There are delicious days ahead at Colorado Springs restaurants and beyond. Maybe it’s the late summer harvest season. Maybe it’s the continuing evolution of a food scene on the rise and a community of creative chefs, restaurateurs, foodies and friends who just appreciate a good gathering around well crafted meals and libations. Whatever the reasons, Colorado Springs restaurants are stepping up with a full calendar of chef dinners, special events and creative culinary gatherings. Come for the food and drinks. Mingle with the chefs. Bring your friends or meet new people. Just make your reservations so you have a seat at the table to savor these special dinners, culinary gatherings and food events.
Smokin’ the Ute Pass Summit BBQ Contest and Fundraiser
Aug. 20
Paradox Beer Company, Divide
Head to Divide for an afternoon of barbecue, beer and live music. Enjoy samples from 12 local cooking teams. Expect brisket, pulled pork, chicken, side dish specialties and unique smoked meats. Maybe bear, alligator, ribs or salmon? The event supports the Community Partnership Family Resource Center of Teller County and Focus on the Forest.
Diavolo Pop-Up
Aug. 22
Bingo Burger
Here’s your chance to try Pueblo hot chicken. Bingo Burger owners Richard Warner and Mary Oreskovich opened Diavolo this year in Pueblo’s new food hall, Fuel & Iron. They’re bringing the menu to the Springs for an exclusive one-day pop-up in partnership with Side Dish with Schniper and the Downtown Partnership. You can choose your comfort level by going full flames with the Hot as Hell or keeping things cooler with the Not Hot. Bell Brothers Brewing will be there too with a Pueblo chile-infused lager. “Anyone who digs Nashville hot chicken, hot wings, etc. will fall for this sandwich,” says Matthew Schniper, local food writer and critic. “I did after my first bite. I’ve been telling people that we’re basically drug dealers — we’re going to get you your first hit at this pop-up. Then to get your fix down the road, you’re going to have to drive to Fuel & Iron.”
Brother Luck Whiskey Pairing Dinner
Aug. 24
Four by Brother Luck
Four by Brother Luck and Woody Creek Distillery are collaborating for a four-course whiskey dinner. The dishes are infused and paired with Woody Creek whiskeys. How’s this for a mouthwatering menu? Five Spice Pork Tenderloin, Dry Aged Duck Breast, Smoked Prime Rib and Flan de Queso.
Seasonal Supper Soiree
Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 16
The Well
The Well is showcasing the culinary skills of its food vendors in its new supper series. Each month one featured food vendor showcases a unique chef’s choice tasting menu built around seasonal ingredients. Up next is Tossed with a four-course menu that includes a local vegetable soup, summer salad, local lamb lollipops and a chocolate chili mousse. September’s soiree features Sivar. Formosa Bites creates the menu in October. And Shovel Ready is up in November. You can always enhance your experience with an add-on drink pairing from Gift Horse Bar. Expect a more elevated dining experience from the creative chefs at the popular food hall.
Taste of Palmer Lake
Aug. 26
Palmer Lake
The local restaurants, food vendors and chefs of Palmer Lake together to showcase their finest creations. Spend the afternoon tasting and sipping in the picturesque lakeside downtown. Participating restaurants include La Rosa, The Wine Seller, Bella Panini, 105 Social House, Four Daughters BBQ, Sasquatch and Yeti, O’Malley’s Pub, Rock House, Speedtrap, 3 Hundred Days of Shine and Smokey The Pig.
eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-palmer-lake
Pasta in the Park
Aug. 26
Myron Stratton Home
Join TESSA under the big tent at the Myron Stratton Home for a pasta sauce cook-off; beer, wine and whiskey tastings; live and silent auctions and more. This annual fundraiser supports the nonprofit’s efforts to provide safety and support for women, children and other victims escaping abuse.
Tails, Tunes and Tastes
Aug. 31
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Feed a giraffe; then feed yourself as you watch the sunset from the side of Cheyenne Mountain. The grown-ups take over the zoo for this popular 21+ evening of eating, drinking, dancing and mingling with the animals. The views are spectacular from the zoo, especially on the Mountain Sky Ride. Your ticket gets you unlimited small plates created by executive chef John Kuespert and two drinks. There is a cash bar if you want more. The live music lineup includes A Carpenter’s Daughter, George Whitesell, Red Moon Rounder and more. Don’t wait to get your tickets. This summer’s earlier Tails, Tunes and Tastes was a sellout.
Snooze International Bacon Day Celebration
Aug. 31 – Sept. 6
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Snooze is celebrating International Bacon Day, Sept. 2, all week long with a menu of six over-the-top bacon specials. Here’s the lineup:
Graceland Pancakes: This Elvis-inspired number features buttermilk batter filled with fresh banana slices, topped with peanut butter cream, caramel sauce, whipped butter and lots of smoky chopped bacon.
Bacon & Eggs Pancakes: This savory buttermilk pancake is filled with chopped bacon and cheddar cheese and topped with a crispy sunny-side-up egg, more chopped bacon and maple black pepper glaze.
Bacon But Different: Three slices of Snooze signature bacon rubbed with brown sugar, cayenne pepper and chile flakes and drizzled with house-made Snooze sriracha maple syrup.
Maple and Black Pepper Glazed Bacon: Three slices of Snooze signature bacon with house-made maple and black pepper glaze.
Habanero Pork Belly Benny: Seared cider-braised habanero pork belly on top of a griddled English muffin with house-made bacon-espresso jam and poached cage-free eggs topped with house-made cream cheese hollandaise and cranberry relish.
Bloody with Bacon: The only thing that makes Snooze’s house bloody mix better? A slice of bacon, of course!
Snooze will donate 20% of proceeds from these special dishes (up to $35,000) to World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides meals in response to humanitarian and climate crises around the globe.
Revel: The Urban Arts Party
Sept. 9
AdAmAn Alley, downtown
This one is going to be special. The first-time art party and collaborative chef’s dinner will take place outdoors in AdAmAn Alley beneath the projected animation and mural work of George Berlin and El Mac. It’s a culinary celebration of the Downtown Creative District and the 25th anniversary of Art on the Streets. The evening starts with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. The main event is a seated six-course dinner with wine pairings, and dancing rounds out the night. Here’s the chef lineup, featuring some of the finest from downtown Colorado Springs restaurants:
Colorado Craft Tejon Street Social — Chef Mario Vasquez
Ephemera — Chef Ian Dedrickson
Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant — Chef Roberto Almendares
Red Gravy — Chef Eric Brenner
Springs Orleans — Chef Shyann Aguilar
The creative dining event is a fundraiser for Downtown Ventures.
Stellina Supper Club
Sept. 16
Stellina Pizza Cafe
The Shooks Run neighborhood eatery is launching a new supper club that will have you looking forwarding to Mondays. Your $55 ticket gets you five Italian courses around a casual table of friends, old and new, gratuity included. The meal gets started with an Aperol Spritz, and other wine, beer, cocktails and drinks will be available for purchase. September’s inaugural prix fixe menu includes a pasta course of butternut agnolotti; an entree of short ribs with carrots, polenta and gremolata; and more. Seating is limited, but once you’re in, you’re in — you’ll have first access to the Supper Club in October and future months.
1858 Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbons Whiskey Dinner
Oct. 24
Restaurant 1858
The amber will flow at Seven Falls. In the second of its new whiskey dinner series, Restaurant 1858 is collaborating with Buffalo Trace to pair a distinctly Colorado menu with five Buffalo Trace bourbons. It’s the oldest continuously operating distillery in the U.S. celebrating Seven Falls’ 140th anniversary in a rugged yet refined Rocky Mountain setting. Master Blender and Director of Quality Drew Mayville.will lead the Meet the Maker dinner, and you can expect some exceptionally hard-to-find elixirs. Pappy Van Winkle, anyone? The event kicks off with a cocktail reception, moves to the communal-seating dinner and finishes with a patio afterglow that includes specialty cocktails, neat pours and cigars for purchase. Don’t sleep on this one. The first 1858 whiskey dinner with Distillery 291 sold out in four hours. Watch for more whiskey dinners to be announced too.
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