The Cricket Challenge Pushes Chefs’ Creativity with Weird Ingredients

Some of Denver's top chefs have banded together this month to raise money for No Kid Hungry. Since the beginning of September, Culinary Cricket Challenge chefs have incorporated more challenging ingredients into their menus, everything from huitlacoche and insects to durian or banana flowers, testing their creativity and broadening the palates of their guests while raising money for a great cause at the same time.

From Thursday, September 22 through Saturday, September 24, the chefs from Steuben's Uptown, Uncle, Beast + Bottle, Linger, and Nocturne will have their turn at cooking with ingredients like beef tongue or pig's head.

Your part is to go to these fine establishments and try the daring dishes prepared for this challenge. Proceeds from the dishes are supporting No Kid Hungry Colorado and its Cooking Matters programming.

There is more you can do: Buy the Cricket Ticket and join the fun on Sunday, October 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Avanti. A  $40 ticket includes 2 free drinks, appetizers from The Regional's chef Kevin Grossi and other Avanti restaurant concepts, and the exclusive opportunity to ask some of the 20 challenge chefs how they came up with their wildly imaginative dishes. Avanti will generously match ticket sales. Space is limited and tickets can be purchased online.

Every $1,000 raised from the challenge will provide hands-on cooking and critical nutritional education for 20 Colorado families through Cooking Matters Colorado's signature six-week courses.