Daniel Asher

Pastry chef Samm Sherman of Linger and Root Down teaches tonight

The Seasoned Chef Cooking School, 999 Jasmine Street, is welcoming chef Samm Sherman (of Linger and Root Down) today for a special cooking class focusing on her signature pastries. The class and tasting runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and costs $80. Keep reading for a look at the curriculum. See also: ... More >>

Photos: Linger serves up international street food and $3 cocktails for Sunday brunch

With ingredients like sambar curry, lacinato kale and pickled jalapeños, Linger's new brunch menu allows you to travel the globe without dusting off your passport. No strangers to traditional eggs and bacon, chef/owner Justin Cucci and his team also incorporate Japanese, Indian, New Orleans and Me ... More >>

Photos: Elise Wiggins, Daniel Asher and Riley Romanin take on salmon for the chance to cook at the Kentucky Derby

Earlier this week, three Colorado chefs -- Elise Wiggins (Panzano), Daniel Asher (Root Down and Linger) and Riley Romanin (Hooked in Beaver Creek) -- convened in the kitchen of Metropolitan State University Hospitality Learning Center to vie for an opportunity to cook at the Taste of Derby competiti ... More >>

Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween and more beer on the calendar this week

Despite its ongoing fight with the city, El Diablo will be hosting its annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Tuesday, October 30. And that's not the only spooky event on the culinary calendar -- there are plenty of Halloween parties that should be a real treat. Here's a taste of what's on the m ... More >>

Dine out for a good cause tonight

The thirteenth annual Flavors of Denver takes place this evening from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 1111 14th Street. The event features signature dishes from twenty local chefs, including Daniel Asher of Root Down and Linger, Mitch Mayers of Black Pearl, Jensen Cummings of Row 14, Eric Ri ... More >>

Culinary calendar: Denver Food and Wine pours into the weekend

The eighth annual Denver Food and Wine Classic -- a three-day celebration of local food, wine and spirits -- is in full swing on the campus of Metropolitan State University of Denver. And the last two days are filled to the brim with events. Here's the schedule:

A culinary guide to the Taste of Colorado

Hungry? This weekend the 29th annual Taste of Colorado will fill Civic Center Park with over sixty vendors serving up eats, as well as daily chef demonstrations, food-eating contests and cooking competitions. It's one big taste of Denver's culinary scene. Here's a breakdown of the menu:

The winning Denver Burger Battle burger is now at a Larkburger near you

The crowning burger at Wednesday night's Denver Burger Battle, at least according to the restaurant industry judges -- Hosea Rosenberg, Jenna Johansen, Daniel Asher and Max MacKissock -- was the meat candy from Larkburger, Thomas Salamunovich's fast-casual empire of artisan burger joints that got it ... More >>

Denver Burger Battle heats up Sports Authority Field tonight

The third annual Denver Burger Battle goes down at Sports Authority Field at Mile High this evening. The popular event is nearly sold out, but there are still some general admission tickets available.

Use Your Noodles

Contest: Win two free VIP tickets to the Denver Burger Battle

In less than three weeks, there's going to be a war in the Mile High City, but instead of weapons, this brawl is all about the beef, the bun, condiments, grease, blood and char. Twelve superpower burger houses and restaurants -- Larkburger, Citygrille, Crave Real Burgers, Mateo, TAG, Highland Tap & ... More >>

Reader: Celebrity Chef Tour has jumped the shark -- where's Henry Winkler?

Celebrity chefs are winging into Colorado for this weekend's Aspen Food & Wine festival, and one lands in Denver today: Amanda Cohen, chef-owner of Dirt Candy, a renowned vegetarian restaurant in New York, will be at Linger tonight as part of the Celebrity Chef Tour, a moveable feast that crosses A ... More >>

Announcement: We have a winner of our Celebrity Chef Tour contest

Amanda Cohen, the chef-owner of Dirty Candy, a vegetarian restaurant in New York that's generated national accolades, will be in Denver Wednesday night as part of the Celebrity Chef Tour, a moveable feast that traverses to venues all over America to pay homage to the late James Beard, the "father of ... More >>

Contest: Win two seats to the Celebrity Chef Tour at Linger

Next Wednesday night at Linger, local chefs Frank Bonanno (Mizuna, Luca d'Italia, Osteria Marco, Bones, Green Russell, Lou's Food Bar and Russell's Smokehouse), Eric Skokan (Black Cat Bistro and Bramble and Hare), Ann Cooper (the Renegade Lunch Lady), Daniel Asher, Samm Sherman and Justin Cucci (Roo ... More >>

Biker Jim on where he'd eat if had only 24 hours in Denver

This is part two of our interview with Biker Jim, chef-owner of Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs. Read part one of the Biker Jim interview. Jim Pittenger Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs 2148 Larimer Street 303-550-8231 www.bikerjimsdogs.com What you'd like to see more of in Denver/Boulder from a culinary stand ... More >>

Great food, greater cause: Win tickets for two to chef Paul Reilly's Eat Drink Give event on Sunday

Paul Reilly may no longer have his own restaurant -- after a last hurrah Sunday brunch, he shuttered Encore last month when he and the landlord couldn't agree on lease terms -- but he has the support of plenty of Denver chefs, many of whom will gather on Sunday for Eat Drink Give, an annual benefit ... More >>

Denver's ten best new restaurants

At the end of last year, we published our list of the ten best restaurants that had opened in 2011 -- as we saw them at the time. Over the next few months, though, as we prepared for the Best of Denver 2012, we had a chance to really digest what the 300 new restaurants had brought to the city, and o ... More >>

Rumor has it Root Down will open a location at DIA

Not long ago, searching for a decent meal at Denver International Airport was like trying to discern the literary value of the Twilight saga: it just didn't exist. But over the past few years, the concourses have picked up a few decent options, including the Chophouse on Concourse A and the wine bar ... More >>

Root Down's monthly raw food dinner tonight comes with Denver Restaurant Week price

Root Down, 1600 West 33rd Avenue, will host its monthly raw food dinner this evening, when diners can enjoy a special three-course raw, vegan dinner prepared by Raw Food-Certified chef Daniel Asher. And because it's Denver Restaurant Week, the meal will only cost $26.40! Reservations are required, t ... More >>

Fuel's Bob Blair on cooking for Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan -- journalist, advocate and patron saint of sustainability in our food system -- was in Denver this week to speak to a crowd at the Paramount about the importance of understanding where our food comes from. After his talk, he headed to Fuel Cafe, where he had a low-key, private dinner ... More >>

Where did Michael Pollan eat post-Denver speech? Fuel Cafe

If food is, indeed, the next rock-and-roll, as Ferran Adria once said, then Michael Pollan is certainly one of its superstars; the author and professor has made major inroads in how we all think about what goes into our body, using his body of work -- which includes Botany of Desire, Omnivore's Dile ... More >>

Red Star Deli, pop-up dinners and a chef series all part of chef James Mazzio's vision for Mise en Place Cooking School

It's been an interesting past few years for James Mazzio, whose culinary career took a giant leap forward in 1999, when the then-Boulder chef of the long-gone 15 Degrees, snagged a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef crown. Since then, Mazzio has cooked in numerous kitchens throughout the state, incl ... More >>

Round two with J. Michael Melton, exec chef of Zydeco's

J. Michael Melton Zydeco's 1730 Wynkoop Street 303-293-2887 www.zydecosdenver.com This is part two of my chat with J. Michael Melton, exec chef of Zydeco's. Part one of our interview ran in this space yesterday. Favorite Denver/Boulder restaurant(s) other than your own: I eat at Tom's Home Cookin ... More >>

An underground gathering of Denver's best chefs convenes at twelve

Two years ago, when I did a Chef and Tell interview with Jeff Osaka, the owner/chef of twelve, I asked him what he'd like to see more of in Denver from a culinary standpoint. His answer was poignant, straightforward and inclusive: I want more chefs working to build camaraderie. Sure, we want to b ... More >>

Raw vegan dinner at Root Down

A Flickr photo.​There are many reasons to love Root Down, Justin Cucci's restaurant at 1600 West 33rd Avenue, including chef Daniel Asher's five-course, raw vegan dinner offered from 6 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. The menu changes, but the price is always $42. To make a reservation, call 303-993- ... More >>

Denver episode of Ludo Bites America premieres tonight; viewing party at Biker Jim's

Kristine LefebvreLudo Lefebvre ​ Four months ago, in April, French-born, Los Angeles-based chef Ludo Lefebvre took a road trip to eastern Colorado, where he shot, skinned and butchered a bison. To show his respect for the beast, he then dropped to his knees and took a bite of its heart, stil ... More >>

El Diablo hosts Gemini in July, a five-course tequila dinner

​El Diablo, 101 Broadway, will host a five-course Gemini in July tequila dinner. Guest chef Daniel Asher of Root Down will be working in the kitchen with Sean Yontz; guest mixologist Carrie Scroggins with be working with Gemini tequilas, alongside Gemini Brand Ambassador Tom Wagstaff. The even ... More >>

Women & Wine, tequila dinners, Summer Brew Fest and more on this week's culinary calendar

​There's a lot of wine on this week's culinary calendar -- but you'll also find beer, tequila, pesto and cherry pie. Keep reading for a taste of what's ahead:

Round two with Trattoria Stella's Valentino Ujkic

Lori Midson​ Valentino Ujkic Trattoria Stella 3201 East Colfax Avenue 303-320-8635 http://trattoriastella.squarespace.com This is part two of my interview with Valentino Ujkic , executive chef of Trattroria Stella. Part one of that interview ran yesterday. Favorite restaurant in America: K ... More >>

Diggin’ On This

A photo-centric preview of the new Linger

Lori Midson​We've seen a succession of restaurant openings over the last several months, but Linger, the second restaurant from Justin Cucci, the owner/chef of Root Down, may very well be the most anticipated new arrival of the year. And after a remarkably good dinner there last week, at whic ... More >>

Food lust from last night's Chefs Up Front Denver dinner

Lori MidsonLobster, enoki mushroom and tenderloin carpaccio hand roll from Jonesy's Eat Bar​Last night, Denver's who's who of chefs congregated at the Colorado Convention Center for Chef's Up Front Denver, a fundraiser that benefited Cooking Matters, a nonprofit that fights childhood hunger a ... More >>

Food porn! Money shots! The pictorial essay of celeb chef Ludo Lefebvre at Biker Jim's!

Lori Midson​It had just gone 6 p.m., when light driblets of rain began to drop from the clouds, but the dozens of people with their noses to the window, peering in to catch a glimpse of the famous French chef, didn't seem to notice. Some, determined to be one of the first through the doors, h ... More >>

Kitchen Help

Eating, Drinking and Giving

New Year's resolutions from Max MacKissock, Matt Selby, Mark DeNittis, Michael Long and twenty-one more Denver/Boulder chefs

Lori MidsonBrad Rowell, chef at Colt & Gray, resolves to eat twenty percent less pork fat per day and replace that with twenty percent more Schlitz​ Haven't made your New Year's resolutions yet? That makes two of us. But instead of focusing on ourselves, we prodded more than two dozen Denver/ ... More >>

Tonight: Raw vegan dinner at Root Down

​Raw food is the latest trend, and you can try it yourself (with some veganism thrown in for good measure) tonight and every Tuesday, when Root Down chef Daniel Asher prepares a five-course, raw vegan dinner. The meals, available from 6 to 10 p.m. by reservation, are $42. Root Down is located ... More >>

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Changes at Menu Classic Mondays and more

Lori Midson​Special dinners abound this week -- and even some regular features, such as Vesta Dipping Grill's Menu Classic Mondays, are ramping things up for the season. Keep reading to find out what's new on the menu at Vesta (and elsewhere):

Martin Luther King Jr. Early College wins EatWell@School culinary competition

The winning team plating the winning dish​LiveWell Colorado sponsored a nine-week after-school culinary program with three Denver high schools that culminated in the winning team from Martin Luther King Jr. Early College taking home first place at the competition last Friday. The all-female te ... More >>

Chef and Tell with the Lobby's Charley Sinden: corn sprouts, his favorite pizza and that offal thing

Lori Midson ​ Charley Sinden The Lobby 2121 Arapahoe Street 303-997-9911 www.thelobbydenver.com This is part two of Lori Midson's interview with Charley Sinden, exec chef of the Lobby. See what Sinden has to say about roach coaches, liver and the Domino's cheese pizza delivery in the first s ... More >>

Food and chef porn from last night's Saucey Affair soiree

Lori Midson​Last night, EatDenver, a local network of independent restaurants and 9Health Fair teamed up to host a Saucey Affair, a judged small plates and sauce showdown, the proceeds of which benefited 9Health Fair, Colorado's largest volunteer-driven healthcare program offering free and lo ... More >>

HUSH Concepts is bringing the pop-up restaurant to Denver

​Earlier this year, Phil Armstrong, a veteran restaurant industry guy who has more ambition than the entire graduating class of Harvard, unleashed Hush, an underground supper club that hosts intimate dinners at various venues around Denver and Boulder, many of them in unusual places -- fields, ... More >>

Tonight: Root Down hosts a raw vegan dinner

A Flickr photo.​Think a raw vegan diet sounds like the most boring food choice on the planet? Root Down chef Daniel Asher hopes to change your mind with his five-course raw vegan dinner. He dishes up a different feast every Tuesday, focusing on local produce. All raw, o course. The dinner is a ... More >>

Rudi's rolls out new gluten-free bread at Root Down dinner

Root Down's Harvest Week cantaloupe & tomato gazpacho served with a grilled cheese sandwich on Rudi's gluten-free bread.​If you're not familiar with Rudi's Organic Bakery, a Boulder-based bread company, then you should really make its acquaintance -- particularly if you are gluten-intolerant. ... More >>

Second Home's Jeff Bolton on his standing Whopper Jr order, rich pork Jell-O and rocking the '80s

Lori Midson Second Home Kitchen Bar executive chef Jeff Bolton​ Jeff Bolton Second Home Kitchen Bar 150 Clayton Lane 303-253-3000 www.secondhomedenver.com This is part one of Lori Midson's interview with Jeff Bolton, executive chef of Second Home Kitchen Bar. To read the second part of ... More >>

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: A harvest of summer classes

A Flickr photo​This week, on top of the usual wine dinners and cooking classes, there are classes on preserving your summer harvest, the continuation of Empire Lounge & Restaurant's Jim & Julia Dinner Series, and much more. Here's a sampling of what's on the culinary calendar menu:

EAT RIGHT WITH ROOT DOWN

Uncooked: Root Down rolls out raw food every Tuesday night

​"I've been doing raw food for six years and was shocked when I moved from meat-and-potatoes Chicago to healthy Boulder and saw that there was such a big gap in raw food restaurants," says Daniel Asher, chef of Root Down and the former chef of Organic Orbit, a vegetable-focused Boulder restau ... More >>

Tonight: March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction

​Tonight, the Colorado Chapter of the March of Dimes will host its annual Signature Chefs Auction at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver, 650 15th Street. Tickets to the event are $150 per person and include small plates from many of Denver's top chefs, as well as live music and an auction th ... More >>