Throughout August, the month that in 1876 that Colorado officially became the 38th state of the US, the team at Big Red F Independent Restaurant Group is dedicating the entire month to celebrating the agricultural bounty that makes this state so special.
For the rest of the month, all Big Red F restaurants + concepts – Centro Mexican Kitchen, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, The Post, West End Tavern, Wonder Press Juice and Velvet Elk Lounge – will offer special dishes and beverages made almost exclusively with Colorado grown and sourced products.
Additionally, on 8/1, a playlist of all-Colorado musicians will be live from 4-6pm at every location, guests will receive 20% off of all merch and a portion of proceeds from all Big Red F locations will benefit Hunger Free Colorado.
“Working with local farmers, ranchers, and fishers is one of the best parts of what we do. These relationships go way beyond ingredients—they’re about supporting each other, sharing stories, and staying connected,” says Sheila Lucero, Centro Mexican Kitchen & Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar Culinary Director, Big Red F. “Colorado has so much to offer year-round, and it’s exciting to keep celebrating that—not just in August, but twelve months a year.”
“Dedicating an entire month to celebrating Colorado ranchers and growers across all Big Red F restaurants enables us to have a more positive impact economically on our long-standing partners. We source from them year-round, but by celebrating Colorado cuisine, everyday comfort foods like The Post’s bison burger, for example, helps us get full circle, faster, with our guests and purveyors,” says Kevin Grossi, The Post and West End Tavern Culinary Director, Big Red F. “As an independent group working locally and with multiple locations, we can further support our local agricultural community by sourcing and highlighting incredible fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and grains, and beverages.”
Guests can enjoy a range of beers and spirits made locally as well as ingredients sourced from all four corners of the state by way of special Colorado Month menus at all locations, including:
Centro Mexican Kitchen: Colorado Tomato and Watermelon Gazpacho with Yellow Pepper Salsa & Croutons (tomatoes will be sourced from Tuxedo Farms, Munson Farms and Cure Organic Farm; watermelon is coming from Dionisio Farms in Pueblo
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar: Crispy Skin Alamosa Striped Bass with Olathe Creamed Corn & Heirloom Tomato Pico (striped bass is farmed in Southern Colorado; Olathe corn and heirloom tomatoes will come from Tuxedo Farms on the Western slope)
The Post: Rock River Bison Burger with Hazel Dell Mushroom Cheese Spread & Hatch Chili Aioli on a Harvest Moon Black Sesame Bun (the bison meat is sourced from Rock River Ranches, mushrooms from Fort Collins’ family-run Hazel Dell, hatch chiles from a co-op of farms in Pueblo, and the bun from Harvest Moon Baking Company)
West End Tavern: in addition to special drinks all month long made from Colorado spirits, food and beverage flight specials include:
- Colorado Platter, including Smoked Elk Sauage, house-made Giardiniera, Kraut, Pickles (all from Colorado produce), Beer Mustard & Toast Points
- Colorado Single Malt Flight: Stranahan’s, Spirit Hound, Boulder
- Breckenridge Distillery Flight: Rum Cask, Sherry Cask, Single Barrel
- Limited Edition West End Single Barrel Bottle of Breckenridge Bourbon
Wonder Press Juice: guests can stop in all month and purchase fresh Palisade Peaches
Velvet Elk Lounge: this beloved live music venue will offer cocktail specials all month featuring spirits from Colorado distillers as well as:
- Rock River Bison Burger with Hazel Dell Mushroom Cheese Spread & Hatch Chili Aioli on a Harvest Moon Black Sesame Bun (the bison meat is sourced from Rock River Ranches, mushrooms from Fort Collins’ family-run Hazel Dell, hatch chiles from a co-op of farms in Pueblo, and the bun from Harvest Moon Baking Company)
- Crystal Whiskey Martini featuring the Post Beer collaboration with Untitled White Whiskey, St-Germain & Orange Bitters
Big Red F’s Colorado Month kicks off on Friday, August 1, and specials run all month long. We’d welcome the opportunity to connect you with Sheila, Kevin or any of the purveyors they’re partnering with for additional color and commentary.