To-Do List: Eat Denver’s Harvest Week

In the ever-unfolding lineup of dining events—wine dinners, farm dinners, beer dinners, and everything in between—EatDenver‘s annual Harvest Week stands out. The five pop-up dinners and one spectacular brunch take place at the GrowHaus, September 22–27. As in the past, EatDenver’s participating independent restaurants pool their talent, draw on Colorado’s bounty, and divide and conquer the cheekily-themed meals (think Praise the Lard Barn Dance Brunch and Platte River Luau and Pig Roast).

A preview of this year’s menus—and the 36 restaurants behind them—indicate that 2013’s Harvest Week will be the best one yet. In addition to the brunch and the luau, the Hedonist’s Guide to Tailgating and the (sold out) Feasts of the Hunters and Gatherers return from last year. New dinners include Urban Bounty Vegetarian Feast (featuring produce raised on-site at the GrowHaus) and Rocky Mountain Showdown: Grapes vs. Grains.

The wine vs. beer dinner (Thursday) will have special draw, as each of the five courses will be paired with a Colorado wine and a Colorado beer. Diners will vote—with a bottle cap or a cork—on each course. “We’ve got three wine-centric restaurants and three beer-centric restaurants to level the playing field,” says Slotted Spoon chef Jensen Cummings. “There’s so much debate about beer versus wine with food. This [format presents] perfect, true moments where people understand the expression of food and drink.” At the end of the meal, a tally of votes with determine the winner.

Tickets ($50 to $75) to all events are selling quickly. Browse menus and purchase seats here.

Tip: To keep Harvest Week as green as possible, EatDenver asks that you bring your own place setting (plate, glass, napkin, and cutlery).

4751 York St.

Follow food editor Amanda M. Faison on Twitter (@5280Eats), on Facebook, and on Pinterest.