5 Reasons to Attend Culinary School in Denver, Colorado

For outdoor enthusiasts, Denver is one of the most popular getaway spots in the country. Breathtaking scenery, a vibrant culture and a relaxed feel make this Colorado city a wonderful place to visit, but it can also be a fantastic place to call home. An increasing number of culinary students are turning to Denver cooking schools for their education, and it is easy to see why. Here are five of the top reasons to attending a Denver culinary school.

1. Large Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Denver is a major tourism destination, and the city is rapidly growing with each year. For aspiring culinary professionals, this is the perfect place to become trained in the culinary arts. With so many hotels, bars, restaurants and catering companies requiring staff, it will be much easier to secure employment after graduation.

2. Frequent Festivals for Foodies

The day to day dining scene in Denver is fantastic, but food lovers will definitely appreciate the frequent festivals that take place throughout the year. Whether you are crazy for Italian specialties or you want to get in touch with your Irish roots, there is a festival that embraces the culture and culinary style you are searching for. Just a few of the biggest annual events include Denver Restaurant Week, the Denver International Wine Festival, the Great American Beer Festival, Denver Indian Market, A Taste of Colorado and Festival Italiano.

Explore your options for attending cooking school in Denver, Colorado.

3. Engaged and Interested Dining Population

In cities where the dining scene is generic and bland, chefs are rarely challenged and inspired to create truly amazing cuisine. In Denver, however, culinary professionals will be pushed to perform at the highest level. Diners in Colorado are eager to enjoy the highest-quality food, and they are well-versed in everything from seasonal ingredients to French preparation styles. As a chef working in Denver, you will be able to learn from the best and get informed feedback from those who enjoy your cooking.

4. Exciting Late-Night Scene

If you plan on working within the hospitality industry, you should expect an atypical schedule. It is not at all uncommon to work six days each week or work a late shift that ends at midnight. Thankfully, Denver has a vibrant nightlife scene that doesn’t fade out too early. Whether you want to sip beer at a microbrewery or dine on some fabulous local cuisine well after midnight, you can do it all in Denver.

5. Diverse Dining Options

No matter how much you love to cook, there will also be plenty of times when you prefer to have someone else do the work in the kitchen. Thankfully, Denver has hundreds of options for dining on a budget. Authentic New York pizza by the slice, large portions of Mexican favorites, Middle Eastern cuisine after midnight and Chinese buffets are all great options that are much-loved by culinary students in Denver.

Attending a cooking school in Denver is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring chefs. Not only will you get to taste the incredible local cuisine, you will also be able to get your foot in the door thanks to the rapidly growing culinary and hospitality industries in the city.

Find out more about schools around that country offering culinary arts degrees in many areas of the food industry. Visit Cooking-Culinary-Arts-Schools.org.

Where To Eat in Denver

As the capital of Colorado and a major tourism destination in the Rocky Mountains, it should come as no surprise that millions of visitors from around the world head there each year to take in the scenery and the attractions. Of course, no vacation would be complete without sampling some of the amazing local cuisine. Whether you are looking for authentic food on a budget or you want to enjoy the best gourmet fare in the city, this list has all the top restaurants in Denver, Colorado and will answer the question, “Where should I eat in Denver?”

Taqueria Patzcuaro

Colorado is firmly located in the Southwest, and visitors should definitely try to experience some of the local cuisine at least once during their stay. If you are on a budget, nothing beats the incredible flavors and fresh ingredients of Taqueria Patzcuaro. Like the name suggests, the specialty of the restaurant is certainly the taco. Choose the spicy beef tacos with chunks of green chile to fit in with the locals.

Breakfast King

If you are struggling with jet lag and you want a filling and hearty meal at any time of day or night, the Breakfast King is a great choice. Open 24 hours a day, this dining spot is popular both with college students enjoying a midnight feast and seniors who wake up early for Sunday morning breakfasts before church. Although the menu features plenty of American staples, you will want to stick with the delicious breakfast dishes no matter what time of day it might be.

Buckhorn Exchange

Visitors who want to try some unusual cuisine and get a feel for the Western traditions of Colorado will want to make reservations at the Buckhorn Exchange. This is the oldest restaurant in all of Denver, and it first opened its doors to diners in 1893. The decor is kitschy and themed like the Wild West, but the menu is anything but ordinary. Along with incredible local steaks and fresh regional produce, you can taste extraordinary dishes like yak steaks, ostrich, alligator tails and even rattlesnake.

The 9th Door

For a special romantic dinner or a meal to impress your guests, The 9th Door is a top pick in Denver. The menu is created in a Spanish tapas style, but there are some other Mediterranean favorites as well. You will want to order a few different small dishes to share around the table, which lets you try a bite of each flavorful appetizer before moving on to the next one. The wine list is extensive, but the Spanish reds are typically the best value for money.

Imperial Chinese

You might not expect it, but Denver is actually home to some fabulous authentic Asian restaurants. One of the best is Imperial Chinese, which has been a favorite among locals for more than 25 years. Try the Peking Duck that comes roasted right to your table, and then wrap it up in the paper-thin outer layer with fresh spring onions for a traditional Beijing treat.

On your next trip to Denver, be sure to add one or more of these exceptional restaurants to your dining itinerary for the city.

Fascinating Food Trends in Denver, Colorado

The city of Denver is the capital of Colorado, and it is also a major travel destination for those who enjoy outdoor recreation. With an elevation or more than 5,000 feet above sea level and a location between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, there can be little doubt about the incredible scenery and outdoor opportunities in and around the city. Although the Mile High City has a past that is full of cowboys and mining, it is also home to a progressive population that is interested in environmental causes and great food. The city has a limited number of common American fast-food chains like Burger King and Wendy’s, but it makes up for it by playing host to hundreds of incredible casual eateries and upscale dining restaurants. Here are a few of the many different food trends that diners can expect to see throughout the city in the future.

Green Chile Everything

New Mexico typically lays claim to the honor of putting slightly spicy green chiles on just about everything, but this city is actually giving New Mexico a run for its money. In recent years, green chile has become so popular that it is no longer contained to entrees or Mexican fare. Progressive chefs are now making things like green chile ice cream, green chile donuts and green chile fries. If you love spice in unexpected places, then you will love this hot new food trend.

Salted Beer

When most people describe their favorite beer, the word salty doesn’t typically come to mind. In the Mile High City, however, the local population is fascinated with beers, and microbreweries do just about everything to set themselves apart. To get an idea of how common microbreweries are, it is interesting to note that even the city’s mayor started his life in the city by opening up a brewery. One of the most popular new trends in beer is creating slightly salty recipes. This might sound strange, but the saltiness actually brings out the sweetness in some stouts and wheat beers. Other breweries are serving ordinary beers with a salt shaker on the side, which lets drinkers put as much or as little in the drink as they would like.

Upgraded Fast Casual Restaurants

Once you realize that chains like Chipotle, Tokyo Joe’s and Noodles & Company all got their start in Denver, it makes sense that typical fast-food chains are rare. Diners want their food to be available in a hurry, but that doesn’t mean that quality is no longer important. In the city, chefs are realizing that one of the best ways to appeal to busy diners is to open restaurants with just a few menu items, great local ingredients and classic recipes. You can have burritos, tacos, burgers, pastas and Asian dishes for just a few dollars, the meal will be ready in less than five minutes and you will never have to sacrifice great taste along the way.

Upscale Breakfast Burritos

No trip to this city would be complete without a stop for breakfast from at least one of the many ubiquitous street vendors in the downtown area. Although you can find a range of items for sale, the most common in the breakfast burrito. These are not the typical greasy burritos that get filled with sub-par ingredients. These enormous burritos are filled with bold flavors and local ingredients that set them apart from any breakfast you have had before. Vendors are catering to local tastes and offering things like fresh basil, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and even sliced filet mignon in these portable delights.

These food trends are some of the most popular things to hit the dining scene in Denver, Colorado, and they are likely to become permanent staples of the local culinary landscape. If you are among those who love to taste lots of great foods and you also have a passion for trying your own techniques in the kitchen, maybe enrolling in cooking school is the right turn for your career. Find out the wide range of opportunities awaiting you at www.cooking-culinary-arts-schools.org.