Is FOMO driving you crazy? Do you want to sample the dozens of metro Denver restaurants that keep popping up in your Instagram feed, but without spending thousands of dollars?
Two of the quickest — and tastiest — ways to get to know the local scene are by attending annual foodie extravaganzas The Big Eat, taking place July 18 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, and the Denver Food + Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting, on the Auraria campus on Sept. 4.
At both events, you’ll find everything from the hottest food trucks, in-the-know holes in the wall, and up-and-coming chefs to fine dining spots, James Beard-nominated mainstays and glitzy newcomers. And you’ll be able to sample as many dishes as your stomach will allow.
The Big Eat
Produced by EatDenver, a nonprofit supporting independent local businesses, The Big Eat includes 70 food and beverage concepts in Colorado. Held outdoors in the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s Galleria space, the summer foodie party also features live music.
Who’s on the list? Some of the names include Aloy Modern Thai, Blackbelly, Carboy Winery, CD’s Wings, La Diabla Pozole Y Mezcal, Lucina Eatery & Bar, MAKfam, Pho King Rapidos, Ratio Beerworks, Restaurant Olivia, Stem Ciders, Tavernetta and The Block Distilling.
Why go? “I have been planning my dish for some time now,” said Linda Hampsten Fox, the chef/owner of The Bindery, in a statement. “I love to offer something exciting, seasonal and unusual to entice guests to come see us in LoHi and to throw it down with the other chefs.
“Having so many restaurants all at one venue is the opportunity of the year and the atmosphere reminds me of open-air street fairs from around the world,” she added. “The music, the food and the drinks all contribute to what is one of the best summer celebrations of dining in Denver.”
The Big Eat, Thursday, July 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. For tickets and the list of restaurants bars and beverage makers, go to eatdenver.com/the-big-eat.
Denver Food + Wine Festival Grand Tasting
The culmination of four days of foodie-focused culinary education and tasting events hosted by the Colorado Restaurant Foundation, the 2,500-person Grand Tasting on the Auraria campus showcases more than 50 carefully curated restaurants along with hundreds of wines and spirits. In addition, there are tasting seminars, games and music at this outdoor fiesta.
A few of the participants this year include: American Elm, Ash’Kara, Bodega, Blackbelly, Camp Pickle, Coperta, Fruition, Local Jones, Lucina, MAKfam, Mercantile, Pho King Rapidos, Right Cream, Samosa Shop, Smok, Toro Denver, Wild Taco.
Early-bird general admission tickets to the grand tasting, from 1 to 4 p.m., are currently $95. Other ticket packages, including early entry VIP, are more.
In the week leading up the Grand Tasting, the CRF will also host two other events, the Riedel Wine Glass Seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 6 to 7 p.m.; and the Shake + Brake Showdown food truck party on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 10 p.m. Proceeds from all events benefit the foundation’s “efforts to help restaurant industry employees advance and thrive through workforce development, training, and health-and-wellness programming.”
And there will also be an online auction with online bidding during August for events, experiences at places like Sap Sua, Frasca, Sunday Vinyl, Xiquita, Ace Eat Serve, and Hop Alley.
The DF+WF Grand Tasting (held rain or shine), is sponsored by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and takes place at the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St., Denver) on Sept. 7, 2024. VIP entry at noon. GA entry at 1 p.m. Tickets and information at denverfoodandwine.com.