If we are what we eat, then it stands to reason that rainbow-hued food warrants a place on all our plates, whether we’re members—or simply allies—of the LGBTQ community. As the events that comprise Denver Pride get underway this weekend, Il Posto executive sous chef Zachary “Patzi” Patz is going all out to offer a dish that looks, tastes, and does good in that regard: As he explains, “I’ve had a number of LGBTQ people in my life, and this is my way of showing them my respect as well as showing them what I can do.”

Indeed, it was a former Il Posto GM, himself gay, who suggested the restaurant serve a “pride pasta”—and Patz took the idea to heart. “I’m doing seven different doughs all at once,” he says. “Most people will do two colors of pasta; even three is kind of unheard of,” especially given the space constraints in his kitchen. But, he adds, “I’m never one to turn down a challenge.”

Adapting his recipes from Pasta, Pretty Please, Patz uses both produce and spices to color his doughs: beets and paprika for red, harissa and paprika for orange, turmeric for yellow, kale or parsley for green, a special spirulina powder for blue, and blueberries and beets for purple. He then rolls the doughs out extra-thin, cuts them, presses them onto his base pappardelle dough, and repeats the rolling and cutting process.

The gorgeous finished dish (photo courtesy of Il Posto)

The result is then presented simply as a means “to showcase technique,” Patz notes. “With all these colors, I can’t do too much saucewise,” so he’s preparing a goat’s milk béchamel to dress the pasta along with a sprinkle of fines herbes and “some grilled prosciutto for a little crunch.” (Vegetarians can of course request the dish sans pork.)

Patz’s pride pasta will be available from June 14 to June 21 for $20; a portion of the proceeds from each order will be donated to LGBTQ advocacy organization One Colorado.

Of course, Il Posto won’t be the only restaurant in town to put rainbows on the menu in the name of Pride; here are a few other savory ways to celebrate, commemorate, and show solidarity:

On June 15 from 6 to 11 p.m., Ace Eat Serve takes the party outside with Pride on The Patio, where you can cool down with $6 slushies and tiki drinks, among other specials, while DJ Peach and DJ Callmedtho bring the heat.

The Bindery will be stamping various pastries with the colors of the flag for purchase all weekend; get a sneak peek at their handiwork
here.

The local beer community is a famously tight-knit and supportive lot, so when Call to Arms Brewing Company issued, well, a call to arms to their fellow brewers for participation in the inaugural Brewer’s Light Pride Parade & Rumpus, a slew of them stepped forth. A portion of all proceeds from the event, being held from noon to 6 p.m. this Saturday, will go to the Trevor Project.

Ignite Kitchen & Cocktails is kicking things off early with Drag Bingo on June 13; for the rest of the weekend, it’ll offer drink deals and giveaways while donating 10% of all sales to the Center on Colfax. For further details and entrance to a gift-card raffle, click here. (Speaking of the Center, you can also eat well and do good by purchasing Bobo’s limited-edition Pride Month Lemon Poppyseed Oat Bars; $5 of every $14.95 box sold for the rest of the year goes to the organization.)

On June 14, from 4 to 6 p.m., Molly’s Spirits will host an in-store bash with complimentary wine from House Wine’s LGBT-supportive line for pairing with free food-truck grub.

All month long, Punch Bowl Social is pouring $10 Sip & Support Pride Cocktails; $1 from the sale of each vodka- and Velvet Falernum–based concoction also goes to The Trevor Project.

All Denver locations of Snarf’s (excluding DIA) are serving up BOGO five- or seven- inch sandwiches this weekend—and all you have to do to score the deal is mention PrideFest.