When a server delivers a plate and the predominant feature is a big, split-open femur, it can be a little intimidating. There's no meat, just a scattering of greens and few dabs of sauce, but the rich aroma of beef lets you know you've made the right decision; the flame-kissed marrow inside the cross-cut of bone glistens with fat, just on the verge of melting entirely. As with the rest of the menu at Mercantile, the dish comes with seasonal touches that brighten the unctuous marrow; the winter incarnation comes with blood orange, shaved fennel and oxtail marmalade.
See also: 100 Favorite Dishes: 48-Hour Short Ribs at Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery
Chef de cuisine Matt Vawter says there are several steps to creating each element of the plate. The marrow bones are iced for 24 hours and then brined in a solution that includes white wine vinegar before being roasted to order. Just before service, the marrow gets a light sprinkling of sugar that's hit with a torch, just like Crème brûlée, adding a hint of caramelized sweetness. Blood orange segments are cooked down in sugar until they take on a jammy texture, while The oxtail marmalade is made from the meat of braised oxtails gets shredded and blended with cooked down shallots.
Last season's presentation included bacon jam and paper thin radish slices on a plate dotted with house mustard, but no matter what the accompaniments, Mercantile's marrow is a mouthwatering and meaty butter substitute when spooned onto chewy slices of lightly grilled bread. Or just eat it straight from the bone, spooned up with little bites of the sweet and tart sides.
In advance of the Best of Denver 2015, we're loading our plates with contenders for the best dishes in the city. And over the next few months, we'll be sharing many of them with you, counting down (in no particular order) one hundred of our favorite dishes before the the Best of Denver 2015 hits the streets on March 26. In the meantime, if there's a dish you think we need to try, tell us about it in the comments section below, or shoot us an e-mail at [email protected].
Hungry for more? All the dishes in our 2014 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Chile Relleno at La Fiesta No. 99: Gurage Kitfo at Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant No. 98: Cochinita Pibil at Work & Class No. 97: The Greggers Tongue Sandwich at Olive & Finch No 96: Baum Cakes at Glaze by Sasa No. 95: Goat hot pot from Viet's No 94: Head cheese from Beast + Bottle No. 93: Kettle Chips from Amerigo Delicatus No. 92: Pork Belly Confit at Solera Restaurant and Wine Bar No. 91: Tacos Campechanos from La Calle Taqueria No. 90: Biscuits from Denver Biscuit Co. No. 89: Clams and Chorizo at Gozo No. 88: Aburi Sushi at Sushi Den and Izakaya Den No. 87: Kimchi and Sausage Torta at City, O' City No. 86: Mar y Tierra Molcajete at Paxia No. 85: Crispy Pork Spare Ribs at Table Top No. 84: Chips and Dip at Euclid Hall No. 83: Chile Relleno Burrito at El Taco de Mexico No. 82: Scallop Crudo at Stoic & Genuine No. 81: Ceylon Curry Dosa at Khazana No. 80: The Lambada Torta at La Torteria No. 79: Pork Bulgogi at Dae Gee No. 78: the Pulled Pork Pig Pen Sandwich at Boney's No. 77: IPA Mac & Cheese at Hops & Pie No. 76: Chiles en Nogada at Chili Verde No. 75: Udon Noodle Bowl at Bones No. 74: Cinnamon Rolls at the Duffeyroll Cafe No. 73: Smoked Turkey Croque-Madame at Acorn No. 72: Pickled Lake Michigan Perch at Trillium No. 71: Oysters at Jax Fish House Glendale No. 70: Venezuelan Tostadas at Empanada Express Grill No. 69: Tahini Cauliflower from Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs No. 68: The Ham and Cheese Tartita from Maria Empanada No. 67: Ronnie's Favorite from Rosenberg's Bagels and Deli No. 66: Shoo-fly Pie from the Long i Pie Shop No. 65: Czech Potato Pancakes at Sobo 151 No. 64: Fried Chicken at the Post Brewing Co. No. 63: Braised Brisket Sandwich at Masterpiece Delicatessen No. 62: The Scotch Egg from Argyll Whisky Beer No. 61: Butternut Squash Ravioli at DiFranco's No. 60: Sesame Balls at Vinh Xuong Bakery No. 59: Curry Puffs at Suvipa Thai Food No. 58: Diavola Pizza at Pizzeria Locale No. 57: Chorizo Breakfast Stew at DJ's 9th Avenue Cafe No. 56: The Rare Beast Sandwich at Salt & Grinder No. 55: 48-Hour Short Ribs at Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery
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