Forget dainty party food. This grilling challenge is about meaty fare for hearty appetites. Guests win as Denver chefs compete in a sliders and sides competition with tastes featuring Tyler Wiard's Cubano slider and Jennifer Jasinski's brat version on a breztel bun. Proceeds benefit Denver Health Foundation's men's health programs. Wed 6-9 p.m.

Get your smoke on! In celebration of the "holiday," party goers can spend the afternoon sipping cocktails ($4.20 drink specials all day long), digging into a plate of smoked pork complete with all the southern fixin's, and relaxing to live music from bluegrass band Blow the Vault. Sat 2 p.m.-close.

A collaboration among some of Denver's most talented chefs, FIVE kicks off its sixth season with an elite roster: Matt Selby of Corner House, Ian Kleinman of the Inventing Room, Sean Yontz of Pinche Tacos, Jorel Pierce of Euclid Hall, and sommelier Jonathan Greschler of Old Major. Yontz holds the honor of head chef for this premier dinner—part of an ongoing monthly series.

Two generations of winemakers meet five courses of modern American food.

Trade in desks for grills and pens for tongs—you're now enrolled in BBQ University. Steven Raichlen, award-winning author of eight barbecue books and host of PBS series Primal Grill and Barbecue University, leads this culinary workshop on mastering the grill.

In need of a sugar fix? Learn the art of treat making from TAG pastry chef Noah French. Students will learn proper technique (how to properly mix a chocolate soufflé) as well as take home recipes for show-stopping desserts including caramel walnut turtles. Sat noon-2 p.m.

Who says you can't grow grapes in Colorado? With more than 100 vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms across the Centennial state, the wine scene is growing. This festival—and culmination of Colorado Wine Week—celebrates the best our state has to offer.

'Tis the season for firing up the grill. Attend this interactive cooking class to brush up on grill basics and learn new techniques for preparing summertime favorites like chicken, veggies, and s'mores with new culinary flair. It wouldn't be a proper barbecue without a cool brew, would it? Enjoy a selection of local, seasonal beers to compliment your freshly grilled fare. Sat 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Need a good excuse to indulge? How about a charity event—in the form of a six-course wine-paired dinner and after-party—benefiting Brent's Place, a organization providing safe housing for children with cancer and their families.

Presidents, families, and staffs shuffle in and out of the White House every four to eight years. But, from George Washington to Barack Obama there's been one consistency: Every president has has an African-American head chef or assistant chef in the kitchen.