Entertaining done right in Denver

If you really want to impress your friends, why not learn from the pros how to cook a meal fit for a king? Cook Street teaches students to cook professionally, but also has recreational classes for the rest of us. With over 40 classes available and teachers that actually help you to learn and use skills for your cooking, rather than just handing a recipe to you and sending you on your way. Choose from all sorts of styles of cooking and put your apron on with confidence when you go solo. Sounds like fun to me!

If you havn’t made it to this gourmet spice shop yet, you don’t know what you’re missing! When I say they have unique and hard to find spices, I mean it. The spices here will make you forget about any grocery store spice you’ve ever used before. You can smell the aromas before you even enter through the door way and you’ll have a hard time choosing just one or two to take home with you. Thihs would also make a great gift for your guests to take home to remember your gourmet dinner. Make sure to ask for a taste before you buy or just for fun. It’s like a candy store for chefs.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Whole Foods? If you’re like me, it’s produce. No doubt your meal is going to require produce and nothing but the freshest will do. Whole Foods has the freshest and one of the largest assortments I’ve ever seen. Outside of a farmer’s market, you don’t get much fresher than this. And at Whole Foods you can be proud to serve organically grown fruits and vegetables for an extra nourishing meal.

This bakery makes it easy to kill two birds with one stone. First search for a loaf or two of bread to accompany dinner or your cheese course. Then, look through the glass at the sweet pastries and desserts to end your evening. Finally, mark your calendar to treat yourself to a home- baked breakfast the morning after you treat your guests to this wonderful evening.

One of the most important things to think about when you entertain is the settings. From serving ware to glass ware, linens and decor, Sur la Table (if you say it with a French accent you’ll sound even better) has everything you need. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, just think of the basics. Dishes, glasses, a new tablecloth and napkins and maybe even place card holders if you’re planning a sit down meal and want to mix the crowd up. Sur la Table rules when it comes to entertaining.

When making dinner, most of us start with the protein first. Oliver’s is a family owned shop with a meat counter filled with sausages, lamb, poultry, veal, steaks and even seafood. Stop here for the main course and you may even leave with some pasta and olives. this is a great shop worth the trip for great meat.

If dinner is on Saturday, head to Mondo Vino on Friday between 2-7 for their regular wine tasting(also every Saturday.) If you don’t find the perfect selection from what you sampled, the very knowledgable and friendly staff at Mondo Vino can recommend a wine to go with almost anything you are preparing. Tell them what you are cooking and how much you want to spend and you’re likely to get just the perfect pairing. I always suggest one bottle extra than what you think you need for those friends who just don’t want to leave. Having a wine for the cheese and another for dinner will really make for a perfect meal. Malbec? Pinot Noir? Pinot Gris? Maybe all three!

Leave some of the work of entertaining to the professionals. I suggest ordering flowers to be delivered just in time so they are fresh and fragrant and blow your friends away. Babylon Floral designs exquisite arrangements for any affair with an Asian flair. Using several tropical flowers in bright colors, the flowers are stunning as a centerpiece on your table or in your entryway. Ask for some candles to set the mood with flickering droplets of light. If asian-tropical isn’t jiving with your Italian or Greek feast, simply give a request to Arthur, the florist, and your wish is his command.