Suffice it to say that I eat out more than the general population, unless, of course, the general population can catalogue more than 450 restaurant meals in a year -- which is about the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I stomached in 2012. Pathetic, isn't it? But all those food dates are worth the gluttony, because it allows us to tell you where you should eat, a little favor that we started in late 2009, when we embarked on a culinary journey that took us through our favorite dishes in the Mile High City -- 100, to be exact. Now we're back with round three, counting down (in no particular order) 100 more of our favorite dishes in Denver (and Boulder). If there's something in particular that you think we need to try, reveal it in the comments section below, or shoot me an e-mail at [email protected].
No. 86: Watermelon and frisée salad from EDGE
Watermelon salads are here, there and everywhere, the proliferation of which is enough to make us yawn with apathy. But, like most things, not all watermelon salads are created equal, and at EDGE, the restaurant inside the ritzy Four Seasons, chef Simon Purvis proves that he has a knack for elevating the crimson flesh to cult status.
See also: - Simon Purvis, exec chef of EDGE, on the customer he thought he murdered - Round two with Simon Purvis, exec chef of EDGE at the Four Seasons - Feast with the 1-percenters at Edge in the Four Seasons
The salad, which is only served during lunch and is part of the restaurant's new "15 Salads in 15 Minutes for $15 and Under," exposes a wreath of sweet watermelon, shaped like triangles, that are brightened by curly leaves of frisée -- one of my favorite lettuces -- and ribbons of salty pancetta, which give the dish both texture and an aggressive punch. The greens are dressed with a refreshing Riesling vinaigrette, and the harmonious huddle of flavors -- sweet, salty and just a subtle whisper of bitterness from the frisée -- equates to a summer salad that's a slam dunk, especially when the steam of the sun is beating on your back.
Hungry for more? All the dishes in our 2013 countdown are linked below:
No. 100: Foie gras oysters from Sushi Sasa No. 99: Porchetta from Parisi No. 98: chocolate caramel sea salt tart from Spuntino No. 97: Nachos from the Pioneer No. 96: Fried pickles from TAG Burger Bar No. 95: Breakfast burrito from Jalapeños Mexican restaurant No. 94: Jajangmyeon from Yong Gung Dragon Palace Chinese Restaurant No 93: French fries from Jonesy's EatBar No. 92: Fried rice from Benihana No. 91: Lobster macaroni and cheese from Mizuna No. 90: Schezuan beef in numbing chile oil from Chef Liu's Authentic Chinese Cuisine No. 89: lamb tartare from Epernay No. 88: Reuben from the Bagel Deli No 87: Wood-fired chicken from Pizzeria Basta
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