James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour rolls into Denver at Infinite Monkey Theorem
Tin the booming RiNo neighborhood will host the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour when it hits Denver on Sept. 11.
The urban winery is an ideal location, organizers say, because of its innovative approach that’s changing the industry with its single-serve canned wines.
Plus, it’s just a cool place, at the leading edge of the urban winery boom along the Front Range with a gritty back-alley vibe.
Winemaker Ben Parsons, CEO of The Infinite Monkey Theorem, will pair his wines during the reception and for each course throughout the evening.
“It will be a good harvest dinner,” said Parsons. “We’ve got a bunch of great chefs cooking. The idea is for everyone just to have fun in a great setting.”
Guests will dine at two long tables, tented and sparkling with lights, that sit next to the garden.
The Celebrity Chef tour was launched in 2004 to bring the experience of eating at New York’s historic James Beard House to cities around the country.
The Denver dinner includes such Colorado chefs as Justin
of Old Major, Jeff of of of of in in Boulder and Denver.
Out-of-town chefs include Jason Alley of Comfort in Richmond, Va.; Chad Colby, formerly
of in Los Angeles;
of Country in Portland, Ore.; and Stephen
of the National Pork Board.
Prices range from $145 to $155, To reserve a spot, call 303-7368376.
Skillet creations
There’s something nostalgic about cooking in a cast-iron skillet, evoking all things rustic, hearty and handmade. It’s a natural fit for the Colorado State Fair, where contestants will compete for the best-tasting skillet creations, from side dishes to desserts.
There are two categories — sweet, like peach pies, or savory, like vegetable cobblers.
Judges will focus on great taste, presentation and ease of presentation. The cost is $5 for each entry.
First-place winners get a Lodge cast-iron skillet (6½ inches) and a Lodge cookbook.
Two runners-up in each category will receive a Lodge cookbook.
The savory skillet contest will be held on Sept. 5, and the entry deadline is Sept. 3. The sweet skillet contest is on Sept. 6, with an entry deadline of Sept. 4.
For contest details, call the Colorado State Fair general entry office at 719-404-2080 or go to coloradostatefair.com.
Taste of Iceland
When it comes to Nordic cuisine, you probably know all about the famous restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. You may even know that a great new cookbook, “Scandinavian Baking” by Trine Hahnemann, will be published this October.
But what do you know about Nordic cuisine in Iceland, that trendy travel spot known for its emerging music and innovative food scene?
The Taste of Iceland, coming to Denver in a few weeks, is a four-day festival that’s a microcosm of Icelandic culture, from music to movies, and the events related to food and drinks will up your Nordic game quite a bit.
Icelandic chef Ylfa Helgadottir, chef de cuisine and owner of Kopar, is flying from Reykjavik to team with chef Tom Coohill to create an authentic meal showcasing some of the finest Icelandic ingredients.
Courses include Icelandic cod served with Icelandic seaweed and salmon roe, langoustine risotto, and Icelandic free-range lamb.
There will also be cocktail classes from Coohills’ bar manager Joshua Talent, who will be using Reyka vodka, a small-batch vodka handcrafted in Iceland, along with Icelandic ingredients.
The Iceland dinners run from Sept. 23 to 26. The four-course meal is $75, and the five-course meal with wine pairing is $105.
The cocktail classes, which are free, require reservations and will be offered from Sept. 24 to 26, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
All events are held at Coohills, 1400 Wewatta St. For reservations, call 303-623-5700.