EatDenver: Tasty!

Cathie Beck //February 22, 2013//

EatDenver: Tasty!

Cathie Beck //February 22, 2013//

There’s a new, fresh, hip “restauranting org” in town, and I can’t remember the last time I was so charmed – and so admiring – of an organization.

Okay. They’re not that young; they’ve been around for eight years. But I’ll bet it’s still the hippest foodie hang-out you’ve never heard of.

EatDenver.com is a group of independent restaurant owners who take the individualized, customized dining experience seriously. Remember when you used to hit a mom-and-pop restaurant back-in-the-day and you chatted up the owner/chef and you returned to that spot for years and brought anyone who visited you there?

That level of intimate dining experience is at the core of EatDenver. I gave you the url to their web site, but you and I know how often you don’t click through links, so I’m going to spell out their “About” page here:

In 2005, a group of established and emerging restaurateurs gathered around a table to discuss their passion: food. Initially a one off meeting, they quickly realized the strength and wisdom in collaborating as partners to continue elevating Denver’s restaurant scene. As the meetings moved to quarterly, and eventually monthly, the concept and ideals of EatDenver slowly emerged.

Now, EatDenver represents more than 60 of the finest dining experiences in Denver, continuing to grow as the city grows, and facilitating marquee events like Harvest Week and EatDenver Serves Schools.

EATDENVER’S BELIEFS

Food as fuel for community We believe that through our food-focused passion, we increase the richness of dining experiences in our community and add to Denver’s unique flavor and cultural flair.

Independence as path to engagement We believe the art of the original meal creates the pathway to one-of-a-kind experiences.  Camaraderie is critical We believe that our association benefits us all through shared knowledge, wisdom, and market exposure.

Support makes us all successful We believe that our efforts to raise awareness (both amongst ourselves and within the community) of conserving and preserving, buying fresh and buying local, and one-of-a-kind experiences, we are educating future generations of the true value of independent restaurants.

Who doesn’t want to hit a joint that is one of the 60 members of EatDenver.com? No one. It’s a can’t-go-wrong, customer-focused, creative group of artists who are determined to “stay off the grid” of corporate dining. Leigh Jones, EatDenver President and owner of Jonesy’s EatBar (www.jeatbar.com) says it best, “The idea is to connect independent restauranteurs, to do networking, to hold hands a bit when things get hard.

“We started small and have grown to over sixty members,” she adds. “We support each other and still maintain a healthy level of competition. Why not support each other and share information? It’s a great thing for restaurants who don’t necessarily have a PR firm or other resources. We get to exchange ideas and information and help each other.”

EatDenver.org promises a new web site early in March. Take a look at the growing list of restaurants who engage in and contribute to EatDenver.org.

And then frequent these establishments. You may well end up with a handful of mom-and-pops you can repeatedly dine at, treat out-of-town guests to and otherwise richly enjoy in the way of the old neighborhood joint.


One Winning Wine Tasting

DAM Uncorked Wine Tasting 2013

On Friday, April 12, the Denver Art Museum will host DAM Uncorked Wine Tasting 2013, at 6 p.m.

Presented by Applejack Wine & Spirits, the event is in its 13th year and is a festive evening for anyone who enjoys and appreciates wine. Over 300 wines from vintners around the world will be available and helpful tasting guides will be available, as well as hors d’oeuvres.
Prices vary, depending upon membership. Visit www.dam.org or email [email protected].

Weird Wine Trivia

1. The smell of young wine is called an “aroma” while a more mature wine offers a more subtle “bouquet.”
2. In ancient Greece, a dinner host would take the first sip of wine to assure guests the wine was not poisoned, hence the phrase “drinking to one’s health.” “Toasting” started in ancient Rome when the Romans continued the Greek tradition but started dropping a piece of toasted bread into each wine glass to temper undesirable tastes or excessive acidity.e
3. A “cork-tease” is someone who constantly talks about the wine he or she will open but never does.
http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/08/21_wine.html