Three Denver Pop-ups Worth the Trip and Ticket

Denver diners have no shortage of new restaurants and bars to visit. Just in case all that dining out gets monotonous, though, they also can find a handful of worthwhile eating and drinking options via pop-ups held around town sporadically. The events are hosted from inside Globeville bars or South Broadway VFWs. One encourages political discussion, while another has been known to provide friendly rounds of Bingo. And while pop-ups rarely offer dishes and decor with any regularity, that’s precisely why they’re worth it.

Ramen Mafia — The passion project of a daytime distiller and an ethical coffee promoter is this nighttime ramen popup that serves up spiced bowls every few weeks or so inside unique new environs. The last two events have brought diners to the tiny To The Wind Bistro on East Colfax and the casual Veterans of Foreign Wars bar on South Broadway. At this latest, attendees paid $20 each for a large bowl of either vegetarian or brisket-filled ramen and received two Bingo cards with the promise of a variety of prizes. It’s about as laid-back as a pop-up can get, and the soup made by former Laws Whiskey and Stranahan’s distiller Jake Norris is surprisingly delicious. Word has it the next event could feature a play on tacos al pastor inside a ramen bowl. Updates are provided on Facebook.

Sunday Supper Club — A brand new event by the founder of The Long I Pie Shop combines her years of cooking, baking, and event-planning into a monthly Sunday dinner series. Shauna Lott is already known for her pies, sold from inside Fort Greene bar. But now she’s branching out with these community-style, sit-down dinners. The first, February event cost $60 and included two cocktails, appetizers, a family-style dinner, dessert, and live music. Lott will be changing her location and menu monthly, and all future dinner details, starting in March, are forthcoming. The website and Facebook are both good resources.

POTUS Pop-ups — In his written work, Adrian Miller explores the influence of African American food culture throughout history on the White House kitchen. Miller is the author of the 2017 book “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas.” His upcoming Denver events, too, include equal parts food and history: Women in the White House Kitchen takes place on Thursday, February 15, and POTUS Pop-up: We (Heart) Obama happens on February 21. That last one will provide attendees with seven courses of President Barack Obama’s favorite foods paired with his favorite drinks, prepared by chef Harold Sims. See dishes inspired by Hawaii and Illinois, from Spam musubi to a play on the Chicago hot dog.