Don’t Miss: The Big Eat

On any given day this summer, Denverites have their pick of local food and drink fests celebrating everything from session beers to Palisade peaches to chicken wing cook-offs.

And although the Front Range foodie’s summer lineup may be full, The Big Eat is one event not to miss. Happening on Thursday, July 14, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, this camaraderie-driven culinary celebration is the ultimate way to taste the best of Denver dining.

The $50 ticket buys you unlimited bites from more than 50 restaurants (including such spots as Beatrice & Woodsley, Bones, the Way Back, Vital Root, and soon-to-open Mister Tuna). Attendees will also find Colorado wine from the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, a variety of local craft brews, and cocktails starring spirits from the likes of Peach Street Distillers and Distillery 291.

Plus, by purchasing a ticket, you’re benefitting EatDenver, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the city’s independently run restaurants. “This [the restaurant business] is one of the hardest businesses in the world, especially at the independent level,” says EatDenver director Adam Schlegel. “We really want to foster a sense of community, because we’re all in this together.” In essence, by attending the Big Eat, you’re supporting Colorado’s exploding dining scene.

This year, the Big Eat groups restaurants together by neighborhood—Berkeley, RiNo, Downtown, and so on. “I think when you go eat in New York City and Chicago, there are all of these neighborhoods, and Denver also has these great pockets of dining. You could feast like a king in any [Denver] neighborhood these days,” says Schlegel. “What Denver has evolved into is tremendous, and I really think restaurants are driving this new energy.” Grab your tickets and savor Denver’s dining revolution.

July 14, 6 to 9 p.m., The Garner Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1100 13th St., $50. Purchase tickets here.