On November 20th, Beaujolais and Beyond —the city’s most regal food and wine festival—returns once again to ReelWorks in Denver. And as is customary, the French American Chamber of Commerce Rocky Mountain (RMFACC) has added a theme to this year’s B&B called “Nights In Monte Carlo,” one that centers around casino play.

To find out more about the theme, along with what other goodies attendees can expect, I reached out to RMFACC’s Executive Director, Sacha Francois.

When it comes to the theme, according to Francois, “[The theme] takes things to the next level, transforming ReelWorks Denver into a glamorous casino lounge inspired by the French Riviera. Picture velvet tables, roulette wheels, martinis, and live French disco-lounge beats.”

Of course, this means people will be able to do a little gambling then, right?

“Yes, guests can play! Each attendee receives casino chips with their ticket, and can try their hand at blackjack, roulette, craps, or the prize wheel, all for fun and charity. It’s non-monetary gaming, but guests can win exclusive prizes and even earn entries toward the grand prize: two round-trip tickets to Paris via Dublin with Aer Lingus.”

And for my money, nothing goes better with gambling than fine foods and wines; something Francois said would be in abundance.

When it comes to the beverage selection, she explained that, “While the Beaujolais Nouveau remains the star, the wine and spirits program offers much more. Guests can enjoy unlimited inclusive pours throughout the night, featuring Beaujolais Nouveau, French Chardonnay, and Grenache from the South of France, and premium VIP selections revealed a week before the event. There will also be tastings of French Cognac and Gin from select partners.”

The food, prepared by chefs representing the best of Colorado high-end cuisine, is set to be just as stunning.

“Many of our featured chefs come directly from the RMFACC community, where long-term partnerships have been built. Returning restaurants, bakeries, and chocolateries include Chez Maggy, Bistro Vendôme, Coohills, La Belle French Bakery, Bibamba, and Altamira (though they are B2B and not a restaurant).”

She continued, “New participants this year include Corsica Wine Bar, Le Bilboquet, Patsy’s Oysters & Southern Fare, Savencia Fromage & Dairy, Frank & Roze Coffee Co., Captain Crepe,s and Stargazer Fine Chocolates.”

During this part of the interview, Francois also made mention of something they are doing this year to help those restaurants.

“We also acknowledge that the restaurant industry continues to face challenges. When community favorites like Noisette closed, it reminded us why supporting these chefs matters so much. This year, we made an intentional effort to highlight each chef’s story through video and storytelling.” She said that on their official website is where each restaurant’s “Beaujolais Story” can be found.

Given that one of the major reasons for this annual event is to help businesses in the local community, this effort in bringing a spotlight on these restaurants isn’t surprising.

When it comes to the charity aspect of B&B, Francois stated, “It’s a fundraiser that supports the Rocky Mountain French-American Chamber of Commerce (RMFACC), a nonprofit spanning five states: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Our mission is to connect, promote, and support French and American businesses and professionals through networking, cultural exchange, and economic impact.”

She stressed that in addition to helping support the community, getting a ticket also allows unlimited food and drink tastings, along with everyone the ability to vote on those same tastings for an awards presentation later that night—helping to provide for an incredibly immersive experience.

At the end of the interview, I wanted to know what makes this event so special for Colorado?

“It’s like that La Femme song, ‘Cool Colorado.’ Colorado is cool! We do cool things, and we host one of the largest Beaujolais events in the country that benefits the entire Rocky Mountain Region. This is all about growing the French-American connection and discovering new wine and restaurants in Denver.”

With the RMFACC showing so much love for the state, please show that love right back by picking up the remaining tickets here and enjoying a night of fine food and fine wine, all via Monte Carlo.