Food News May 2018

Here we go again. Isn’t it nice to read news with no mention of nuclear weapons, gun violence, corruption, or the man we call POTUS? Starting now, I mean…

Alex Seidel, chef and owner of Mercantile in Denver, took home a James Beard Award from the gala on May 7. Andy Clark of Moxie Bread Co. in Louisville was also a finalist in the Outstanding Baker category, and though he didn’t claim an award in the end, he’s still a winner to us.   •   Natural food entrepreneurs Matt Oscamou and John Simmons launched a company this spring called Weller Snacks that creates hemp extract-infused foods like coconut bites (currently their only product, actually). At the same time, Colorado legislatures are poised to vote for regulating hemp like a regular food ingredient.   •   As of late April, Denver’s Amazon Prime Now customers can get Whole Foods delivered to their door. This feature is now available in 10 cities across the US. How long before it comes to BoCo?   •   Longtucky Spirits in Longmont is holding yoga classes by Shri Studios every Saturday through May and June. Sessions will end with a cocktail, so you can savasana and sip your way to inner peace.   •   The Flatirons Food Film Festival hosted a culinary battle royale between chefs from East and West Boulder. Teams were captained by Kyle Mendenhall of the West End’s Arcana and Cho77’s Ryan Gorby. The day resulted in some seriously delicious dishes from both, although the East team took home the prize.   •   Lovers of rosé: your time has come. Summer is finally in the air and Food Lab in Boulder is hosting An Evening with Rose on Friday, June 10 from 6-9pm with tastings and delicious food pairings for your favorite summer wine.   •   Longmont is seeing some new foodie action with the opening of Treat Snack House, a spot dedicated to the formally underrepresented art of snacking. You can sip smoothies or nosh on tasty bites like quiche and homemade trail mix cookies. As their website says, it’s where snacking gets real.   •   St Vrain Cidery is hosting a Cheesemaking 101 class on May 29 with hard cider pairings, of course. The part you’re probably not expecting is the baby goats! Briar Gate Farm is bringing some adorable kids for you to snuggle and take selfies with at the end of the class.   •   I guess the theme of this month is Longmont food. Growing Gardens Longmont will become home to a second Cultiva Youth Project, a program where teens learn to grow organic produce for the community while also building leadership and job skills. Who doesn’t like food on a mission?