A Taste of Colorado starts Today!

Experience Downtown Denver’s Biggest Menu at A Taste of Colorado

Festivalgoers can learn culinary secrets, enjoy gourmet dishes, and savor offerings from some of the state’s favorite food establishments at the 30th annual A Taste of Colorado. The four-day, free admission, food, music, and entertainment Festival will take place Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 2, in Downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park.

The Albert Bartlett Culinary Showcase, presented by 630 KHOW and hosted by Pat Miller, “The Gabby Gourmet,” is located in the Fine Dining Area and features local and nationally renowned chefs offering tips and techniques that Festivalgoers can take home to their own kitchen. Nicole Crane of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will prepare a chocolate avocado mousse parfait Friday at noon. Tom Schommer of The Broker Restaurant will craft parmesan zucchini cakes with tzatziki dip at 1:15 p.m. Check out a classic Italian dish from Elise Wiggins of Panzano at 3:30 p.m. – porchetta. Jasper Johnson of Randolph’s Restaurant will feature his warm arugula potato salad at 4:30 p.m.

Daniel Schneider of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage kicks off Saturday at 11:15 a.m. with his curry lentil dip with crispy vegetables. The Colorado Proud burger and brisket nachos will be the dishes prepared by Drew Archer of TAG Burger Bar at noon. Noah French of TAG Restaurant will craft his Colorado Palisade peach “enchilada” at 2:30 p.m. Rayme Rossello of Comida Cantina at The Source will make trout ceviche tostada with grilled heirloom tomato, summer vegetable slaw, and grilled peaches with chipotle agave drizzle at 4:30 p.m. Join Scott Parker of Session Kitchen at 5:30 p.m. as he features charred jalapeño avocado pickles.

Ned McCrum of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will demonstrate how to make dilly beans Sunday at 11:15 a.m. Check out George Gastl of Que Bueno! Mexican Grille at 12:30 p.m. as he prepares blue crab and shrimp enchiladas, topped with mole verde. Anand Chaturvedula of 240 Union will make pan-roasted day boat sea scallops and a cool watermelon salad with sherry bacon vinaigrette and fresh mint at 2:30 p.m. Keegan Gerhard of D Bar Desserts and The Food Network will craft mango upside-down at 4:30 p.m. Come to the Showcase stage at 5:30 p.m. to see Alec Schrader of Shanahan’s Steakhouse prepare his steak salad with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and balsamic vinaigrette.

The Culinary Showcase kicks off Monday with a demo at 11:15 a.m. of mojito pork and summer sliders by Brook Seiz of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. Lee Clayton Roper, author of “A Well-Seasoned Kitchen,” will make a simple yet gourmet recipe of savory chicken in phyllo packets and individual plum tarts at noon. Christopher Sanchez from West 29th Restaurant and Bar will craft creamy cantaloupe and moscato soup with basil and mint syrup at 1:15 p.m. Join Marcus Jimenez of Shells and Sauce at 2:30 p.m. as he features chicken piccata. Eric Chiappetta of MainLine, Fort Collins will close out the stage with a demo of shrimp and grits at 4:30 p.m.

The following is a lineup of demonstrations on the Albert Bartlett Culinary Showcase presented by 630 KHOW:

FRIDAY, Aug. 30
12:00 p.m. - Nicole Crane - Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
1:15 p.m. - Tom Schommer - The Broker Restaurant
2:30 p.m. - Cory Treadway - Wynkoop Brewing Company
3:30 p.m. - Elise Wiggins - Panzano   
4:30 p.m. - Jasper Johnson - Randolph’s Restaurant
5:30 p.m. - Daniel Asher - Root Down and Linger, Albert Bartlett Ambassador
6:30 p.m. - Ready, Set, Cook!  Chefs compete and cook like crazy!

SATURDAY, Aug. 31
11:15 a.m. - Daniel Schneider - Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
12:00 p.m. - Drew Archer - TAG Burger Bar
1:15 p.m. - Ice Cream Eating Contest
2:30 p.m. - Noah French - TAG Restaurant
3:30 p.m. - Daniel Asher - Root Down and Linger, Albert Bartlett Ambassador
4:30 p.m. - Rayme Rossello - Comida Cantina at The Source
5:30 p.m. - Scott Parker - Session Kitchen
6:30 p.m. - Ready, Set, Cook!  Chefs compete and cook like crazy!

SUNDAY, Sept. 1
11:15 a.m. - Ned McCrum - Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
12:30 p.m. - George Gastl - Que Bueno! Mexican Grille   
1:00 p.m. - Ice Cream Eating Contest
2:30 p.m. - Anand Chaturvedula - 240 Union
3:30 p.m. - Daniel Asher - Root Down and Linger, Albert Bartlett Ambassador
4:30 p.m. - Keegan Gerhard - D Bar Desserts and The Food Network   
5:30 p.m. - Alec Schrader - Shanahan’s Steakhouse
6:30 p.m. - Ready, Set, Cook!  Chefs compete and cook like crazy!

MONDAY, Sept. 2
11:15 a.m. - Brooke Seiz - Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
12:00 p.m. - Lee Clayton Roper - “A Well-Seasoned Kitchen”
1:15 p.m. - Christopher Sanchez - West 29th Restaurant and Bar
2:30 p.m. - Marcus Jimenez - Shells and Sauce
3:30 p.m. - Daniel Asher - Root Down and Linger, Albert Bartlett Ambassador
4:30 p.m. - Eric Chiappetta - MainLine, Fort Collins

The Fine Dining Area will feature some of Denver’s most accomplished chefs and noted restaurants offering gourmet specialties in the park. Downtown staple, The Broker Restaurant, will be featuring shrimp cocktail, prime rib sandwiches, wild game sausage sandwiches, bruschetta, and banana bread pudding. Que Bueno! Mexican Grille, offering “north of the border” favorites with a modern twist, will showcase its cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork), taco de pollo, and Mexican bread pudding. Randolph’s Restaurant will feature contemporary American cuisine with a Rocky Mountain flair, including a strawberry trifle, Randy’s signature slider, crab cake slider, and a combo plate of both items. Enjoy a pulled pork sandwich, Beale Street smoked chicken and slaw, bourbon bread pudding, or a combo plate of menu items from Southern Hospitality.

Many new restaurants have joined the Festival this year, including Himalayas II, serving Indian and Nepali cuisine like onion pyaji, chicken momo, vegetable momo, chicken tikka masala with rice, and vegetable curry with rice. Check out offerings from Moontower Tacos, including The Doggfather (fried chicken and waffle), The Colonel (chicken and queso), and baja fish tacos. Roasted pig, shrimp and sausage jambalaya, and smoked elk jerky will be featured from Rocks Modern Grill. In the mood for something zesty? Try Spice Island Grill’s Jamaican jerk pork, Jamaican jerk chicken, or Jamaican beef and chicken patty.

Returning to the Festival is the popular Bayou Bob’s, serving its crawfish étouffée, fried alligator, fried pickles, and a sampler of all three items. Those seeking exotic tastes should plan to stop by Barbed Wire Reef, offering chipotle pulled wild boar sandwiches; handmade organic beet burgers; salmon burgers; mahi mahi burgers; and a choice of gator, rattlesnake, duck, pheasant, antelope, and ostrich bratwursts. Festival favorite Rosa Linda’s Mexican Café dishes up green chili; cactus; burritos and tacos in a choice of chicken, beef, or cactus; cheese enchiladas; and bean burritos with chili and cheese. The filet k-bob (skewered filet mignon), range rattlers (stuffed jalapeños), and white chocolate cheesecake are on the menu at Saltgrass Steak House.

Classic Festival favorites, including berrie kabobs, turkey drumsticks, shaved ice, corn on the cob, and funnel cakes will also be served throughout the event.

The following is a complete list of Colorado’s favorite food establishments that will offer a wide variety of their specialties, from small portions to full meals:

Amore Gelato
Barbed Wire Reef
Bayou Bob’s
Berrie Kabobs
The Broker Restaurant
Capones
Cherry Creek Concessions
CiCi’s Pizza
Cody Coyote Kettle Corn
Cold Front Ice Cream Sales and Distribution
Colorado Buffalo Grill
Colorado Corn Company
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream
Falafel King
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
Gigi’s Cupcakes
The Goods
Graham’s Texapino Favorites
Grammy’s Goodies
Grillin’ Wings & Things
Hard Rock Cafe
Himalayas II
Hot Wok Café
Island Noodles
Island Oasis Smoothies
Jamba Juice
Little Brothers Mini Doughnuts
Monster Grill
Moontower Tacos
Mustard’s Last Stand
Nut Sensations
Pablo’s Coffee
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
Pete’s Greek Town Café
Philadelphia Filly
Pop’s Rocky Mountain Kettle Corn
Que Bueno! Mexican Grille
Randolph’s Restaurant
Repicci’s Italian Ice
Rocks Modern Grill
Rocky Mountain Nut Roasters
Rodizio Grill
Roro’s Concessions
Rosa Linda’s Mexican Café
Saltgrass Steak House
Snow Business
Snowie Colorado
Southern Hospitality
Southwest Kettle Corn
Spice Island Grill
Sweet Lorraine’s Catering
Tocabe
Tre Sorella’s

In addition to the Access Health Colorado Main Stage, four other entertainment stages located throughout the Festival will serve up a continuous menu of music, including the KBCO World Class Rock Stage, the KYGO Country Stage, and the Colorado Heritage Stage presented by Westword.

Festivalgoers can shop in more than 280 Marketplace booths for original arts and crafts, home and gift items, furniture, jewelry, imports, and more. Fine Art in the Park will display original works in a variety of mediums created by artists from around the country. Shoppers also can explore the Home & Lifestyles area, which features a variety of exhibitors displaying products and services such as window installation, kitchen remodeling, cookware, basement refinishing, and salons and spas.

There will be plenty of music, magic, clowns, and puppets on the Comfort Dental KidzStage, and the KidZone features play equipment and hands-on craft activities. Kids and adults also can enjoy carnival rides and games Saturday through Monday.

In the Festival of Mountain and Plain area, families can learn about the state’s pioneer past, nature, and the environment. Featured artisans will demonstrate Navajo weaving and culture, spinning, rug braiding, lace crocheting, felting, and quilting, along with the popular blacksmith demonstration. At the Raptor Education Foundation (REF) exhibit, children can learn about birds, their environment, and their interactions with humans.

Sponsors of this year’s Festival are: 9NEWS, Access Health Colorado, Aggreko, LLC, 2013 Air National Guard Mobile Experience, Albert Bartlett, All Copy Products, American Medical Response, APLMED Academy, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Blue Moon, Bluegreen Vacations, Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Mobile Tour, Chobani Champions, Coast 2 Coast Communications, Colorado HealthOP, Colorado Lottery, Colorado Native, Comfort Dental, Coors Banquet, Costco Wholesale, Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown, Cutarelli Vision, The Denver Post, DirectBuy of NW Denver, Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc., Eldorado Natural Spring Water, Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, 2013 Ford Experience Tour, Grand Lodge on Peak 7, LBA Realty, Levinson Eye Clinic, Lincoln Motor Company, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Nature’s Path Foods, Inc., Peach Street Distillery, PEPSI, Residence Inn Denver City Center, Roundhouse Spirits, Solar City, Sport Clips Haircuts, Sturgeon Electric, SVEDKA Vodka, and TownePlace Suites Denver Downtown.

Festival hours are Friday, Aug. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Festival of Mountain and Plain … A Taste of Colorado is a community celebration that is produced by and benefits Downtown Denver Events, Inc., the Downtown Denver Partnership family’s community events nonprofit organization. The Festival is an opportunity for people throughout the region to come together to experience and appreciate our diverse cultural traditions, and to learn more about our state’s Western heritage.
The Festival highlights visual and performing arts in addition to featuring educational programs and culinary demonstrations.
Visit www.ATasteofColorado.com, www.facebook.com/ATasteofColorado, www.twitter.com/ATasteofCO, or call (303) 295-6330 for more information.