Stepping outside of meeting rooms and experiencing a destination is often the difference between a successful gathering and one that is less than memorable. A smart way to accomplish this is scheduling time to check out local breweries, wineries and food halls, where there tends to be many choices to accommodate various tastes and a range of price points. Here is the latest food and beverage news of interest to groups from around Colorado.
In February, WeldWerks Brewing opened The Annex at Weldworks, a chef-driven eatery led by chef Tim Meador, inside its Greeley taproom. Similar to WeldWerks’ constantly rotating tap list, menu items at The Annex are everchanging, evolving and expertly paired with the current beer menu. Meador blends classic cooking techniques and innovative flavor combinations so guests can enjoy cuisine from all corners of the world, ranging from Spanish calamari with romesco sauce and pork belly steamed buns to a full-fledged double cheeseburger.
On Colorado’s Western Slope, Cruise Control Kitchen and Cellar is aiming for a summer opening in downtown Grand Junction and will be the state’s first fast-casual winery concept. Cruise Control is focusing on gourmet foods that are designed to pair with wine, craft beer and spirits and serving Sauvage Spectrum wines on tap as well as available in bottles, growlers and cans. Proprietors Taryn and Kaibab Brooks are part-owners of Sauvage Spectrum Winery in nearby Palisade, where Kaibab is the winemaker. Guest wines also will be on the menu, with a heavy focus on Colorado producers, and a micro-market available to purchase provisions grown and made in Colorado.
Moving on to market halls, Bluebird Market has launched at Fourth Street Crossing, a 3.8-acre district in Silverthorne. Tenants of the nearly 30,000-square-foot market include a dozen chef-driven culinary concepts, along with three local retailers and a co-working space. An added bonus for groups is Summit Assembly, a 6,000-square-foot venue space attached to Bluebird Market that can host gatherings ranging from corporate events and weddings to farmer’s markets, art shows and other community events. Summit Assembly features 45-foot ceilings, concrete floors, large glass garage doors, an exterior patio with bistro lights, and catering options from Bluebird Market businesses.
Inspired by the southern Colorado community of Pueblo, Fuel & Iron Bar is set to open in April at its Blake Street location in Denver’s LoDo district, several months in advance of sister entity Fuel & Iron Food Hall in downtown Pueblo. In Denver, guests can do a mini tour of Pueblo through food and savor green chile cocktails and Fuel & Iron-branded beer on tap. The kitchen will serve Pueblo classics, including green chile made with Milberger Farms Pueblo chiles and smaller sliders that are a take on the famous town’s infamous Green Chile Slopper. In Pueblo, Fuel & Iron Food Hall is part of the Holmes Hardware Block redevelopment, which seeks to forge a bridge between Pueblo’s industrial past and a future that honors the city’s diverse population and bountiful agriculture. Phase II of the redevelopment includes roughly a half-acre devoted to an urban farm.
