Featured image courtesy Mizuna.
Welcome to April, when Denver’s culinary scene is heating up as quickly as the temps. With more events than days on the calendar this month, there’s no excuse not to take your tastebuds out to play. We’ve come out of a winter hibernation ravenous and ready to roll, rounding up different ways to feed the cravings that piled up all winter long, like Saturday morning traffic on I-70. There’s much to do, taste, and explore across Denver’s ever-evolving culinary landscape. This means there’s no excuse not to indulge in the season’s fresh flavors, so cheers to you, cheers to us, and cheers to a calendar packed with all sorts of delicious cheer. Now get out there and enjoy it.
Apr. 1: Gaucho Parrilla’s Grand Opening Pig Roast @ Freedom Street Social
Gird your loins! It’s time to welcome Gaucho Parrilla to the delectable landscape of Arvada’s finest food hall, Freedom Street Social. To mark this momentous occasion, Chef Oscar Padilla has decided to throw caution to the wind and grill up a storm with a pig roast extravaganza on Freedom Street Social’s patio. Trust us; you’ll be pigging out in style!
Join the swanky swine soiree for a day filled to the brim with merriment, mouthwatering food, and mellifluous melodies. For a mere $45 via Tock, you’ll snag yourself a ticket to this limited-capacity event, which includes a scrumptious pig roast plate, your choice of a refreshing cocktail, fine wine, or ice-cold beer, and a hearty helping of live music and entertainment that’ll have you squealing with delight.
Freedom Street Social
15177 Candelas Parkway, Arvada
freedomstreetsocial.com
@freedomstreetsocial
Apr. 2: A Celebration of API Heritage Through Food—Cultural Roots Night Market and Mix-tape @ History Colorado
Immerse yourself in the rich API heritage at this free, RSVP-only night market. Discover an array of API food, crafts, and beverages while connecting with local organizations. Round off the evening with a live arts program and a final opportunity to explore the “Rice and Resilience” exhibition.
History Colorado Center
1200 N. Broadway, Denver
historycolorado.org
@historycolorado
April 3: Veggie Gala “Dirt Dinner” @ Bramble & Hare
Venture to Boulder for Bramble & Hare’s tongue-in-cheek Harvest Celebration “Dirt Dinners,” where veggies get the VIP treatment every Monday during the growing season. From artichoke jubilees in June to tomato fiestas in August, each themed dinner showcases a star vegetable at its prime. Expect pumpkins and parsnips to steal the limelight later in the year. Bramble & Hare’s culinary crew and sommelier concoct a full menu and pairings, embracing the farm theme with gusto. Cowboy hats? Absolutely! The four-course prix-fixe menu, including a welcome cocktail, is a cool $75/pp (plus tax, gratuity, alcohol).Nab your limited spot via OpenTable Experiences.
Bramble & Hare
1970 13th St., Boulder
brambleandhare.com
@brambleandhare
Apr. 4: Hush-Hush Harmonies—Sofar Sounds Concert @ Secret Speakeasy on South Broadway
Shrouded in mystery, the hidden speakeasy where this intimate concert takes place won’t be revealed until 36 hours before the event. But we know it’s a commercial venue where cocktails will flow freely. (Just not like “free of charge” free—you’ve gotta pay for them.) As with all Sofar Sounds concerts, expect the unexpected as you enjoy a mesmerizing medley of musical styles, spoken word, comedy, or dance. Snag a ticket and prepare to uncover your new favorite artist during an evening of discovery.
Sofar Sounds
sofarsounds.com
@sofardenver
April 5: “The Menu” Menu @ Mizuna
Step into the realm of culinary madness with Mizuna’s “The Menu” dinner event, inspired by the mysterious quote from Chef Slowik: “Over the course of this evening, you will ingest fat, salt, sugar, protein, fungi, various plants and animals — at times entire eco-systems. But I have to beg of you one thing. Just one. Do not eat. Taste. Savor. Relish. Consider every morsel you place inside your mouth. Be mindful. But do not eat. Our menu is too precious for that.”[1] As Chef Frank Bonanno promises a night of sheer madness, we’re left with bated breath, curious about what kind of mess he’s planning for the fourth course—and much like the Hawthorne guests, we’re dying to go. Yes, Chef! Invite us, Chef! Make your reservations via Tock.
Mizuna
225 E 7th Ave.
mizunadenver.com
@mizuna_denver
Apr. 5–8: Taste of Vail
Savor the 31st Taste of Vail, the nation’s ultimate spring food and wine festival (Apr. 5-8, 2023). With an estimated 6,000 epicureans ready to indulge in the Vail Valley lifestyle, this event promises a veritable smorgasbord of world-class restaurants, fine wines poured by the vintners themselves, and interactive cooking seminars against a stunning Colorado mountain backdrop. The gastronomic adventure begins with The Debut of 2022 Rosé. It continues with daily signature events like the Niman Ranch Iberian Pork Challenge & Apres Tasting, the awe-inspiring Niman Ranch Mountain Top Tasting, and the grand finale: the famous Grand Tasting. join the culinary pilgrimage to Vail, where over 50 top wineries and renowned chefs from Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita, and Denver will join forces to deliver a spring skiing experience you won’t forget.
Taste of Vail
tasteofvail.com
@tasteofvail
Apr. 5: Wine + Woo @ Nurture, A Wellcare Marketplace
Raise your glass to Wine and Woo, a whimsical evening of spirited psychic readings and a dash of comedy at Nurture, A Wellcare Marketplace. Join Willow Bradner, the Accidental Psychic, as she provides clarity, comfort, and a hearty dose of laughter, connecting you with the beyond. Expect the unexpected as Willow dishes out insights on love, career, family, and more, all wrapped up in her infectiously uplifting “puppies and rainbows” style. Round up your friends, sip some wine, and partake in an evening of psychic revelations—whether you’re a curious observer or itching for a reading (chosen lottery-style). Doors open at 5:30 pm, so arrive early to wine, dine, and let the woo begin.
Nurture, A Wellcare Marketplace
2949 Federal Blvd.
visitnurture.com
@visitnurture
Apr. 6: Rockies Opening Day @ All Over Town
There’s so much happening for Opening Day that we’re dedicating a whole other post to the festivities. Keep an eye out for that early next week.
Apr. 7: Rajat Paar Wine Dinner @ Brasserie Brixton
The Cole hotspot is welcoming Rajat Paar and Juicebox Wines into the building for a night of dope food and hot juice. This is a 7-course tasting menu with optional wine pairing, with glasses and bottles of Rajat’s wines ready to fill your glasses as many times as you see fit. Rajat Paar and Alejandro Medina of Juicebox will be in the building chatting and pouring wines from 5-11. They’re doing two separate seatings this evening, at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., with a little meet-and-greet tasting party to finish the night off. Reserve your spot via Resy.
Brasserie Brixton
3701 N Williams St.
brasseriebrixton.com
@brasseriebrixton
Apr. 8: Boozy Bunny Easter Egg Hunt @ Red Barber
Childhood Easter egg hunts? How passé. Ascend to Red Barber’s Catbird Hotel rooftop lair in RiNo, where the sophisticated gather for a Boozy Bunny Easter Egg Hunt (April 8, 2-6 pm). Swapping candies for gift cards and libation vouchers, these vibrant ovoid treasures tantalize adult taste buds. One fortunate scavenger shall claim the grandest prize: a one-night sojourn at Catbird Hotel, accompanied by a Red Barber gift card.
The Red Barber (on the rooftop of Catbird Hotel)
3770 Walnut St., Denver
theredbarber.com
@theredbarberdenver
April 8: Blooms & Bubbles @ Morris & Mae Food Hall
Middlemist floral design descends upon Morris & Mae Market on April 8, bestowing the gift of spring centerpiece mastery. The gathering promises a cornucopia of Colorado-grown, domestic, and imported blooms, with tools and supplies at the ready. The pièce de résistance? A complimentary beverage to swill whilst your inner florist blossoms. Secure your $89 ticket via Eventbrite and prepare for a tête-à-tête with nature’s finest.
Morris & Mae Market
18475 West Colfax Ave., Golden
morrisandmae.com
@morrismaemarket
