Colorado Restaurant Association

Denver Food + Wine Festival
2022-09-06 - 2022-09-10 | CO
The Denver Food + Wine Festival (DF+WF) is a multi-day culinary festival celebrating the Denver restaurant, wine, and spirits scene. In 2022, events will include the chef-headlined Dinner Under the Stars; a Riedel glass seminar; a cheese-tasting seminar; the Shake + Brake Showdown, a celebration of local food trucks and cocktail professionals; a health and wellness session for industry employees; and the culminating Grand Tasting, a showcase of 50 restaurants and hundreds of wines and spirits with attendance in the thousands.
* Must be 21 & over for all events. No children or pets allowed.

Dinner Under the Stars
2022-09-07 18:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | The Slate Denver, 1250 Welton St, Denver, CO 80204, Denver, CO, 80204, United States
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 6:00 PM
Tickets here!
Location:
The Slate Denver, Emily’s Alley
1250 Welton Street, Denver
This year, Dinner Under the Stars supports mental health in the industry through a lavish, al fresco, six-course dinner at the Slate Denver, one of downtown’s newest boutique hotels, in the historic Emily’s Alley, complete with curated wine pairings and a live auction of culinary experiences.
The 2022 chef and bartender lineup is spectacular:

Lyndsey Sheerer, Death & Co Denver
Summer Goff, Death & Co Denver
Dana Rodriguez, Cantina Loca
Matthew Ridgway, Safta
Cody Cheetham, Tavernetta
Thach Tran, Ace Eat Serve
John Hinman, Hinman Pie/CHOW

Proceeds benefit the Colorado Restaurant Foundation, which has distributed more than $4 million in grants to restaurants and restaurant workers through its Angel Relief Fund since 2020, providing emergency assistance for Colorado foodservice and hospitality employees facing unanticipated hardship. In 2022, the Angel Relief Fund expanded its scope to include grants for mental health care for restaurant workers.
* Must be 21 & over. No children or pets allowed.

Durango Chapter Meeting
2022-09-08 09:00 - 10:00 | El Moro Spirits and Tavern, 945 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Please join us for a meeting of the CRA Durango Chapter.

Riedel Wine Glass Seminar
2022-09-08 18:00 - 19:00 | MSU Denver, Hospitality Learning Center, 1190 Auraria Parkway (second floor), Denver, 80204
Thursday, September 8, 2022, 6 – 7 p.m.
Tickets are SOLD OUT!
Location:
MSU Denver, Hospitality Learning Center
1190 Auraria Parkway, 2nd floor (behind SpringHill Suites by Marriott)
Sommelier Shelley Sale will demonstrate the relationship between the shape of a wine glass and our perception and enjoyment of the wine within. After the seminar, you will take home your own four-glass Riedel kit, valued at $138, with one glass for each varietal.
* Must be 21 & over. No children or pets allowed.

Shake + Brake Showdown
2022-09-08 19:00 - 22:00 | Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street, Denver, 80204
Thursday, September 8, 2022, 7 – 10 p.m.
Tickets here!
Location:
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus
1000 Larimer Street, Denver
New to the Denver Food + Wine Festival in 2022, the Shake + Brake Showdown is a lively cocktail competition fueled by bites from Denver’s best food trucks. Expect all-you-can-drink from 11 local bartenders, appetizers from Shake + Brake’s six food truck all-stars, and the opportunity to purchase more food from the trucks if you’re still hungry! Attendees will vote on the People’s Choice Best Food Truck and Best Cocktail while dining, drinking, and dancing to DJs!
Food Trucks:

Barbed Wire Reef
Bits & Pieces con Cerveza
Blue Pan Pizza
Chile con Quesadilla
The Ethiopian Food Truck
Pho King Rapidos

Bartenders // Spirits:

Evren Bora of Quality Italian // Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey
Troy Bradley of Narrative // Angel’s Envy Bourbon
Kanayda Fierro of Death & Co Denver // Montelobos Mezcal Espadín
Benjamin Janarelli of Neon Gold // Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon
Katie Krieger of The Tatarian // Redemption Wheated Bourbon
Lexy Rae of Pony Up // Casa Noble Tequila Blanco
Robert Right of Improper City // Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon
Becky Rose of Sky Bar // Suntory Haku Vodka
Micah Scott of Pindustry // Dos Hombres Espadín Mezcal
Brian Wyner of Improper City // Patrón Sherry Cask Aged Añejo Tequila
Sebastian Zydek of Poka Lola Social Club // Teremana Tequila Blanco

Proceeds benefit the Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission of service to support worker education, training, and overall health and wellness.
* Must be 21 & over. No children or pets allowed.

Denver Food + Wine Festival Grand Tasting
2022-09-10 12:00 - 16:00 | Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street, Denver, 80204
Saturday, September 10, 2022, Noon – 4 p.m.
Tickets & Lineup: denverfoodandwine.com
Location:
Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus
1000 Larimer Street, Denver
The Denver Food + Wine Festival Grand Tasting showcases the region’s culinary leaders – award winning chefs, mixologists, and wine professionals – who will share bites and sips that explore and celebrate Colorado’s dynamic food-and-beverage scene. Eat, drink, be merry, and discover the creativity of 50 top local restaurants and more than 700 beverage options from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio, poured by their team of professionals.
The Grand Tasting will feature a VIP Lounge, presented by US Foods, with specialty wines selected by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Master Sommeliers, tastes from 10 upscale restaurants, live music, and much more!
Proceeds benefit the Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission of service to support worker education, training, and overall health and wellness.

VIP admission begins at noon and includes access to the exclusive VIP Lounge, with food from high-end restaurants, reserve wines, and live music, as well as early access to the full Grand Tasting lineup of small bites, wines, and spirits
First Taste admission begins at noon, a full hour before General Admission entry, and includes early access to the full Grand Tasting lineup of small bites, wines, and spirits.
General admission begins at 1 p.m., with access to the full Grand Tasting lineup of small bites, wines, and spirits.

* Must be 21 & over. No children or pets allowed.

ServSafe Alcohol Certification Course and Test
2022-09-12 09:00 - 13:00, 2022-11-08 12:00 - 16:00, 2022-12-05 09:00 - 13:00 | CRA Office, 430 E. 7th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
The purpose of the ServSafe Alcohol® Program through the Colorado Restaurant Association is to ensure that servers, bartenders, and managers have the information they need to understand and implement the skills of responsible service.
Participants should leave the program confident in their ability to make sound decisions and handle potentially intoxicated guests.
A workbook is provided at the class as a reference tool for your operation.
Who Should Attend?
Bartenders, Supervisors, Servers, Cocktail Servers, Managers, Owners
All students MUST pre-pay with a credit card in order to sign up for this class. Please email ServSafe@corestaurant.org or call 303-830-2972 with any questions.

ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course and Test
2022-09-13 08:30 - 17:00, 2022-10-17 08:30 - 17:00, 2022-11-07 08:30 - 17:00, 2022-12-06 08:30 - 17:00 | CRA Office, 430 E. 7th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
The Colorado Restaurant Association delivers ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification training to Colorado’s restaurant and foodservice industry. ServSafe® is a program of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
The Food Protection Manager Certification course is a one-day immersion course that covers basic food safety concepts. This program has a certification exam; passage of the exam is acceptable in 95% of U.S. jurisdictions with a training requirement.
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification includes:

Teaches managers basic food safety concepts
Helps managers and employees protect against outbreaks of foodborne illness
Helps reduce liability risks
Helps minimize insurance costs
Enables participants to demonstrate a commitment to food safety
Qualifies certified candidates to participate in the International Food Safety Council

Who Should Attend?
Managers, Supervisors, Chefs, Kitchen Managers, Owners, Operators
Please email ServSafe@corestaurant.org or call 303-830-2972 with any questions.

ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course and Test
2022-09-18 08:30 - 18:30, 2022-10-17 08:30 - 18:30 | Boulder Prep High School, 5075 Chaparral Ct., Boulder, 80301
$120/person in advance for CRA members and inspection clients, $140/person in advance for non members/clients.
Pre-study is not required for the class, and the cost of a ServSafe book is not included in the price. If you wish to purchase a book, please specify when send your email. It’s an additional $40/book.
Class starts at 8:30 am and ends by 6:30 pm, as each person completes their exam. Generally, most people are done before 6.
Registration directly via Joseph Self. Please email joe@self-solutions.com to sign up.
NOTE: no refunds or credits for student cancellations, rescheduling, or no-shows. Fee is not specific to an individual, and may be used for any employee, for the same registered class.

Don’t Leave Dollars on the Table: Valuable 2022 Tax Incentives for Restaurants
2022-09-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom, CO, United States
Lucrative tax incentives are available to many Colorado restaurant owners — so don’t leave those dollars on the table!
Please join the CRA during this free webinar to learn how you can qualify for powerful tax credits and deductions to increase cash flow and grow your business.
Randy Crabtree, CPA and co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals, will share the latest updates on the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Cost Segregation, 179D Commercial Building Energy-Efficiency Tax Deduction, and the R&D Tax Credit.
Randy, who also hosts “The Unique CPA” podcast, is a widely followed author and speaker in the accounting industry. Randy was listed in the “Ones to Watch” section of Accounting Today’s 2021 “Top 100 Most Influential people in Accounting.” He was recently appointed to the Intuit Tax Council. Prior to starting Tri-Merit, Crabtree was managing partner of a CPA firm in the greater Chicago area. Randy has more than 30 years of public accounting and tax consulting experience in a wide variety of industries and has worked closely with top executives to help them optimize their tax planning strategies.
Register today!

FREE QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer) Suicide-Prevention Training
2022-10-18 10:00 - 11:00 | CRA Office, 430 E. 7th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. This evidence-based training goes over national and state statistics about suicide, warning signs, and detailed explanations of how to talk to someone who may be in a suicide crisis.
REGISTER TODAY!
QPR Training (in person)
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 10 – 11 a.m. MT
LOCATION
Colorado Restaurant Association/Foundation Offices
430 E. 7th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
PARKING
There is ample street parking around the CRA/F office, but there is also a parking lot behind the building (enter off Pearl Street) where you are free to park in any unnumbered spot.
GOT QUESTIONS?
Please email info@corestaurant.org or call 303-830-2972.

CRA Lifetime Achievement Awards
2022-10-25 18:00 - 21:00 | The Broadmoor Restort, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, 80906, United States
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
6 p.m. Cocktail Reception // 7 p.m. Dinner, Entertainment, Awards Ceremony
Buy tickets here!
Location:
The Broadmoor Resort, Cheyenne Lodge
1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
This prestigious awards program celebrates individuals who are devoted to the idea of hospitality and practice it in their daily lives. These outstanding people are recognized throughout the industry for the significant contributions they have made through their leadership, service, and dedication to the foodservice industry and community. Please join us as we honor them by inducting them into the Colorado Foodservice Hall of Fame.
2022 Musical Guest: Trey Simon, presented by BMI
Cocktail and/or business attire

CRA Industry Spotlight Awards
2022-11-09 18:00 - 21:00 | Studio Loft at Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 980 14th Street, Denver, CO, 80202, United States
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
6 p.m. Cocktail Hour // 7 p.m. Awards Presentations
Buy tickets here! ($125 CRA members; $150 non-members)
Location:
Studio Loft at Ellie Caulkins Opera House
980 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
The CRA Industry Spotlight Awards celebrate the most important part of the restaurant industry: the people! This annual gathering is Colorado’s only awards ceremony that recognizes outstanding hospitality professionals at all levels of the restaurant.
Join us in honoring the wonderful people who fuel this resilient, dynamic industry!
Your ticket purchase to the Industry Spotlight Awards supports important CRA programming and advocacy efforts allowing us to more effectively work on behalf of the restaurant industry at all levels of government.
Cocktail and/or business attire. Open bar and appetizers (passed, stations) included.

ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course and Test
2022-11-13 08:30 - 18:30 | Boulder Prep High School, 5075 Chaparral Ct., Boulder, 80301
$120/person in advance for CRA members and inspection clients, $140/person in advance for non members/clients. (If you need the exam in a language other than English, please let me know when you register.)
Pre-study is not required for the class, and the cost of a ServSafe book is not included in the price. If you wish to purchase a book, please specify when send your email. It’s an additional $40/book.
Class starts at 8:30 am and ends by 6:30 pm, as each person completes their exam. Generally, most people are done before 6. $120/person in advance for CRA members and inspection clients, $140/person in advance for non members/clients. (If you need the exam in a language other than English, please let me know when you register.)
Registration directly via Joseph Self. Please email joe@self-solutions.com to sign up.
NOTE: no refunds or credits for student cancellations, rescheduling, or no-shows. Fee is not specific to an individual, and may be used for any employee, for the same registered class.

Colorado Springs ServSafe Food Manager Class
2022-11-14 09:00 - 17:00 | Ben E. Keith Foods, 2860 S. Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, 80906
Ben E. Keith is hosting a ServSafe Food Manager Class at the Downstairs Conference Room by Mountain Warrior Coffee from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CRA member price is $140; non-member price is $180.
Class capacity is limited. Please register by November 7, 2022.
Learn more and register.

Colorado Springs ServSafe Alcohol Class
2022-11-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Ben E. Keith Foods, 2860 S. Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, 80906
Ben E. Keith is hosting a ServSafe Alcohol Class at the Downstairs Conference Room by Mountain Warrior Coffee from 9 a.m. to noon.
CRA member price is $40; non-member price is $55.
Class capacity is limited. Please register by November 7, 2022.
Learn more and register.

Pikes Peak Chapter Meeting
2022-11-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Rasta Pasta, 405 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, CO, United States
Please join us for a meeting of the CRA Pikes Peak Chapter.

Vail ServSafe® Food Manager Certification Class
2022-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | The Grand View, 395 South Frontage Road West, Vail, United States
Through this one-day immersion training (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), you’ll learn about basic food safety concepts, foodborne illness and how to prevent it, and how to train fellow employees in food sanitation.

ADVANCED STUDY IS REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS! Please register at least three weeks before the date of your desired class so we can mail your class materials in time.

Event Item Name
Expires
Pricing

Non-CRA Member, Includes Study Book, Course and Proctored Exam
Nov 18, 2022

$180.00

CRA Member, Includes Study Book, Course and Proctored Exam
Nov 18, 2022

$140.00

Located on the top floor of the Lionshead Welcome Center’s parking structure.

Register

Breckenridge Chapter Meeting
2022-12-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Fatty’s Pizzeria, 106 S Ridge St, Breckenridge, 80424
Please join us for a meeting of the CRA Breckenridge Chapter.

Webinar: "CRA Pinnacol Safety Group: Situational Awareness"
2022-12-08 14:00 - 14:30 | Zoom, CO, United States
December 8, 2022
2 – 2:30 p.m. MT
Please join us for this important safety webinar, which can help you keep your employees safe this winter.
During this 15-minute presentation from our partners at Pinnacol Assurance, you’ll learn how to practice situational awareness to create habits for your brain to detect safety hazards and identify safer options. You will discover what situational awareness is; complete situational awareness exercises; and discuss how to identify your surroundings to prevent hazards from becoming an emergency.
Important note: CRA Pinnacol Safety Group members can fulfill their annual safety training requirement by attending this LIVE session (and the following session, which begins at 2:30 pm), thereby earning a 4% discount on their Pinnacol Assurance workers’ comp insurance policy renewal. The recordings will be available after the sessions, but to qualify for the discount you must attend the webinars LIVE on December 8.

Register today!

Webinar: "CRA Pinnacol Safety Group: Safety Through Effective Leadership"
2022-12-08 14:30 - 15:00 | Zoom, CO, United States
December 8, 2022
2:30 – 3 p.m. MT
Please join us for this important safety webinar, which can help you keep your employees safe this winter.
Successful business leaders empower their employees to make decisions, speak up about their concerns, and take ownership of the work they do each day. Business owners, effective managers, and supervisors also see their employees as the solution for workplace safety concerns. During this 15-minute presentation from our partners at Pinnacol Assurance, you’ll learn how fostering trust, engaging in active listening, and demonstrating care and concern for employees can help build a culture of safety.
Important note: CRA Pinnacol Safety Group members can fulfill their annual safety training requirement by attending this LIVE session (and the following session, which begins at 2:30 pm), thereby earning a 4% discount on their Pinnacol Assurance workers’ comp insurance policy renewal. The recordings will be available after the sessions, but to qualify for the discount you must attend the webinars LIVE on December 8.
Register today!

ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course and Test
2022-12-11 08:30 - 18:30 | Boulder Prep High School, 5075 Chaparral Ct., Boulder, 80301
$120/person in advance for CRA members and inspection clients, $140/person in advance for non members/clients. (If you need the exam in a language other than English, please let me know when you register.)
Pre-study is not required for the class, and the cost of a ServSafe book is not included in the price. If you wish to purchase a book, please specify when send your email. It’s an additional $40/book.
Class starts at 8:30 am and ends by 6:30 pm, as each person completes their exam. Generally, most people are done before 6.
Registration directly via Joseph Self. Please email joe@self-solutions.com to sign up.
NOTE: no refunds or credits for student cancellations, rescheduling, or no-shows. Fee is not specific to an individual, and may be used for any employee, for the same registered class.

Webinar: "Buckle Up! Labor Law Challenges Coming Your Way in 2023"
2022-12-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom, CO, United States
December 13, 2022
10 – 11:30 a.m. MT
The restaurant industry continues to face increasingly complex compliance demands when it comes to new state laws, as well as wage-and-hour law, and it’s hard to keep up with all of the changes. Making matters worse, the federal government and state agencies across the country are vigorously enforcing the rules while plaintiffs’ attorneys are filing high-stakes lawsuits against restaurants and other hospitality businesses on a daily basis.
What’s a restaurant to do?
Todd Fredrickson, partner with our trusted labor and employment expert Fisher Phillips, will cover the most pressing topics so you can stay up to speed with today’s ever-changing environment, including compliance updates for new Colorado employment laws, the latest on tip pools and service charges, and just about everything in between. Join us for this member-only webinar and come armed with your questions; Todd has the answers!
Register today!

CRA ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course and Test
2023-01-09 08:30 - 17:00 | CRA Office, 430 E. 7th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
The Colorado Restaurant Association delivers ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification training to Colorado’s restaurant and foodservice industry. ServSafe® is a program of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
The Food Protection Manager Certification course is a one-day immersion course that covers basic food safety concepts. This program has a certification exam; passage of the exam is acceptable in 95% of U.S. jurisdictions with a training requirement.
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification includes:

Teaches managers basic food safety concepts
Helps managers and employees protect against outbreaks of foodborne illness
Helps reduce liability risks
Helps minimize insurance costs
Enables participants to demonstrate a commitment to food safety
Qualifies certified candidates to participate in the International Food Safety Council

Who Should Attend?
Managers, Supervisors, Chefs, Kitchen Managers, Owners, Operators
Please email ServSafe@corestaurant.org or call 303-830-2972 with any questions.
REGISTER HERE
