteract a few of the misses, don’t pass up an opportunity to show your appreciation of the work we’re doing so that you can enjoy yourself. Basically, do your best to be respectful because just that goes a long way.
If You’re Interested, Act Like It
Working in the service industry, specifically in the front of house, means that we literally serve others all day long. As far as dialogue, there’s very little in the way of engaging conversation. So it’s quite refreshing when we’re asked questions that go beyond the drink menu, perhaps even venturing outside of life at work, and getting a chance to actively participate in an exchange. Not only does this clue us in to your attraction, but may also ignite one of our own!
A word of caution: even if a conversation is going well, don’t guilt trip us if and when we have to attend to our other customers. It is our livelihood, after all. Instead, graciously let us go and leave us wanting more!
Love Don’t Cost A Thing
Sure, a big tip is always appreciated, but be careful about throwing around your money, credit cards included. Attempting to impress with the promise of cash bonuses is in most cases considered solicitation and, excluding special circumstances, is no way to gain affection, literal and otherwise. Even dressed up with promises of tomorrow, all you’ll get for tooting your own horn is payback. And you know what they say about payback…
Impress us with the immaterial, like your great sense of humor, infectious laugh, or even your total lack of coordination (sometimes it’s cute!).
Take A Hint
If your attempts at wooing go wayward, and even a bat can see that there’s no future (at least for the moment), then bow out with style. Don’t skimp on the gratuity, make a scene, or talk trash because no one wants to date a sore loser and, who knows, there may be a chance at redemption next time.
Know more secrets about charming your server (or any service industry employee for that matter)? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.
‘Opie with Jim Norton’ recently treated us to an hour of uninterrupted, unfiltered Anthony Bourdain when they had the sarcastic chef on their show. There’s a ton of great stuff in the interview, from Bourdain’s nuanced opinions on Beirut to his less nuanced opinions on chain restaurants. We pulled out seven of the wildest or most interesting findings in case you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing — but if you do, it’s available right here.
His wife is hardcore. Whereas Bourdain is known for his verbal beatdowns, it sounds like his wife Ottavia could beat you down with her fists. She’s a competitive mixed martial arts fighter who sometimes trains for six hours a day, and apparently sticks to a diet of almost all meat. Bourdain told an especially great story about his friend staring in amazement/horror as Ottavia ordered a filet mignon as an appetizer and then a porterhouse for her entree at dinner.He also has a thing for Iranian women. When the guys got around to asking Bourdain the real, hard-hitting questions (“Which Middle Eastern country has the hottest women?”), their guest had a lot of nice things to say about the ladies of Iran. He called them beautiful, fierce, and confident — and not afraid to tell you their opinion.
He has strong feelings on shark meat. While discussing Iceland with a caller, Bourdain first suggested he try hákarl, or fermented shark. But then he backpedaled. Hard. In Tony’s own (extremely indelicate) words, “I’m going to guess that if I were to dig my dead Grandma up and eat her ass — that’s what it tastes like.”
He hates comped meals. Obviously Bourdain has people begging him to come to their restaurants all the time, but he really would like you all to stop offering him free food. It makes him feel uncomfortable and he’d “much rather eat at a place where they don’t give a f*** who [he is].” Make sure to treat him with appropriate scorn the next time he swings by your establishment.
He’s had “hazardous environment” training. Since he spends a lot of his time traveling to exotic places that aren’t always the safest, Bourdain has security advisers in tow when he’s walking the streets of a sketchy neighborhood. But just to make sure he’s extra prepared, Bourdain’s advisers sent him to “hazardous environment” training in the woods of Virginia, where he learned basic triage and chest wound care, how to get through roadblocks without pissing off the wrong people, and at least one flying kick move, presumably.
He enjoys sheep balls. TMZ miserably failed to rile Bourdain up one evening when he was out to dinner with Mario Batali. A cameraman asked the guys which balls they prefer, hoping their masculinities were so fragile they’d take a swing. But instead they had a lengthy discussion about the merits of different animal genitals. Bourdain endorses sheep balls for their texture and flavor, though he also thinks chicken balls are on point.
He thinks the best cheesesteak is in Jersey. For Bourdain, it’s all about the Camden spot Donkey’s. He insists it’s got the best cheesesteak anywhere, so hopefully he’s already increased his security detail to handle the mobs from Philly heading his way.
This article was originally published on Thrillest.com
Share your favorite Anthony Bourdain tidbits here, or @gosirvo!
It’s that time of year again: the 10-day long event celebrating the Mile-High City’s vibrant culinary scene, when all of our gastro-wishes are granted. Yes, you guessed it, it’s the 11th annual Denver Restaurant Week, February 20th-March 1st, 2015! With 250 of Denver’s top restaurants offering multi-course dinners for $30 per person, it’s guaranteed to be a scrumptious, mouth-watering, succulent, bomb, fan-FREAKIN’-tastic, [insert your favorite yummylicious word here] ode to the food gods, and our stomachs, as there ever was. But choosing where to go and what to eat can be a bit overwhelming, so to give aid, we’re sharing the locales that we’re super stoked about!
Before we start, if you would like to see the full restaurant week menus for any participating restaurants including the ones we mention, click here!
To make reservations at the restaurants we mention, visit the website by clicking on the restaurant name or give them a call at the number provided.
The Gist: Offering tapas, of both the hot and cold variety, in a contemporary and sexy ambiance, The 9th Door is a great spot for date night as well as groups looking for a more social environment. Located near Coors Field in downtown Denver, it’s a great place to start a night out on the town.
Chow Down: To start, try the Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos -Fire roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese and rosemary, next go with the Croquetas de Hongos -Risotto and mushroom croquette with truffle oil, mushroom sauce, and shaved manchego cheese, for the third course choose Callo de Hongos – Pan-seared sea scallops with truffled, mushroom
compote, and for dessert the Flan de Limon- Lemon-rosemary infused flan will be the perfect finale.
The Gist: For modern southeast asian cuisine with a twist, go to ChoLon, one of Denver’s most popular restaurants. Plates are meant to be shared, family style, so go with a big group to get a taste of as many of the unique flavors as you can! The atmosphere is upscale, so grab your crew and dress up.
Chow Down: Since you can choose three small bites, go with the Kaya Toast, Coconut Jam, Egg Cloud, Crispy Rice and Kale Salad, Candied Pecans, Coconut, Pomegranate, Beets, and local favorite Soup Dumplings, Sweet Onion, Gruyere (fyi, you’ll probably need to order at least 2 of the soup dumplings because they are the definition of fan-FEAKIN’-tastic!). For share plates, opt for Miso Marinated Cod, Cucumber Relish, Chinese Eggplant, accompanied by the Brussels Sprouts, Ground Pork, Kaffir Lime from the Wok. For the grand finale, Spiced Doughnuts, Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream, Condensed Milk will leave the perfect taste in your mouth.
The Gist: This sexy little lounge serving up nouveau american cuisine is situated just off of the DCPA, and is the perfect place to grab a bite before a show or end with a nightcap.
Chow Down: To start, try the Sashimi Sampler, then go with the Braised Brisket Tacos, and Lemon Goat-Cheese Cake to finish off the meal.
The Gist: If you’re craving homemade pizza and pasta, elevated, definitely go to Pizza Republica. This is a casual spot, great for hanging out with good friends and family.
Chow Down: For Il Primo, try the Lamb Meatballs, next you have to have the staple dish “9-inch Wood-Fired Pizza*, and finish off with the Salted Caramel Budino.
The Gist: Focussed on serving local and seasonal ingredients, this restaurant is the definition of farm-to-table. With an open kitchen design, simple but modern decor, and both community tables as well as individual tables, it’s a great place for all occasions.
Chow Down: For the adventurous, start with the Wild Burgundy Snails – roasted tomatoes, garlic butter, brioche or for those of us craving the more traditional, the Lyonnaise Salad – 62 degree egg, pancetta, garlic, Dijon vinaigrette. For the main, choose the Sweet Potato Gnocchi-toasted cauliflower, spinach, brown butter, sage, and finish with the Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta-peanut butter brittle, raspberry gel, cocoa nibs crumble.
