EatDenver

10/16/2026

2026 brought big changes for employers. Is your organization ready for what’s coming in 2027?

Join us for a free webinar with Michael J. Breaker, Associate Attorney at Jackson Lewis P.C., as he breaks down this year’s most important employment law developments and what to expect next year, including:

📌 Legislative updates that affected restaurants in 2026
📌 Key legislative updates that will affect restaurants in 2027
📌 Common wage and hour issues and litigation trends
📌 Tipped minimum wage and tip credit updates
📌 Colorado restaurant litigation trends, including harassment, leave, and discrimination claims

Don’t head into 2027 guessing. Get the answers your team needs and register today.

🗓️ Wednesday, October 21
⏰ 10:00 AM MT
💻 Zoom Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/n0ujZH0AQGWapP7g6mxKaQ

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

A huge congratulations to Denver’s own Jen Jasinski (rioja) for her induction into the The Culinary Institute of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame! 🙌

The 2026 honorees were nominated by their peers on the alumni council for exemplifying CIA’s core values and embodying the Food is Life philosophy, “bringing joy, nourishment, and community to so many.”

Chef Jen was the first Denver chef to win the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Southwest award (2013), and was named a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Chef (2016). Other accolades include being a finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters (2013), winning Colorado Chef of the Year (2004) and Western Regional Chef of the Year (2005) by the American Culinary Federation, being named one of America’s Best Female Chefs by Thrillist (2015), and inclusion in the Restaurant Business Online Power 20 (2016).

Cheers to the 16 graduates into the Alumni Hall of Fame - a class stacked with Iron Chefs, James Beard and World's 50 Best honorees, authors, educators, and the entrepreneurs behind globally recognized hospitality brands:
⭐ David Burke ’82
⭐ Anne Burrell ’96
⭐ Mario Carbone ’00
⭐ Andrew Carmellini ’91
⭐ Maneet Chauhan ’00
⭐ Michael Cimarusti ’91
⭐ Scott Conant ’92
⭐ Cat Cora ’95
⭐ Mark Erickson ’77
⭐ Jennifer Jasinski ’89
⭐ Michael Mina ’89
⭐ Enrique Olvera Figueras ’97/’99
⭐ Alfred Portale ’81
⭐ Michael Symon ’90
⭐ Rich Torrisi ’01
⭐ Geoffrey Zakarian ’83

10/13/2026

Hospitality pros, this one's for you 📣

This November, Danny Meyer returns to Denver!

The founder of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack, and the man who literally wrote the book on hospitality, is here to celebrate his new book, “What Could Possibly Go Right?: The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture.” Twenty years after Setting the Table, he's opening up about the wins, the stumbles, the outright failures, and the reinventions that shaped one of the most influential careers in the industry.

And the person asking the questions? Peyton Manning. 🏈

One of hospitality's biggest names and one of sports' biggest names, sharing a stage for an intimate fireside chat you won't see anywhere else.

📅 Tuesday, November 3
🕐 11:45AM - 3PM
📍 Seawell Ballroom @ Denver Center for the Performing Arts
🎟️ $75, including a copy of “What Could Possibly Go Right?”, light snacks and refreshments, and dedicated time to connect with Denver's hospitality and business leaders

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, built for and benefiting the hospitality and business communities, so seats are limited. Get yours today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/1st-street-farms-presents-what-could-possibly-go-right-a-fireside-chat-with-danny-meyer-and-peyton-manning

10/13/2026

☆ Member Spotlight: Gladys ☆

Gladys is a vegetable-focused restaurant that operates under the ethos “plants forever.” Founded by longtime friends, industry veterans, and James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: Mountain” semifinalists, Rocky Hunter and Dave Grant, the concept serves up grandma-style hospitality in celebration of “all things plant” and in memory of Rocky’s grandmother, Gladys.

The menu is seasonal, with rotating specials that reflect six different growing seasons and ingredients sourced from local purveyors, farms, and community artisans. Favorites include the Root Vegetable Reuben (featuring celery root and beet pastrami), Charred Caesar Salad, and Hand Cut Fries, all best complemented by desserts like Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Cookies, and all vegan.

Check out Gladys, open daily from 11am-9pm at Edgewater Public Market for lunchtime counter service, full-service dinner, and their non-alcoholic beverage program. Menus and more at gladysrestaurant.com.

10/09/2026

Congratulations to the region's new restaurant openings, re-openings, and expansions! We're so excited to welcome these new flavors to our vibrant food scene 🥳

Over 20 new restaurants made their debut.

10/08/2026

Sauce ✔️ Sausage ✔️ Spaghetts ✔️

A huge thank you to our October Food Fight competitors and their sous chefs:
🍽️ Rema Maaliki (BearLeek) and Rico Carbajal (Fonda Fina Hospitality)
🍽️ Tarah Runco (Chefn'It, Behind the Apron Media) and Carrie Baird (Fox and the Hen, Culinary Creative Group)

The generosity of our supporting partners and venue host:
🍽️ Polidori Sausage
🍽️ MightyWELL Health + Health Benefits Simplified
🍽️ Ignite Foodservice Solutions

And all of our industry friends in attendance!

Food Fight is EatDenver's culinary showdown centered around industry creativity and chef joy, where a local chef challenges regional food media to cook a signature dish for an audience of operators, chefs, hospitality professionals, and panel of judges.

Looking to attend future EatDenver member events? Learn more at eatdenver.com/membership.

10/07/2026

Had to miss Savor the Season? There’s still time to celebrate!

For this year’s event, we’re teaming up with Riviera Travel to reward those who help support the culinary and community impact work of EatDenver, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition - CIRC, SAME Cafe, and Sound Future Foundation.

🎟️ Every $100 donated = 1 entry to win two tickets to a CU x Utah football game on 10/17 ($800 value)

🎟️ Every $500 donated = 1 chance to win two seats on a European River Cruise ($10,000 value; includes drink package, 5-star dining experience, excursions, river cruise onboard activates, and a river cruise cabin for two)

Learn more and donate to our fundraisers with CIRC, SAME Cafe, and Sound Future at https://linktr.ee/eat_denver?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAacZLewsNDHcRlBDL328r-Gle8YESh7fZrFpfaw8iVU0MAeQOYnOfuRbwgbAAw_aem_M5j0G5CtggaOTSw8mEEQgg.

Giveaway closes THIS Friday, October 9!

10/07/2026