Last year, over 100 guests were served, and when the night was done, just five pounds of food waste remained in the kitchen.

We think that matters. DIG is always exploring what it looks like when a meal is rooted in the land it came from, and finds its way back to the land. When food is grown, shared, and returned in a cycle that strengthens the community around it. This year, we're welcoming someone who's been asking the same questions. Paula Thomas is a Denver-based food anthropologist and sustainability educator whose work explores the deep relationships between food, culture, and the land. As co-founder of @grappolowineschool and Director of Sustainability at @olivia_pasta Restaurant Olivia, she is working to embed more intentional food practices into the restaurant industry, asking the same questions DIG farmers return to every day: how food traditions, land stewardship, and community knowledge shape resilient food systems. Join us on Sunday, April 19, 2026, for a special 20th anniversary edition of Cocktails & Castoffs, an evening rooted in food, culture, and what becomes possible when we rethink waste and reconnect with where our food comes from. Secure your spot: 🔗 in @dig_org bio