Dine Out

SEPTEMBER

5

+ FUTURE DATES

Dine Out
Culinary Auction

Tables, trips, tickets + tastings you won't find anywhere else!

When and
where is it?

September 5, 2025
Dine Out Auction
Experiences

More coming; check back often!

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Hard-to-get reservation + dinner + drinks for two at Michelin-Starred Alma Fonda Fina, led by chef Johnny Curiel

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The Quattro Piatti experience for two at the 2025 James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurant: Frasca Food and Wine. Includes a guest-selected four-course tasting inspired by the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, prepared by Executive Chef Ian Palazzola and Executive Pastry Chef Alberto Hernandez

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Dine like a food writer with award-winning 5280 Magazine food editor Mark Antonation, as he leads you on a Havana-Street food crawl in Aurora.

Restaurants include Thank Sool Pocha, Yong Gung, and Snowl Cafe.

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Treat your special someone to dinner at award-winning Xiquita, a vibrant restaurant in Uptown that celebrates ancestral Mexican cuisine and the dining traditions of Mexico City

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Treat your special someone to dinner at award-winning Lucina, a charming restaurant in Park Hill featuring food and drinks inspired by the Americas and led by award-winning chef Erasmo Casiano

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Multicourse dinner prepared by Chef Theo Adley + wine pairings chosen by Marigold’s sommelier Eric Bronson

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Multicourse tasting with Chef Stewart Gray + ping pong for four people

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A welcome drink + oysters at Traveling Mercies, followed by a three-course chef tasting at Annette, 2024 Restaurant of the Year winner at the HOSPYS, led by Caroline Glover, the James Beard Awards 2022 Best Chef: Mountain

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Enjoy a six-person chef tasting featuring Shanahan’s wide selection of aged USDA prime steaks, seafood flown in daily, and award-winning wines from around the world. Paired wines included.

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Bring your family and/or friends for a pit tour and barbeque feast at G-Que Barbeque, drinks included

Future 2025 Dates
Dine Out Auction
Experiences

More coming; check back often!

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The Block Distilling Co.

Guided Tour + Spirits and Cocktail Tasting for Four, with Block’s Head Distiller Kraig Weave.

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Enjoy a six-course oyster dinner for four with paired wines, cooked by Chef Dave Query and served by Dana Query at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar in LoDo!
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Join DiningOut Denver’s editor Linnea Covington on a unique taste of the town along with the longest independent food tour Local Table Tours. During this exclusive experience explore our beloved city’s food scene through the lens of a food writer and the expertise of the institution’s founder.
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Beckon Denver
Chef-counter experience with beverage pairings for two people at Michelin-starred Beckon.
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The Greenwich
Private wine seminar for six: Invite five friends and enjoy a two-hour, private wine class at The Greenwich. Led by owner and sommelier Delores Tronco, this class will focus on all things sparkling: Champagne, cava, prosecco, and more! You’ll learn about different methods for making sparkling wine and what it is that makes Champagne so special. You’ll taste six different wines in this fun and interactive experience, and enjoy light snacks at the end of class. Must schedule before January 31, 2026.
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Corsica Denver
Escape to the Mediterranean coast with a curated four-course dinner at Corsica Wine Bar in a culinary voyage through the rustic flavors of France, Italy, and Corsica itself. Each thoughtfully crafted course showcases regional tastes, from the herb-scented hills of Provence to the sun-soaked shores of the Ligurian coast. The experience includes expertly selected wine pairings from Corsica’s impressive collection of over 200 European bottles. You’ll dine in the striking 1934 warehouse space surrounded by original artwork and a warm ambiance that transports you straight to a coastal Mediterranean café in an experience that captures Corsica’s daily celebration of the European tradition of social dining.
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Sap Sua Denver
Chef tasting with paired drinks for four people at award-winning Sắp Sửa, which won the 2024 HOSPYS Newcomer Restaurant of the Year award! 
Photo credit: Casey Wilson
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Includes two spots in a small-group class at Restaurant Olivia + snacks + beverages + two aprons + a bottle of sommelier-selected wine + salad + dessert + focaccia + pasta sauce to take home with your freshly made (by you!) pasta. Class also includes snacks and two beverages

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Two-Night Luxury Stay at Halcyon + Dinner for Two in Local Jones for Two. Experience effortless luxury with a two-night stay at Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek. During your visit, enjoy a $150 dining credit to use at Local Jones — a laid-back yet refined dining experience rooted in seasonal ingredients, bold flavors, and genuine hospitality. From rooftop lounging to unforgettable meals, experience the best of Cherry Creek at its most relaxed and refined. 
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Barcelona Wine Bar
This four-course dinner experience guides you through different Spanish regions, with each dish showcasing the distinct flavors and traditions of its area. Wine pairings complement each course, selected to highlight the regional specialties. The experience is tailored to each guest and includes expert guidance from Barcelona Wine Bar’s knowledgeable team, known for their award-winning Spanish wine program featuring over 400 selections from small family producers and artisan winemakers.
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In this interactive class, Chef Eric Dale will teach you how to prepare and roll out two types of dough (sweet and savory), how to par-bake a tart shell, and create a mocha silk filling and finished pie. You’ll learn how to create other pies with the same doughs, such as bourbon pecan and a double-crust apple pie. Guests will leave with a petite mocha silk pie and recipes for everything discussed during the class. Includes non-alcoholic beverages and sweet brunch pastries, a petite mocha silk pie, and recipes, plus tax and gratuity.
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Pastry of the Month box (6-month duration), including a custom selection of Poulette’s extraordinary sweet and savory goodies. Chef Carloyn Nugent and Alen Ramos won the 2024 HOSPY for Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year!

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A coveted four-person reservation at Casa Bonita, including entrees + non-alcohol drinks + sopaipillas.

Cliff divers, Black Bart’s cave, puppet shows + more also included!

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Multicourse dinner + beverage pairing at the much-anticipated Mexican restaurant at the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, from Hop Alley’s Tommy Lee + award-winning chef Michael Diaz de Leon

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A one-night staycation at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver, in a suite, plus complimentary parking and $300 for dining at ELWAY’s Downtown

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Private Friulano wine seminar for six people, led by Frasca Food and Wine Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey + small bites by Osteria Alberico Chef de Cuisine Russell Stippich 

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Take your crew out for cocktails + snacks at Chef Troy Guard’s chic Done Deal cocktail lounge

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Take your crew out for a boozy brunch at this popular early-day spot by Chef Troy Guard, including entrees and a cocktail for everyone.
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Secure two spots at the Plimoth’s ultra-popular fall wine dinner, featuring the wines and food of New England (in honor of the restaurant’s namesake region). All inclusive for two guests, including wine, dinner, tax, and tip. Available dates are October 16 and October 23, 2025.

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Luxe Alpenglobe experience includes dinner + drinks + more! Available November – May only

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Create a spectacular, customized, three-tiered cake for your next special occasion. Serves 50 – 65 people

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Let the Boombots team, led by Chef Cliff Blauvelt, treat you to a curated tasting journey, drinks included (alcohol or n/a, it’s your call)

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Create something delicious with your favorite cooking partner during a hands-on class at Create at the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora – paired beer or wine included! Choose your class and let the chef-led team at Create take it from there.

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Drawing inspiration from Duke Ellington’s opulent style and eye for detail, Nocturne created the “Ellington Experience,” the ultimate night out at Nocturne. This experience features a decadent five-course tasting with wine pairings, served at tables in our favorite nook of the main level under the curve of our grand art deco staircase. There are just two “Ellington Experience” tables available per music set.

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Two culinary classes of your choice, for 2 people, at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder

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Private Floral Workshop with Rowdy Poppy (up to 4 people): Enjoy a customized floral workshop with one of Denver’s top florists, Rowdy Poppy. This instructional workshop, led by Kim Zimmerman, will be up to the winner and what they want to create: vase arrangements, wearables, holiday tablescaping, etc.
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Two-night stay at the Best Western Vista Inn in Buena Vista, Colorado, including breakfast and two tickets to the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs

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7-quart enameled cast iron round Dutch oven. Staub’s innovative enamel coating takes cast-iron cooking to the next level with improved performance, style and durability. A heavy lid to seal in moisture paired with heat-retaining cast iron make this oven ideal for slow-cooking homemade chili or a hearty stew.

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Everything you need to host a party at your home for 12 – 15 people, curated by the culinary team at Footers Catering. Includes a personalized Acacia wood charcuterie board; Chef-curated selection of meats and cheeses; assorted accoutrement jars; mini dessert platter; 3 bottles of house white wine; 3 bottles of house red wine; set of custom wood coasters; and a small seasonal floral centerpiece.

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Major Tom Denver

$300 gift card. Gift card cannot be redeemed for cash and cannot be used at Beckon. Standard booking and cancellation policies apply, please contact the restaurant for full details. Redemption can be made in person at the time of dining.

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Enjoy a luxurious staycation at The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club in Aurora. Includes one-night stay + a $50 dining credit for the on-site restaurant, The Common Good, as well as complimentary self-parking.

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A catered feast from Chook for 15 people. Rotisserie chicken, salad, sides, rolls, and dessert included.

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$100 Gift Card and gift basket from Ted’s Montana Grill

back in 2025

Dine Out

auction series

The Denver Food + Wine Festival is thrilled to bring back its Dine Out culinary auction series to the 2025 schedule of festival events, featuring an exciting lineup of one-of-a-kind experiences that will go to the highest bidder, all to help raise funds to support the workforce development and employee assistance programming of the Colorado Restaurant Foundation.

These unique experiences range from chef-counter dinners and behind-the-scenes kitchen tours to games of ping pong and wine seminars at some of the best restaurants in Colorado.

Most experiences will take place on Friday, September 5, 2025, but others can be scheduled for future dates.

The auction is open from August 1 – 27!

Our Beneficiaries

Helping the Restaurant Industry Grow

The Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s Angel Relief Fund provides emergency assistance and mental health care grants for Colorado restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality employees facing unanticipated hardship. By supporting the Angel Relief Fund, you offer support to the people at the heart of our restaurant and hospitality community.

The Colorado Restaurant Foundation is dedicated to providing access to the education, skills, and financial means to pursue a successful career in the foodservice and hospitality industries. The Foundation supports the Colorado ProStart® program, scholarships, ServSafe® certifications, and the Angel Relief Fund, which provides emergency assistance grants to help industry employees in need.