Dream Dinners

I know there's been a serious lack of writing here, which is mainly due to the fact that I'm not going out to eat as much. It's very sad, but thanks to the not-so-fun economy, I've chosen to eat in more.

Now, this is a big problem for me, because I am not a big fan of cooking. I love to bake, but when it comes to the main course, I'm always at a bit of a loss. I can also be incredibly lazy- again, another reason I love going out to eat! A co-worker suggested Dream Dinners to me and I decided to give it a try. I found a 15% off coupon for my first time, which made the price pretty irresistable. I think my first time was around $170.00 for 36 servings- 12 3-serving meals. Considering that I easily spend this much at the grocery store for a week, this is really reasonable. The price does vary by store, though- I noticed one in a different neighborhood was quite a bit more expensive.

Here's how it works: For my first time in, I went on the website, chose a location, then went through the menu choosing which meals I wanted. All meals come in 3 or 6-serving sizes. As time has gone on, I've been ordering 6-servings on some of our favorites and splitting them in half when I'm making them. The menu changes every month. I noticed that in the summer there were lots of grilling items- steaks, burgers, etc. With Thanksgiving approaching, they've even got a full turkey breast and all the sides. There are some items called 'Fast Lane', which are already prepared and ready to go, but these only come in 6-serving sizes.

The actual making of the meals is really fun and easy. BUT, if you're not interested in getting your hands dirty, the staff will make the meals for you for a few extra bucks ($15 at my location). You just swing by and pick them up at an assigned time. When you go in to prepare your meals, you get an apron, a little box assigned to you for your personal belongings, and a fridge area to store your meals as you finish them. The room is set up in stations for each meal, with everything you need laid out and measured. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the sign. So easy, and you can change things up a little according to your own taste.

Now for the really important part: Are they good? An overwhelming yes. I will admit, we've had maybe 3-4 meals we didn't care for, but only 1 that was inedible. I think it was halibut (or maybe cod?) and sweet potato fries. The fish was really gross, but it could just be that we don't care for fish that much. There have been plenty of really great meals, though. Our favorite so far was Gorgonzola Meatloaf- so delicious. My personal favorite was a Mediterrenean chicken and pasta dish, as well as the Coconut Shrimp. They offer such a huge variety of food that we get to switch it up a lot during the week- chicken, steak, BBQ pork, pasta... I really appreciate that.

Everything is super-easy to prepare, too. Usually just throwing it in the oven, or sauteeing something. I've seen some negative reviews of DD, so I wanted to throw in my 2 cents. It's been 4 months now and I always get excited about trying new dishes from there. I've also seen a huge savings in my bank account from not eating out so much.

Pizza: Denver Style

Okay, let's be realistic. There's no such thing as Denver-style pizza. This isn't New York, Chicago, or Naples. I think that's precisely what makes Denver a great town for a true pizza lover, though. If you're in Chicago, you're going to have a tough time finding that crispy crust you crave in a New York-style pizza. If you're in Naples, good luck hunting down a thick, stuffed pie. You're stuck with what that city has to offer, which is great if you're a purist. I'll be the first to admit, I am no pizza purist. A bit of a snob, maybe, in that I only like GOOD pizza (I'll pass on that $5 Little Caesar's crap- I'm never that desperate). If there was only "junk food" pizza on offer, I'd probably give it up for life. I like crust that's misshapen and hand-tossed, toppings with personality, and sauce that would be delicious all by itself. I won't say no if you don't cook it in a wood oven, but that's my preference.

But enough about me.

I was going to do a round-up of the best places in Denver, but I visited a place that made me stop in my tracks. Frankly, after eating Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza, I couldn’t go anywhere else.

Call me a skeptic, but I absolutely did not believe the hype about this place right after it opened. First off, I've never heard of pizza cooked over coal. Second, this place is not in a neighborhood you'd expect to find a decent restaurant. And the reviews were all far too good to be true. I had to get there as soon as possible and see for myself. It's true that Marco's neighbors aren't much to look at- a pawn shop and a bunch of empty buildings- but as soon as you glimpse into the big glass windows, you'll know it's a different world inside. The interior is warm and open, with a big bar and little pots of herbs on each table. Directly to the back are the behemoth ovens used to cook up the pizzas. The menu is split into Neapolitan style pizzas and more traditional "American" styles. I went straight for the Abruzzi Neapolitan-style, a mélange of cheeses. What arrived was simple and utterly fantastic. Every bite was pure joy, from the crispy, smoky crust to the tangy, melty toppings. Marco uses only the finest ingredients, including specially-imported flour. Don’t forget to try the crispy, baked wings either! I could eat this for the rest of my life.

Alright, so I have eaten other pizza in Denver, and man (or woman) cannot live on Marco’s alone (as much as I would love to). Here are some other places worth trying:

The Walnut Room- Everyone recommends the Walnut, but I really like the Mean Green Supreme and Bourbon BBQ also. They also serve cheap PBR, which is a major plus in my book.

Buenos Aires Pizzeria- Don’t confuse this with the much-swankier Buenos Aires restaurant just up the street. Also be sure to supplement the pizza with some of their famous empanadas- yum!

Edgewater Inn- Some people think the Edgewater Inn’s pizza is overhyped, but I love it for its simplicity. It’s good old-fashioned pizza done right, no frills.

Cupcakes, Part Deuce

Lovely Confections: I stopped in here after work to pick up some dessert. The shop was clean and looked more "cozy" than the first time I was there. Perhaps it was because there were actually cupcakes in the display case! I will forgive that first time I stopped by when they were all sold out- they hadn't been open long and it was a holiday. The woman working there was very friendly. Everything on display looked gorgeous. There weren't tons of flavor choices, but that's not always a bad thing- you have to know what you do well and just do it. I can respect that. I ended up with one chocolate-chocolate for the boyfriend and one coconut for me. You can tell a lot of love goes into making these things. Mine sparkled with tiny shreds of fresh coconut, while the chocolate was generously sprinkled with bits of chocolate.

All of this aside, we know what's most important in a cupcake and that is flavor. I'm going to have to judge Lovely Confections' cakes in two separate pieces: the cakes and the frosting. Some people are cake purists, some are all about the frosting. Since I fall into the latter category, I really enjoyed my cupcake. There is no skimping on frosting with these babies- it's thick, thick, thick, but not overly sweet. For my cake lovers, you might be a bit disappointed. I found the cake fairly dry and dense without much flavor. Tasting it on it's own, I couldn't discern any particular flavor.

Overall, not a bad choice, but I don't see myself coming here repeatedly.

Pros: Beautifully presented; friendly service; clean shop; good frosting
Cons: Pricey ($3 each); not tons of flavor options; boring cake

Update:

I revisited the Shoppe the other night after the Colfax Cruise, and I wasn't in the mood for a cupcake. Say WHA?? It's true. I have been on a cereal kick, so I decided to take advantage of the cereal bar aspect. I ordered a S'mores extravaganza bowl- Golden Grahams, marshmallows, and chocolate chips all served up with a big, cold carafe of organic milk. I am in love. Delicious, sugar-coma love. (BTW, this is big enough for two, easily) Check it out:

Updates a go-go

No, I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. But, I am trying to build a new site, cause this one is kinda ugly. So, I'll be working on that for you.

I know things have become a bit cupcake-centric around here, and I apologize, but it's going to continue for a little while longer. I have been given lots of suggestions for other places I have to try, so I'm in the process of trying them. These are going to be Lovely Confections, Tee & Cakes in Boulder, and Mulberries. Watch for those updates SOON! That's all for now, and thanks to those of you who have been emailing me and paying attention.

Denver Cupcakes

As much as I love Denver, when it comes to the cupcake revolution, we are a bit behind. Institutions such as the Magnolia Bakery in New York City have been around since the mid-90's. I hadn't given much thought to it until I took a trip to Seattle last year. While waiting for a table at the amazing Mashiko Sushi Bar, we wandered the neighborhood and ran across Cupcake Royale. All of their little cakes looked like works of art. We agreed to stop by after eating and get some to go. Unfortunately, dinner took longer than expected and Cupcake Royale was closed when we left. We never made it back, but the cupcakes came up again and again.

Why didn't we have anything like this in Colorado? Sure, there are bakeries that sell cupcakes, but I wanted a pure cupcake bakery. I decided that for my boyfriend's birthday this year, I was going on a mission. A mission to find some delicious cupcakes. Something not made as an afterthought, but as the main purpose of the bakery. I began asking around in October, and nobody could give me much information. Just as I was starting to give up, I browsed the latest edition of the Urban Eye email that had popped up in my inbox. Standing out amongst the ads for lofts and art shows was a Grand Opening announcement for Yum Yums Delights. Somebody heard my cries.

Yum Yums Delights is an adorable little shop in the Denver Pavilions. Owners Tara and Heather were incredibly helpful and friendly from my initial phone inquiry to when I picked up the drool-inducing Chocolate Dutchess dozen I had ordered. The chocolate-on-chocolate cakes were perfect. They stayed moist during their 3-day life span, and the frosting was light, fluffy and not too overwhelming. I give this place thumbs up for their convenient downtown location, being open until 8 pm on weeknighs, superb customer service and of course, wonderful cupcakes in many different flavors. Cupcakes run about $2.50 each.



The next cupcake shop to open was Happy Cakes, in the Highlands neighborhood. I drove by a few times to find them closed. The hours seemed erratic, so I gave up for awhile. Eventually, we were driving by on a Sunday and noticed they were open. Parking was convenient, with a small lot next door. The building is cute and the location is, of course, uber-trendy. We walked in to be greeted not by a "hello" but by a bit of a scowl on the face of the woman behind the counter. I almost expected to be told they weren't really open and just forgot to lock the door. But, no, we just got a quick hi finally in return to our own. The cupcakes looked jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Their decorations are really top-notch. I would have loved to have perused them longer, but the stare-down from the afore-mentioned woman began to make us nervous. I ordered a peppermint chocolate and a gingerbread. To go, as you can imagine. The gingerbread was tasty, but I found the cake too dense and the frosting completely overwhelming. It was so sweet I scraped some off, and I LOVE frosting. The peppermint chocolate was better, and I would have that one again. Happy Cakes is for the Highlands crowd. The same snotty service you get in every business in the neighborhood, with mediocre returns on your money. I would only go back in a pinch. Cupcakes were also about $2.50.

This weekend, a third cupcake bakery was bestowed upon Denver. The Shoppe is a far cry from both Yum Yums and Happy Cakes. First of all, this is not just a cupcake shop, but also a cereal bar. Which is awesome. Yes, you can order a big bowl of cereal here, with all sorts of toppings, if cupcakes aren't your thing. If you get tired of eating, browse the graphic design books and cute gifts. Or maybe show up on a Saturday night for some DIY crafting using the provided button maker. Located on East Colfax near the Bluebird Theater, these are cupcakes for the hipster-artist in you. The bright white room is reminiscent of a studio more than a restaurant or bakery. One of their specialty cupcakes is the Munny surprise, complete with a Munny zipper pull baked inside. I opted for a simple chocolate with cream cheese frosting. It was moist and the frosting was wonderful. A big mug of cold milk was the perfect side. Service was very friendly and it's a good place to people watch. You might feel a little out of place here if you're over 30, but it wouldn't stop me from getting my hands on the tasty vittles. Best thing about the shop is that it's open until 2:30 am on the weekends. Cupcake prices run from $1.25 to $3.50.

I want to thank the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog for being so awesome and up-to-date about all things cupcake, and Brandon for the pictures (top- cupcake from the Shoppe, middle- me enjoying said cupcake).

Taigun

There was a time, not long ago, when I thought of the suburbs as a foodie wasteland. I thought there could be nothing good to eat there, with all of the really tasty vittles relegated to downtown. To be honest, I never gave anything a chance, having lived within spitting distance of downtown for the majority of the last decade. Recently, a life-change moved me to Westminster, that most northern of Denver suburban sprawls. Thing is, I was still as hungry as I was downtown. So what's a girl to do?

My first need was sushi. If I could choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, that's what it would be. I like it all- sashimi, nigiri, inari, and mostly, the American-ized rolls. I know they're not traditional, but I passionately love things like cream cheese and avocado in my deep-fried tempura roll. Oh hell yeah. But I digress.

Sushi in the 'burbs, huh? A friend of a friend of a- well, you get the idea- recommended Taigun, which is tucked into a little strip of shopping extravagance just south of Flatirons Mall. I don't expect much when my view is of DSW and the Honeybaked Ham store. On our first trip, we almost left as soon as we opened the door. The middle of the small room was occupied by 4 adults and 5 children. Anytime the children at a table out-number the adults, I sense a mutiny coming and I don't want to be involved. Still, the sushi monster in my stomach could not be stopped. And it was long way to anywhere else.

I wouldn't suggest sitting at the sushi bar during the winter, as it is right next to the front door. Unless you like dining in the arctic of course. It does make the fish taste fresher. Taigun has an extensive list of rolls, including 6 varieties of California Roll for the less adventurous sushi-eater. Normally, we order 3 rolls per person. Bad idea at Taigun- their rolls are enormous. Bigger than any I have seen anywhere. Which is freakin' awesome of course, because 2 rolls are more than enough to fill me up there, and my pocketbook likes that.

My dining companion always begins with the Miso soup, and he attested that Taigun's is indeed excellent. I tried the vegetable tempura. For around $6, you get a huge mound of perfectly tempura'd veggies, including yams. I love yams. Then on to the good stuff: The Alaskan Dream roll is basically a Philadelphia (cream cheese, salmon) with some crab added and salmon on top. It truly is a dream. The fish was fresh and cut perfectly, with generous chunks of the delectable salmon inside. Two of our other rolls were variations of spicy tuna. Taigun's spicy tuna is AMAZING. You can see flecks of pepper and cilantro dotting the tartare-style tuna. Very spicy, very delicious. I particularly enjoyed it topping the One Night Stand roll, which consists of shrimp tempura and cream cheese.

Our second outing there was much, much quieter (no kids anywhere) and we once again enjoyed every bite. This place is great if you live out north, or just happen to be shopping at the mall. I don't know if I'd make a trip across town for it, but it definitely raised my expectations of the suburbs. I know I'll be back soon.

Victory American Grill- UPDATE

RESTAURANT UPDATE

I want this place to be good. I want to like it. I really, really do. Sam's is probably my favorite all-around restaurant in Denver and they own Victory, too. I first visited Victory shortly after they opened (at least a year ago). It's a beautiful space, truly stunning. Gorgeous high ceilings, dark wood everywhere, dramatic red velvet curtains hanging at the back and a long bar on one side of the room. You feel as though you've stepped back into the 1920's at first- it's an awesome first impression.

Unfortunately, it all goes downhill from there. I don't know why they have felt the need to ruin that 1920's, classy vibe. First ruiner: cheesy looking menus- reminded me of a cheap Italian joint. Not only are the menus ugly, but they're covered with weird, unfunny quips and "jokes". If that wasn't bad enough, someone had the bright idea to take those same unfunny jokes, type them up, FRAME them, and stick them right up on the back of those lovely dark wood booths. Maybe I'm the one missing the joke...

When we dined there on Saturday night at prime dinner time (7'ish), the place was pretty dead (although still really really noisy for some reason). The service wasn't bad at all- our server was sweet and prompt with refills, which I always appreciate. But man were there a lot of employees wandering aimlessly. It seemed like every 5 seconds another employee was walking past our table... it just felt like a constant stream. I don't know if it's where we were sitting, but it if was, they should have put us somewhere a little more 'out of traffic'.

The food- very very mediocre. Admittedly, I just had a burger rather than one of their overpriced, out-of-place entrees. But honestly, how can you be so cheap with the mushrooms on a mushroom-swiss burger? Mushrooms are cheap! There were like 5 of them on my burger though :( And they looked like those weird little canned ones that had been microwaved or something. If you can't get a burger right, I'm not paying $25 for a pasta or fish item. We didn't even bother with desserts, although I was intrigued by the flaming cherries jubillee and bananas foster. I would have felt silly ordering these in an empty restaurant- and besides, I didn't trust the cooks with an open flame.

The Corner Office

Although I don't usually like to even hear the word office on the weekends, I decided to go to The Corner Office for brunch one recent Sunday morning. Ok, so it wasn't exactly morning, it was more like 2pm. But brunch goes til 5 pm here, so it's completely acceptable to lay around in your PJ's all day and stroll in for breakfast food well into the afternoon.

I actually wouldn't have even thought to try this place for food, as I was under the impression from driving past it that it was mostly just a bar. I was also a bit put-off by the location directly under the new downtown student housing for the Auraria campus, at 14th & Curtis. It is actually a part of the cool-looking new Curtis Hotel, which takes up the first several floors of the old Executive Tower building, so my cafeteria-food, college-bar fears were abated.

I have been on a mission for years to find chicken and waffles, if for no other reason than the sheer novelty of the dish. When I heard that the Corner Office had this item on their menu, I knew I had to be there. Now.

I did indeed get the chicken and waffles, with a side of toast and Nutella (yums!). The toast turned out to be wholly unnecessary. After a bit of a wait (no biggie, as I had nowhere to be on a lazy Sunday afternoon), a massive pile of 4 huge chunks of fried chicken (1 wing, 2 legs and a thigh I believe) on top of a big ol' Belgian waffle was plopped down in front of me. It was all covered in a melty delicious goo of grease and powdered sugar. The fried chicken was wonderful and cooked perfectly. The waffle stayed crisp and sweet under all that deliciousness. It was quite a wonderful, if not coma-inducing, experience. I imagine this is the best hangover food out there.

The rest of the menu looked very promising- lobster mac n cheese, Asian noodle bowls, etc. It's all on the website, and honestly, my eyes were focused on the chix n waffles from the beginning. I know I'll be back though. The prices are also quite reasonable... our total bill for 2 orders of the aforementioned entree, side of Nutella-y toast, side of potatoes and 2 sodas was around $32. Average entree price seemed to be about $9.

I love the decor, too. Very 70's retro, but done in a very tasteful way with a modern touch. We sat in a grandmas-couch colored booth next to some wood paneling under a beautiful multi-colored tile wall. Another wall was covered in clocks all set to 5 pm. Cozy and hip at the same time. Service was friendly and fast too. Highly recommended!

Cuba Cuba Cafe

I've been wanting to go to Cuba Cuba forever, and I'm not sure why I haven't- I only live a couple of blocks away. I finally got my chance for a family celebration recently. Walking in, you feel like you're entering a (very cool) friends house. It may feel that way because, well, it is a house. Two houses to be exact, cobbled together and painted a soothing, tropical shade of turquoise. Note the (fake) palm trees out front, and you'll feel transported to an illicit country-which-shall-not-be-named.

We started out with a pitcher of tasty, tasty Mojitos... or 'swamp water' as pops refers to it. They're an awesome deal- the waiter said we'd get 8 drinks out of the $35 pitcher, but we managed around 12 (3 each for a group of 4 of us sharing). Even after my big meal I was still tipsy. Score! The rest of the fam was happy with the bottled Red Stripe, which you can't find everywhere in Colorado.

We are kind of picky about our Cuban food, having lived in Florida for many years. I am also skeptical of paying a lot of money for it, since you can buy it for next to nothing down there. I was happy to see all my Cuban favorites, such as Ropa Vieja on the menu. I opted for the special of the night, duck cooked 'Vaca Frita' style- crispy on the outside, juicy inside. Yummy! The paella looked delicious too. For dessert we almost all opted for the Quatros Leches... a traditional Tres Leches with chocolate milk added in. Also wonderful.

Great atmosphere, excellent service, and a happy family. I'll be back!

Steuben's

Steuben's is the latest creation from the masterminds behind Vesta Dipping Grill (aka My Favorite Restaurant of All Time). Of course, when I heard this, I got myself over there as fast as humanly possible, led by my tongue and stomach. I was not disappointed.

The atmosphere at Steuben's is sort of Brady Bunch-meets-Isaac Hayes. Wood-paneling and mirrored walls, high booths and glassware from Grandma's estate sale make the place feel hip in a homey way. In warmer times, grab a seat outside, either on the front patio (good for people watching along 17th Ave) or on the side patio (cool lawn furniture and strings of lights overhead). I haven't found a bad seat yet.

Steuben's boasts an impressive drink menu, chock full of good Flying Dog beers, old-fashioned fun drinks like Mint Juleps, Gin Rickey's, and (for the non-drinkers) Egg Creams and Yoo-Hoo. Oh, and don't forget the delicious sweet tea- a downright delicacy here in the frozen tundra of Denver.

Everything about the food at Steuben's is fun. Just looking at the menu makes me smile. If you want a comfy appetizer, go for the delectable deviled eggs. If you're feeling more adventurous, try the habanero honey fried corn- 4 little cobs of corn rolled in honey butter and coated with a spicy dusting. Yums! I know many others who swear by the gravy fries.

I've only personally tried two of the entrees on the menu, as I'm usually drawn to the wonderful sandwiches and sides. The Memphis BBQ Ribs were amazing though! Fall-off-the-bone meat, sweet and spicy sauce... mmm. Definitely a good meal. In my opinion, the macaroni and cheese entree is not the best deal. It didn't seem that much bigger than a side of mac and cheese, but it costs $5 more. The side is definitely worth it though, as it is one fantastic plate of mac and cheese. Rich and creamy, but not in an overwhelming way. Some other entree offerings include Cioppino, Fried Chicken and a Vegetarian Chile Relleno. Specials are also offered nightly, featuring items such as Prime Rib and Carne Adobado.

Now for my favorite part of Steuben's. The sandwiches! I've eaten about half of the items on this section of the menu, and I loved them all. The Cubano was not quite what I used to get growing up in Florida, but still tasty- and the chimichurri is so good it's made it's way onto Vesta's menu. The Cheese Steak is out of this world! Greasy and sopping with cheese-wizzy goodness- just the way it should be. I look forward to trying the Maine Lobster Roll at some point, but I'm having trouble shelling out $16 for a sandwich.

The sandwiches don't come with sides, but the prices are very reasonable, and it's nice to have some choices. The side of Steuben's Fries are a must- tons of thin-cut fries served in a tin can. You can also choose baked beans, pickles, creamed spinach, and many other items.

Lastly, Steuben's offers a great brunch on the weekends from 10-3. The Egg in a Hole is a nice piece of toast with an egg in the middle, covered in one of the most delicious sauces I have ever had. I literally wanted to lick my plate. My dining companion ordered the Cast Iron Vanilla French Toast, which is actually battered in vanilla ice cream. How can you go wrong with that? It's also got a nice sticky caramel sauce on the top.

I have only had one less-than-stellar experience at Steuben's (one night all of our food seemed to have been marinated in garlic), but I have let that go the way of the dinosaur. Every other experience there (and there have been many, at all hours of the day and night) has been wonderful. The service is great, the prices are shockingly low for such quality, and the food is just what I would expect from the Vesta team.

Free parking is available on the east side of the building, as well as along the side streets in the surrounding area. Metered parking is available right out front along 17th Ave.

Taste of Colorado

It should come as no surprise that my favorite Denver event involves practicing the traditional Osakan sport of "kuidaore", or "eat until you drop". This year signified possibly my 10th year of attending the Taste of Colorado.

To fully enjoy the Taste, and not drive yourself crazy, it is imperative to go with a plan of action. I first decide which day would be best to go. It used to be Sundays, but the last couple of years seem to be less busy on Saturdays. I also recommend going early. It opens at 10:30am, and I try not to arrive later than 11:30. Plan on spending about 2 hours if you have gone at these slower times. If you do choose to sleep in, or put off your pigging out until Monday, plan on more like 4 hours as you will spend at least half of this fighting crowds and waiting in lines.

The festival is laid out in a large circular shape around Civic Center Park. The food is on the Capital and City and County Building sides of the circle. The middle is full of vendors selling their crap. If you don't care about said crap, and want to skip some crowd-surfing, cut through the very middle of the park by the main stage to avoid these very crowded areas.

I also like to take a look at the Taste's website before I go and decide what I really must have. That way I can keep an eye out for these places and not fill up or spend all my money before I've made it to them.

So, with this plan, I attended not one, but two days of Taste of Colorado madness. The first trip was on Saturday morning around 11am. It was cloudy and about 50 degrees outside. We parked approximately 2 blocks away for $5. Thanks to being early and having cooler weather, it was busy, but the lines were very short or nonexistent. The second trip was Monday at around 2pm. The temperature was now around 70+ degrees and sunny. As a matter of fact, around all those people with the sun beating down on us, it was friggin' hot. We parked a bit further away this time and had to pay $1 more. It was unbelievably crowded. The most people I have ever seen at the Taste, and several restaurants were out of certain foods. See? This is why I follow my plan. ;)

Now on to the food! Some of my favorites this year:

Louisiana Hot Links at Alpine Sausage Company
Fried Pickles and Alligator Tail at Bayou Bob's (a perennial fave of mine)
Plantains at Caldonia's BBQ
Buffalo Nachos at Colorado Buffalo Grill
BBQ Pork Ribs at Famous Dave's
Cinnamon Roasted Pecans at Rocky Mountiain Nut Roasters
Kennebunkport Pizza at Pizzeria Mundo
RoRo's Funnel Cake with Bavarian Cream Topping
Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato and Elderflower Gelato at Panzano (where I got to meet Elise Wiggins! Yay!)

The only place I was really disappointed with was Wholly Tomato. I'd been looking forward to trying it because I'd heard so many good things about their wraps. I got a Caesar wrap and I thought it was really dry and sour. I'll probably give them another try at their actual establishment some time.

Overall, a good time was had, lots of food was eaten, but unfortunately- I did not pass out from overeating.

Next up: I hope to give Steuben's a try- it's the newest place from the owners of Vesta Dipping Grill. Upscale comfort food. Mmm...

I Ate Aspen!

I was out-of-town last weekend visiting a friend in the Aspen area. So, although I was unable to eat Denver, I was able to eat some delicious mountainy goodness. My first night in town, we didn't want to go into Aspen proper for dinner, so we headed into the closer El Jebel for sushi. One wouldn't expect much for a sushi joint in a strip mall in El Jebel, and one would be correct. I think my friend has been in the mountains too long as she actually thought that Sushi Ya Go-Go (the name really says it all, doesn't it?) was good stuff. I personally thought it was pretty nasty. One roll was decent, but only because they covered the poor quality fish with a spicy Sriracha sauce. Blech. But the El Jebowl Bowling Alley did serve a mean Flying Dog Ale.

The next day proved better for eating. After sleeping and waiting for the rain to stop (it didn't), I finally ventured into Aspen on the bus ($3.00!). I had been wanting to try The Big Wrap since I first saw it on Rachael Ray's $40 A Day in Aspen. It's in the bottom level of a little shopping center in the middle of town, and there's really no seating to speak of (a couple of chairs at a bar). I waited in the long line (after grabbing some cash from the ATM, as they don't take credit cards), and ordered a Pesto Wrap. It was a tasty burrito-like concoction with black beans, chicken, pesto and lots of other stuff. I enjoyed it on a bench overlooking the ice skating rink, which is a surprisingly boring locale in July.

We wanted to go to a decent restaurant for dinner, but neither of us could afford crazy Aspen prices. So, we checked out the bar menus at a couple of places and ended up at Jimmy's. They're supposed to have the best crab cakes ever, but they were outrageously priced even in the bar. I settled for a big old cheeseburger (a steal at $9.50 in that town) and a totally unnecessary side of mac n cheese. It was rainy and I was in need of comfort food. It was good stuff (burger was a bit overcooked), and I washed it down with a knock-you-on-your-butt Capirhina.

We later indulged in a martini at 39 degrees at the Sky Hotel. I had the Botox Martini, which I would have preferred much colder, but it still hit the spot. The atmosphere made up for it, as we lounged by a fireplace and watched people play board games.

The next morning before I left, we made a breakfast stop at Cafe Bernard on the cute little main street of Basalt. The food was just decent and the service was miserable. Probably wouldn't head back there again anytime soon (although I did score an awesome build-your-own pinhole camera at a nearby stationery store).

Capital Grille

I was lucky enough to recieve a $25 gift certificate to the Capital Grille recently. I've passed it a million times, while browsing at Z Gallerie, grabbing a latte at The Market or dining at Lime. I have to admit that the big cement lions outside sort of intimidated me. I never really figured I'd eat there. But hey... I'm not one to pass up free food.

After browsing their menu, I decided lunch would be the best option, as the prices are much lower. At dinner, that 25 bucks would have bought me like, a baked potato. So, I dragged my mom away from work and we stopped in early on a Tuesday afternoon. My first impression was not great. Don't get me wrong... the space is gorgeous. Dark woods, leather, giant paintings of horses and hunting dogs. Behind the hostess is a wall of lockers with name plaques beneath them (a veritable who's-who of Denver), containing what I assume to be frequent guests personal liquor bottles. What I didn't appreciate was a) being pushed out of the way by 'businessmen' in suits and b) feeling silly for not having a reservation at 11am on a Tuesday.

Regardless, we were sat in the lounge area near the bar (the only place you don't need a reservation for). The chairs were comfy and the atmosphere was calm. We were certainly the only people in the room not wearing suits, but the server/bartender still treated us very well. I've been to other similar establishments where you can just feel the service sizing you up. I didn't get any of that vibe here.

On to the most important thing, though: the food! Admittedly, we couldn't afford to run the gamut of appetizers, specialty drinks, desserts. Instead, I opted for what I thought would be a simple Ribeye Steak Sandwich. I should have known it wouldn't be your typical shaved-beef slices when our server asked how I'd like it cooked. What I got was an entire, beautiful, juicy ribeye steak on a warm, crusty roll. This gorgeous piece of meat was finished with caramelized onions and havarti cheese. Out of this world! It came with a side of homemade potato chips, which were a touch salty. (The best homemade chips are at Village Tavern, IMO.)

My mother chose the Parmesan Sourdough Club. This sandwich was massive, and differentiated itself from the traditional club with a smattering of prosciutto and a topping of coleslaw. Many of the diners around us were choosing the day's special- a spinach salad topped with hot, steaming steak bites.

I don't think a diner at Capital Grille could go wrong, from what I saw. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked delicious, and they clearly have a heavy amount of return visitors. It is very heavily-geared towards the urban businessman, but we were still made to feel comfortable. Valet parking was complimentary with validation- a huge plus on busy Larimer Square.

New Stuff Soon!

Don't worry- I'm still alive and I am still planning on doing reviews here. Unfortunately, I've been poor beyond my wildest dreams, so I'm not eating out much. (Why don't people ever use that term in a negative context? Maybe I should say beyond my wildest nightmares?) But, I'm going to lunch at Capital Grille this week (thanks to a nifty gift certificate), so I plan on writing up a little review for ya.

In the meantime, a couple of tidbits:

Rock Bottom Brewery has an awesome beer called Molly's Titanic Brown Ale. Yummers.

Comedy Works has delicious macaroni n' cheese wedges! They also do a mean Roy Rogers. Yep, I drank a non-alcoholic beverage at a comedy club. Everything is over-priced, but it's fun. BTW, Josh Blue is ridiculously funny.

221B Baker St. Pub

First things first: I'm hoping to integrate more beer info into this site. I'll be perfectly honest... I'm no beer expert (yet). I couldn't tell you too much about different types of hops and such, although I do know there is such a thing. And I know the general process of brewing a beer. But most importantly- I like to drink beer. I don't drink it to get drunk. I truly savor a delicious microbrew (or macrobrew if it's decent). I look forward to the Great American Beer Festival every year, and willingly dole out 40 bucks to be in the presence of greatness. As Ben Franklin said, "God made beer because he loves us, and wants us to be happy."

And now on to the review. I recently ventured out into suburbia to drink and dine at a little place called 221B Baker St. Pub. Located in the new Belmar shopping/dining/living conglomeration at Wadsworth & Alameda in Lakewood, it was actually fairly difficult to find. You can't drive past it on the street, as it overlooks a little outdoor seating area and some construction that is a future pond. We ended up parking on the street (which costs $1... silly, considering there is a ton of parking around there for free) near a directory. Luckily, we were just around the corner. For future reference, it is next door to Chama, which is visible off the street.

The atmosphere is very much like an English pub, but enormous. It's a large space, with lots of tables, nice booths and some little seating areas of comfy leather chairs. It seemed very cozy, and there were lots of people enjoying the outdoor seating (until it rained).

I considered writing solely about the beer here, because... well, I hate to write a bad review. I really do. Especially because I would go back to this place to just sit in the corner with a pint of cold Baker St. Draught (made by Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs). And I would encourage others to do just that. Just that. To start with, the service was surly at best. Not in a good way- because I highly enjoy the good kind of surly. Rather than greet us as we walked in, I felt we were intruding upon the servers, who seemed annoyed at our presence. The feeling continued with our own server, who was nice enough, but certainly didn't go out of her way.

I can forgive poor service if the food is good. I don't know if I was silly to expect good food in a Pub. I have been to my fair share of pubs in England, and the food is never fantastic. It's just food. We began our meal with a simple appetizer- chips with queso and salsa. The chips and queso were fine, but the salsa was very salty and runny. I love a really spicy salsa with lots of fresh cilantro. This wasn't it. For my entree, I opted for a simple burger with bacon, mushrooms, and blue cheese. I expect when blue cheese is offered as an optional topping for my burger that it will be actual blue cheese. What I got instead was some blue cheese dressing in a cup, on the side. Blech. The burger itself, which I ordered medium, was dry and overcooked. I didn't even finish it, or the incredibly overseasoned fries. Which for me, is rare. I like to eat, and I finish my meals. My dining companion ordered the highly-advertised soft tacos. She said they were good, but were unfortunately ruined by the bland salsa. We decided to skip dessert there, and instead headed over to Ben & Jerry's across the street. Mmm. Now that I recommend highly!

Again, I'm not saying don't go to the Baker St. Pub. The beer was awesome, and they've got a great happy hour. The aforementioned Baker St. Draught was only $2.50. I would totally go back later in the evening and hang out on the patio. I'll just eat before I go next time.

Bump 'n' Grind Cafe

First thought upon walking up to the Bump 'n' Grind Cafe at 17th & Pennsylvania: This ain't Denny's. It may have been the brightly painted walls, the disco ball, or the tempting array of baked-goods on display. Or maybe it was the male servers (poorly) dressed as women. Yeah, it could have been that.

Judging by the masses waiting for a table at 10:30 on a Sunday morning (the brunch is served 10-2:30 Saturday and Sunday), I knew this place had to be good. Our hour wait passed painlessly, thanks to beautiful weather and the walk-up coffee bar. Not to mention the entertainment. As we walked to our garden-patio style table, a passing server said nonchalantly to my friend, "You have really big boobs." How can you not love that?

Now, sometimes places with so many gimmicks do it simply to cover up poor food. This is certainly not the case at Bump and Grind. I did have one disappoint food-wise. I was agonizing over whether to order the Kevin Bacon panini or the Mexican Benedict. I finally decided on the panini (including bacon, avocado, scallions and aioli), but they were out of the necessary ingredients! Sacre bleu! So my friend and I both ordered the Mexican Benedict. Holy crap, was it out of this world! Honestly, I could go on for days. I'm not usually a big Benedict fan, because I don't like Hollandaise sauce. Fortunately, this isn't your grandma's Eggs Benedict. Delicious sweet pineapple cornbread is topped with roasted pepper slices and poached eggs, all covered in an amazing spicy chipotle sauce. The combination of sweet and spicy will blow your dang mind.

Most of the meals come with potatoes and fruit. The potatoes also have that amazing sweet and spicy flavor, but different than the Benedict. We spent a large portion of our meal trying to figure out what the flavors were in the potatoes, but to no avail. Some guesses included nutmeg, cinnamon and chile powder. Other guesses included magic fairy dust and love. Nobody knows.

Honestly, if I could eat brunch here every weekend, I would. I would want to hear my waiter tell the table next to me to 'Put your hands up. No seriously. Put your f*ing hands up!'. I would want to watch the birthday lap dance over and over again. And next time I will get my damn panini.

Cafe Gondolier

Technically, Cafe Gondolier is in Boulder. And yes, I realize this is the I Ate Denver blog, not the I Ate Boulder blog. Five years from now it's all going to be one city, though, so I'm just trying to give you a head start. You're welcome.

According to Cafe Gondolier's website, they are the oldest family-owned restaurant in Boulder. This alone makes it worth a try, no? I first ran across this restaurant when they were located on Baseline at US-36. I used to see their sign with the big advertisement of 'All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti!' and shiver inside. I figured they were just another medicore red-sauce joint trying to appeal to the CU kids with limited incomes, so I never gave it a fair try. When I graduated from that hilly mecca for hippies and Mercedes-drivers alike, I didn't think I had ever eaten at Cafe Gondolier.

I was wrong. I was fooled! Bamboozled, if you will. Cafe Gondolier had moved, and my little college brain was unable to process that the lovely Italian cafe where I enjoyed an evening before a formal event was the same 'All-You-Can-Eat' place. So, when I arrived back at the new Cafe Gondolier (17th & Pearl) this weekend, I finally put two-and-two together. Sure, it only took me 3 years, but I get it now.

No longer waving a gaudy red-and-white banner heralding cheap pasta, the cafe now seems a respectable place from the outside. Located right next to Boulder's well-known Frasca, the 'new' location offers a large, romantic patio that smartly faces East (preventing the foothills' famous winds from whisking away your napkin). Inside, cute murals of stereotypical Italian scenes adorn the golden-hued walls, and a piano player adds a bit of ambiance.

In addition to a regular menu, Cafe Gondolier also offers a tapas menu. (Wait... aren't tapas Spanish? Well, regardless...) A couple could easily make a light meal out of a few items off of the affordable list. Add a bottle of wine and call it a night. The night I visited, I had a heartier appetitite. One that could not be tamed by mere tapas! We began with a huge plate of calamari. Lightly breaded, not too chewy. Only complaint was that it came with a simple marinara sauce. I prefer a spicier sauce with calamari since it doesn't have a ton of it's own flavor. It was a large serving though, and with all that food that was to come, I could probably have gone with the tapas size.

For my meal, I surprised even myself. All these years after being a poor college student, and well into my years of making fun of poor college students... I ordered All-You-Can-Eat spaghetti. And guess what? It was freakin' amazing, and arguably the best value in Boulder. $10.95, and just an extra 2 bucks to add some delicious Italian sausage. The value doesn't stop there, folks! This 'spag' also comes with soup or salad and bread. Although I'm not sure if the bread is the same every night, we received some wonderful focaccia, that worked well to soak up the remnants of the chunky Tomato Soup with Basil and Gorgonzola. Mmm...

On my next visit (and there will be a next visit), I plan on trying one of their pizzas. I don't think the table next to us appreciated me drooling on theirs. The sandwiches also look fantastic. And if you're in the area for lunch, they do a quick take-out of spaghetti for ridiculously cheap. I will let this be yet another lesson in judging a book by its cover... or in this case, judging a restaurant by it's tacky banner. Mangia!

Sidenote

Denver (but not food) related: Check out my new Real World- Denver blog!

Best Of...

Every year I look forward to Westword's 'Best of' Issue. Pretty much everyone I know does, too. The thing is, I generally only enjoy it to hear about new places, but I don't always agree with their choices. So, here's a quick 'best of' from me (I'm sure more will be added as time goes on):

Burger: Cherry Cricket. I love that there are no pre-determined topping combos. Try the cream cheese and jalapenos on a turkey burger. Mmm.

Happy Hour: McCormick's. Twice a night, every night. $1.95 gets you a yummy burger and fries, so you have money left over for their perfectly shaken martinis.

Root Beer: Wynkoop's Tiger Root Beer.

Sushi: Expensive: Sushi Zanmai; Mid-Price: Japango in Boulder, Sonoda's in Denver; Cheap: I Love Sushi

Italian: Panzano

Mexican: El Noa Noa right now, but that changes frequently

American: Sam's No. 3

Late-Night: Pete's, of course

Pizza: Pizzeria Mundo. Try the Nantucket!

That's it for now. I'll add more as I think of things.

Fear Not!

Don't give up. I know there has been a lull, but I am not even close to done. I have tons of reviews in the pipeline, including Jack-n-Grill and Rocky Mountain Diner. 10 days of work in a row is killing me right now, and then I am on vacation 5/19-5/22 in Vegas. Maybe some Vegas buffet reviews if you're lucky ;) Keep checking back! I promise the new content is on its way!

Irish Snug

To me, a well-poured Guinness is one of the better indulgences in life. According to the brewers of Guinness, it should take 119.6 seconds to pour the proper pint. A Guinness can't be ruined by a bad pour, but it can take away much of its appeal. Luckily, the Irish Snug knows this. This cozy little bar off of Colfax is a nice change from another Irish pub chain downtown, which I haven't been a fan of for a couple of years. It was cool when I was in my partying stage and didn't realize there was life outside of LoDo. The Snug has at least 4 awesome things going for it (besides their superb Guinness pour):

1) Waffle fries! Served plain, nacho-style, or buffalo-style, and available in half-sizes. Mmm.

2) Live music

3) Free parking at the meters in the area after 6 pm (unlike downtown's 10pm)

4) Snugs! These cute little rooms are only big enough for 2-3 people, but they're great for a little quiet couples time if you want to get away from the noise and smoke. You order food and drink through a small stained-glass window that opens on to the bar. Otherwise, you are left in total privacy. Use only as directed!

So go sneak into a snug, eat some waffle fries, drink a Guinness and enjoy!

Dining Out for Life

Every year, Denver restaurants team up to raise money for an amazing nonprofit called Project Angelheart. Project Angelheart provides meals for people with life-threatening illnesses. It's a wonderful group that I have volunteered with in the past. This Thursday, April 28th, I encourage everyone to go out for an awesome meal at one of Denver's great restaurants. 25% of the money made that night will go to Project Angelheart! So, you get a great meal and you help provide meals to some people who really need them. How can you go wrong? Check out this link for a list of participating restaurants. Hint: You can even go at lunch, because all front range Tokyo Joe's and Wahoo's Fish Tacos are participating! Rock!

El Noa Noa

Speaking of patios, there is nothing I would rather enjoy on said surface than some excellent Mexican food. I always feel like good Mexican food is meant to be enjoyed outdoors. Maybe it's the fresh flavors of cilantro, avocados, and tomatoes. Or maybe I just like to pretend I'm on the beach in Puerto Vallarta while I sip my perfectly blended, icy margarita.

I recently spent a beautiful Friday evening on the excellent patio of El Noa Noa at 7th & Santa Fe, in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District (making this a perfect spot for First Friday noshing). I haven't encountered a Mexican restaurant with better atmosphere since Casa Bo. Granted, there are no cliff divers, but the food is quite edible. A large trellised wall seperates the eating area from the street, keeping out the noises of Santa Fe. On the weekends, a mariachi band plays in one corner- just loud enough to be atmospheric without being overwhelming. The patio is large enough to seat big parties, as well as give everyone the breathing room which is lacking in some more crowded spots downtown.

El Noa Noa offers some interesting, authentic dishes along with the classic chile rellenos, enchiladas, etc. I opted for the shrimp tacos on my recent trip there, and they were excellent. Large, juicy shrimp and marinated mushrooms and onions stuffed into three warm, fresh tortillas served with a massive helping of guac and chopped tomatoes. Messy but delicious! My friend (who introduced me to this fine establishment) ordered the enchiladas suiza, which were also reported as excellent.

I'm well aware that there is another Mexican joint in LoDo with a very popular patio and very popular marg's. That place is great if all you want to do is get drunk with the rest of the after-work crowd on a Friday night. But if you want to actually, say... eat, skip that bordertown cafe and make the short trek to El Noa Noa.

Patio Time!

Ahh... thank goodness for warm weather. Now, I know this is Colorado, so it could snow tomorrow, but I'm personally ready to enjoy the nice weather. One of the things I miss most during the winter is sitting out on a nice patio downtown, sharing a cool drink with friends and people watching. The time has come! Here are some of my favorite places to do just that:

Rock Bottom at 16th & Champa- Huge patio, live music in the summer, good beer
LoDo's Bar and Grill at 20th & Market- Rooftop patio, good burgers, best before a Rockies game
(I was going to include Above the Dove here, but I just found it is changing to a different name/format very soon, so it remains to be seen what the patio will be like.)
Paramount Cafe on 16th- Cheap drinks, patio gets very crowded with the after-work crowd
Rialto Cafe on 16th- Try the warm chicken salad...mmm

For lunch, check out the food court on 16th & California. The patio is on about the 3rd floor, overlooking 16th Street. Very nice in the summer.

And if I can tell you only one more thing... wear sunscreen.

Beer is Good

I am a total beer snob and I'm totally not afraid to admit it. I live in a city where beer is an art, a religion, a hobby. It's not just a drink. So, as part of this blog, I want to give you the heads up on some of the city's best hops and barley libations. Today's brewery of choice: Breckenridge. There are 3 locations of this venerable institution. The one located on Main St. in the brewery's namesake town and the location at 2220 Blake St. are both more brewpub/restaurant than straight up bar. If I want to eat with my beer, I certainly hit up the Blake St. locale, which has an awesome sausage and cheese app. But for just straight-up beer (and some not-too-shabby bbq), I recommend the location at 471 Kalamath St. You just missed the amazing Vanilla Porter (produced only Jan-Mar), but you can now get your hands on the seasonal Summerbright all the way until August. This is a fruity wheat beer that goes perfectly with a hot summer day. So go out, drink beer, enjoy the summer, and thank me later.

Victory American Grill and Bar

Let me start by saying that I had high expectations of Victory American Grill and Bar. It's not their fault, I built them up in my own head. Why? They are owned by one of my favorite little greasy spoons, Sam's No. 3. At the same time, Sam's isn't exactly where you go for the ultimate dining experience. But they do serve a mean breakfast burrito, and their green chile is out-of-this-world. And I digress, because this isn't about Sam's.

Victory is conveniently located right next door to Sam's at 15th & Curtis, just 1 block from the Denver Performing Arts Complex. This makes it an excellent location for those stopping for a quick bite on their way to the theater. The design of Victory actually reminds me of the dramatics of a theater. High ceilings, dark woods, heavy velvet curtains, and servers in the requisite black. The bar area has a couple of nice pool tables and a pin-ball machine to while the time away. Another bonus in Victory's bar: PBR. On tap! I don't remember the last time I encountered PBR on tap at a real restaurant, but I have to say- I'm impressed.

Victory's menu is eclectic and interesting. They have a decent sized wine list, and they don't seem put off by strange drink orders. Two appetizers really stand out: the Fried Pickle Spear & Pretzel Basket, which is exactly what it says. I've personally been a huge fan of fried pickles since I first tried them at Bayou Bob's Taste of Colorado booth back in 1997. They are hard to find, and they're generally made with pickle chips, so this is an interesting take. The other appetizer that you can't help but notice is the Cheese on Fire!!! (exclamation points theirs). I wasn't sure whether this involved actual flames or just heat and/or spice. The description assures that it is 'flaming saganaki'. While I have yet to order this myself, the table next to us did. Let me say that this is quite the attention getter. It is literally a flaming plate of food. They show it to everyone, who 'oohs' and 'aahs' then quickly extinguish it with lemon juice. Very cool presentation. Once again, I'm impressed. But if you prefer something less fried or flaming, I suggest a cup of the creamy, smooth lobster bisque.

In the world of entrees, Victory offers a nice selection of sandwiches, burgers, pasta and steaks, plus some specialty dishes ranging from Carribean Salmon to Pork Souvlaki. I'd describe it overall as 'upscale comfort food'. None of the entrees are offputting, but they still sound slightly fancy in a way that makes an adult feel just fine about ordering a grilled cheese sandwich or mac and cheese. Both of these involve chevre, which I enjoy just saying. I had the Victory Mac-N-3-Cheese- a beautiful amalgamation of gouda, cheddar and prosciutto baked together with that good ol' chevre on top. The mixture of cheeses wasn't too rich, as some baked mac and cheeses are, and the breadcrumbs added a nice little crunch. Filling and satisfying in the most basic way. My dining companion had the Baked Ziti, which had a delicious mix of sausages covered with a slightly spicy marinara. Many diners around us had ordered the Yiayia's Fried Chicken and it looked fantastic. It's definitely next on my list.

I rarely end a dining experience without dessert, because life is short. I realize I may be making it shorter with this bad habit, but at least I will die happy, with a mouthful of chocolate mousse. Regardless, Victory has a nice looking dessert tray. I've always loved dessert trays and I don't know why every restaurant doesn't take advantage of these. I am much more likely to be tempted when I can see that fantastic cheesecake or creme brulee than just read about it. Everything on Victory's dessert tray looked great, but we chose the Mija Chocolate Mousse Pie. Not only did it look delicious, but I enjoyed the story behind it. Apparently, it is based on an original recipe from Baur's Bakery, who occupied the space Victory is in now back in 1891. The pie was rich and chocolatey, but not overwhelmingly sweet, punctuated by slivers of toffee on top of the whipped cream.

Victory lived up to my expectations in the food department. It also has a beautiful atmosphere that can be both professional and cozy. The only problems we encountered were in the service department, but they were the problems of any new restaurant. Our waiter was exceedingly friendly, but he seemed to lack some confidence and sense of humor and was a bit slow on the clean-up side. These are all easily fixed with time and comfort in a new environment. I see great things for Victory's future, and I know I'll be back soon for that fried chicken!

Introduction

Welcome, welcome. Let me introduce myself. I am a Concierge in Denver. As such, it is my personal responsibility to know what's up in this great city's restaurant scene. Since a large part of my life is spent talking about restaurants, eating at restaurants, and reading about restaurants, I've decided I might as well write about them, too. Denver isn't known as a culinary capital (yet). I wouldn't mind being part of a force that changes that opinion. I also hope to be a resource and an inspiration. Try new places! Eat new foods! Get out there. Denver is waiting for you to eat it.