This week celebrate National Pecan Pie Day (July 12), National French Fries Day (July 13), National Beans ‘n’ Franks Day (July 13), National Tapioca Pudding Day (July 15), National Corn Fritter Day (July 16), National Peach Ice Cream Day (July 17) and National Caviar Day (July 18)
• Bastille Day Celebration, July 14, Denver Botanic Gardens. Information: afdenver.org. Details: French wine, French fare from Le Grand Bistro, Crêpes ‘n Crêpes and Terroir, and Belgian ales from Denver’s Cheeky Monk
FARMERS MARKETS
• Fitz 21 Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, 22nd Street and N. Ursula, Aurora
• Havana Exchange Farmers Market, 10 a.m-3 p.m. Mondays, Havana and Yale, Aurora
• Southwest Plaza Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Southwest Plaza, Littleton
Hangar 2 Lowry Farmers Market, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturdays, 7581 East Academy Boulevard, Denver
FOOD CLASSES
• The City of Aurora offers cooking classes at the Expo Recreation Center including Ice Cream for Grown-ups (21 and up only), July 18. Information: auroragov.org/cooking. Details: Grown-up ice cream treats include peach sorbet with brandied cherry sauce, cognac with extra bittersweet hot fudge, and Vietnamese coffee with candied almonds
FESTIVALS AND FOOD EVENTS
• Caramel Hours, 4 – 6 p.m. July 19, Helliemae’s Handcrafted Caramels, Arvada. Information: saltcaramels.com. Details: Artisan candy maker opens once a month for tours and tastings of sweets including dark butter caramels with cinnamon, chile and salt
• 13th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival, July 28-29, Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, Boulder. Information: boulderteahouse.com/rocky-mountain-tea-festival. Details: seminars, tea dinner, kids’ tea parties, Tea and Cocktails class
• Castle Rock Winefest, July 21, Castle Rock. Information: castlerockwinefest.com. Details: Dozens of Colorado wineries offering tastes and bottles
• Hatch Chile Fest, Sept. 1-2, Hatch, New Mexico. Information: hatchchilefest.com. Details: Top annual attraction for spicy food lovers
• German Fest 2012, July 27-29, Helga’s German Restaurant, Aurora. Information: germanfestdenver.com. Details: German beer, food and desserts plus live music and livelier dancing
• Wine and Farm Tours, Sept 8-9, Western Slope. Tickets: 303-825-0100. Details: Two-day bus tour features Colorado wine tastings, visits to wineries and a 12-course family style Disassembly Dinner including a break down of a Colorado lamb and hog
ON THE RADIO
• Radio Nibbles, 8:25 a.m. Thursdays, KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM, and KGNU.org. Details: Weekly chat about all things culinary in Colorado (and the world) with Colorado Table Editor John Lehndorff
• The Main Course, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, KEZW, 1430 AM. Details: Host Elizabeth Woessner talks food and dining with guests and callers
COLORADO FOOD INFORMATION
• To find farmers markets across the state visit coloradofarmers.org/marketfind.htm and denverfarmersmarket.com/locations.htm.
• For more information about food events, festivals, tastings, tours, markets and more, visit Colorado Table: aurorasentinel.com/colorado-table.
• Visit Aurora has made it a little bit easier to find information about eateries in the city with its new restaurant search engine at: visitaurora.com/Places-to-Eat.
(Send information about food events, classes, festivals, wine dinners and tours in the metro area and all over Colorado to jlehndorff@aol.com, or the Nibbles Facebook page.)
Celebrate ICE CREAM on Saturday July 21 from 1:00 to 3:00pm at Crestridge Park at corner of Elkhart & Yale, enter from Chambers (14751 E Yale Av, AURORA, CO). And celebrate General Election Kick Off with Jovan Melton (running for State Rep of HD 41); Senators Newell and Foster; Minority Leader Ferandino; Representatives Field, Kagan, and Williams; Former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff; Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb; and many, many more.