October has crept along and it’s hard to believe Halloween is just next week. But before you get spooky and really tuck into the holidays, try one of the new bars opening up. We also have good news about one beloved chef making a comeback, while another talent takes home the title of Lamb Jam Master.
Read on for more of this week’s top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
Congratulations to chef Linda Hampsten Fox, chef-owner of The Bindery, for her big win at the 2024 Lamb Jam. The chef wowed Denver with her crispy lamb taco with salsa macha, queso, red onions, mole, and crema, and then wowed the judges in New York. Celebrate with the chef this weekend during the restaurants annual spooky brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Chef Andrea Frizzi may have closed Il Posto, now Carne in RiNo, but now he has plans to open a new spot in the neighborhood. Dubbed Risica, the concept will serve small plates and pizza, giving off what Frizzi calls “Milano energy.” The Denver Post reported the chef’s latest venture will open in 2025 in Edit, a luxury apartment building at 3463 Walnut St., Denver.
A post online showcased Chubby Fish’s odd pricing policy. Turns out children under four-feet tall are eligible for kid prices at this all-you-can-eat ramen and sushi joint, and those under three eat free. The original poster stated their children had never been measured, but it’s still an odd policy. On another note, did you know the restaurant charges $1 for each piece of uneaten food? So though you can get as much as you want, order wisely.
One October 16, Casa Bonita employees announced an intention to unionize through the Actors‘ Equity Association and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 7. We will follow the story to see how it turns out.
Openings and Closings In the News
Though not exactly new, chef Bo Porytko has brought back his beloved Misfit Snack Bar inside Middleman after closing it earlier this year. The comeback also means Denver got another late-night spot to eat.
Vanishing West Ciders opened last Friday in the Aurora Cultural Arts District at 9735 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. The boozy cider company aims to showcase the history or cider making and pay homage to the Wild West.
The Creative Culinary Group (Bar Dough, A5 Steakhouse, Mister Oso, and more) is launching Sorry Gorgeous on the roof of NOVEL RiNo by Crescent Communities. Book a seat starting this Thursday.
Little Man Ice Cream is about to kick off its 10th location, this time in Littleton on Wednesday, October 30. The new spot is located at 2449 W. Main St., Littleton, and offers all the freshly-made treats the ice cream shop is known for.
Mercantile Dining + Provision celebrates its 10 year anniversary with a special dinner on Thursday, October 24 with a one-night-only, ticketed event featuring dishes created by past Mercantile kitchen team members. The event starts at 6:30 pm with passed appetizers and a welcome cocktail by Patrick Murphy of Rootstalk and Radicto in Breckenridge, a former bar manager at Mercantile. It’s followed by a five-course seated dinner. A special selection of wines will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. A limited number of tickets for the event are $195 per person and are available here.
Call Your Mother Deli announced it’s moving into the former Culture Meat & Cheese spot in Denver Central Market. The Washington D.C. based chain has been quickly growing since opening in the Berkeley neighborhood last year. With the late-fall RiNo opening, that will bring the Call Your Mother locations in Colorado to five, and counting.
Perdida Kitchen and Homegrown Tap & Dough are also expanding, this time to Westminster. The coastal Mexican restaurant and cozy pizza spot, respectively, are owned by Gastamo Group and have locations around the Denver metro area. Find the new ones soon at 1257 W. 120th Ave,, Westminster.
Events
Holey Moley Denver is kicking off its first annual Day of Fun all in the name of mental health. Proceeds will go to The Center on Colfax, the largest LGBTQ community center in the Rocky Mountain region providing free services, resources, programs and cultural events for the wider community. Throughout the day guests can enjoy $5 mini-golf, games, and food and drink specials.
On Wednesday, October 23, Ironton Distillery hosts A Spooky & Spirited Pairing Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The supernatural evening features a cocktail pairing dinner with Ironton’s head chef Sarah Bennett and local ghost stories from Nightly Spirits. Tickets run $125 each, find them here.
Join Breckenridge Brewery’s free Opening Day Parking Lot Party on Friday, October 25th at Monkey Barrel Bar in Denver from 5 to 10 p.m. The first 100 guests get a Funslinger Lager showcasing artwork by local artist Mike Graves. All guests also have the chance to win the 2024 artist series Never Summer snowboard.
Anniversaries abound in the news, and on Sunday, November 3, Work & Class celebrates its 10th year serving really good shareable plates in RiNo. Founding chef Dana Rodriguez naturally is throwing an epic party with 15 of her fellow chefs including Erasmo Casiano of Lucina and Xiquita, Jose Avila of La Diabla, and last year’s Top Chef contestant Manny Barella of Camp Pickle, to name a few. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at Work & Class, and travels to Rodriguez’s new spot, Carne. Tickets are $100 each, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Colorado Restaurant Association’s Angel Relief Fund.
Rioja continues celebrating its 20th anniversary (earlier in the month with Wolfgang Puck), this time on November 13 with a bevy of local food and drink experts. The special dinner features Troy Guard, Paul Reilly, Hosea Rosenberg, Dana Rodriguez, Max Mackissock, Alex Seidel, and Carrie Baird dishing up signature bites. On the beverage side, Todd Leopold, Alan Laws, Tony Zezas, Nick Touch, Jon Schlegel, and Roland Hermann will be pouring an array of whiskey, tequila, wine, and sherry. Tickets are $125 per person, and proceeds go to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
