Josh Wolkon

Celebrate Opening Day with alternative snacks at Vesta

Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, is introducing Pre-Game Pop-Ups for the 2013 Rockies season today. Specials include Korean BBQ rib sandwiches and fresh fruit cups sweetened with agave syrup and chili lime; more pop-up items will appear on the menu throughout the season. See also: - Photos: ... More >>

Vesta Dipping Grill gets a closeup on the Travel Channel tonight

Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, will be featured on the Travel Channel's Food Paradise series tonight as part of the program's exploration of the best steak dishes around the country. See also: - Trends without end, round five: Pickling, pop-ups and moving beyond buzzwords - Photos: Happy ... More >>

A memorial for a beloved chef, beer events and more on the calendar this week

The restaurant community will come together on Tuesday, February 5, when Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, will be closed all day in honor of Curtis Caldwell, the sous chef at Vesta who passed away last week. There will be a memorial service held for him at its sister restaurant, Ace, at 10 a. ... More >>

In memoriam: Curtis Caldwell, sous chef at Vesta Dipping Grill, passes away

Beloved Curtis Caldwell - my belief is that your radiant soul is making its journey to the next life and when you get there it will be the most vibrant place with more colors than you can ever imagine even exist. And of course, hundreds and hundreds of hoola hoops in all shapes and colors. I have lo ... More >>

Year in review: Tables and Ace change up their menus

Since my first review appeared in Westword in September -- it was of the then-six-month-old The Kitchen Denver -- I've reviewed sixteen spots. And already, some of those spots are changing -- menus, if not more. See also: - Attention to detail would safeguard the Kitchen's brand in Denver - The f ... More >>

Where to eat, drink and keep your guests merry this holiday season

With out-of-town guests beginning to trickle in for the holidays, it's a relief to know you won't have to house, feed and entertain them all by yourself. Well, make that "yes" on house, but with restaurants that double as entertainment zones, there's plenty of help in the other two areas. Some of t ... More >>

Matt Selby leaving Vesta group for the Corner House

No sooner had Josh Wolkon broken the news that executive chef Matt Selby was moving on after fifteen years at Vesta Dipping Grill (and then Steuben's and Ace) that just where Selby is moving became clear: Selby will join James Iacino and Scott Kinsey as a full partner at the Corner House, slated to ... More >>

Photo and menu tour: Ace Eat Serve opens today

Ace Eat Serve opened today at 501 East 17th Avenue. The ping-pong hall, restaurant and bar is the newest eatery owned by Josh and Jen Wolkon and Matt Selby, owners of Steubens and Vesta Dipping Grill.

Mountain Sun will brew an Asian-style ale just for Ace Eat Serve

Ace Eat Serve, the Asian restaurant and ping-pong palace that will open Wednesday next to Steuben's, is the latest restaurant to tap into a nearby brewery for its own house beer.

Photos: Happy birthday to Vesta Dipping Grill

"We've done dipped for fifteen years." Vesta Dipping Grill celebrated fifteen years of dipping in LoDo last night with a six-course feast and fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit LoDo Cares. Owner Josh Wolkon invited former Vesta chefs Tyler Skrivanek of Duo, James Rugile of Mizuna, Wade Kirwan of A ... More >>

A birthday bash at Vesta, beer and wine and more on this week's calendar

Vesta Dipping Grill turns fifteen this month, and owner Josh Wolkon and crew have invited former Vesta chefs Tyler Skrivanek of Duo, James Rugile of Mizuna, Wade Kirwan of Adrift, Dillon Maddox of Solera, Drew Hardin of Lola and Brandon Biederman of Steuben's to cook at a six-course feast and fundra ... More >>

Vesta Dipping Grill owner Josh Wolkon reflects on fifteen years of success

His long, lanky body clad in a T-shirt, knee-length shorts and Converse tennis shoes, Josh Wolkon slips into a booth at Steuben's, orders a Pimms cocktail and stretches his arms. The last few months have been a whirlwind for the owner of Steuben's, which he unleashed in Uptown in 2007. Next month, h ... More >>

Steuben's and Vesta partners break ground on Ace, their ping pong project

In the almost-six months since Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben's restaurateur Josh Wolkon and his cohorts -- including wife Jen, Matt Selby, Brandon and Emily Biederman and Jeff Bustos -- took over the old Storz Garage space next to Steuben's, they've been busily drawing up plans to convert the addr ... More >>

Steuben's and Vesta group are building a ping-pong hall and Asian restaurant

It's always onward and upward for Josh Wolkon, the restaurateur who brought this city Vesta Dipping Grill, Steuben's and the Steuben's Food Truck (better known as "Pearl") with the help of his wife, Jen, and other cohorts, including Matt Selby, Brandon and Emily Biederman, and Jeff Bustos. Now Wol ... More >>

Tonight: Bring a toy, drink for free and help a kid at the Steuben's Toy Drive

'Tis the season to eat, dink, make merry and give generously, and tonight, at Steuben's, you have the opportunity to kill four turtle doves with one toy.

Justice League of Street Food throws its last bash of the season...and maybe ever

Has a culinary trend fad ever rolled into town -- rolled over a town -- as quickly as food trucks did in Denver? Steuben's Food Service launched the first gourmet truck in June 2010; two months later, more than a dozen had taken to the streets. And it was just last summer that Delores Tronco was sta ... More >>

Steuben's and Vesta Dipping Grill owners will build a new restaurant and ping pong hall in the old Storz Garage space

The future home of the next concept from the people behind Steuben's and Vesta.​Fifteen years ago, Josh Wolkon and his wife, Jen, opened Vesta Dipping Grill in a cavernous space in LoDo, and they've packed in crowds ever since. Those crowds followed them and Matt Selby over to Steuben's, the g ... More >>

Did Oklahoma City's Tucker's Onion Burgers steal the Steuben's logo?

via The Oklahoma City Egotist​An Oklahoma City restaurant slated to open its doors this week will feature gourmet onion burgers, "vintage modern decor" (according to EatAroundOKC) -- and, as pointed out by the Oklahoma City Egotist, a logo that looks like it was blatantly ripped off from one o ... More >>

Drinking the night away at Vesta Dipping Grill

Photo by Roth Sheppard​Happy Place: Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, 303-296-1970. The Hours: Monday through Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The Deals: $3-7 Colorado beers and spirits; $2-6 small plates. Were we happy? Flip the page to find out.

Food-truck task force looking at fast fixes for spring

Then-mayorJohn Hickenlooper visited a food truck in Civic Center Park.​With the warm weather rolling into Denver, can a fleet of gourmet food trucks be far behind? Last year, the truck trend took the town by storm -- but by the end of 2010, things were looking stormy, with Sean and Denon Moore ... More >>

La Villa Real serves traditional northern Mexican food from its lonchera

Denver's best bartenders raise $2,000 and collect more than 450 toys for the Salvation Army

​Earlier this week, fifteen local mixology magicians converged behind the bar of Steuben's, 523 East Seventeenth Avenue, as part of the retro diner's annual holiday toy drive, a festive, spirited party that involves clever cocktails, lots of willing imbibers, good will, good cheer, generosity ... More >>

Three cheers for happy hour at Steuben's

​ Happy Place: Steuben's, 523 East Seventeenth Avenue, 303-830-1001 The Hours: Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. The Deals: $5 specialty cocktails; $12-$20 shareable cocktails; $1 sliders; $3 gravy fries; $0.50 deviled eggs Were we happy? Flip the page.

Steuben's loses bar manager Sean Kenyon, but gains Randy Layman

Randy Layman​Last week, Sean Kenyon, one of Denver's most championed bartenders and mixologists, vacated his post as bar manager of Steuben's, where he'd been slinging drinks and crafting cocktails since 2007.

Brandon Foster tapped as new executive chef of Vesta Dipping Grill

Lori Midson Brandon Foster, tapped as the new executive chef at Vesta Dipping Grill​Late last month, Wade Kirwan, an eleven-year veteran of Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, made the difficult decision to pull himself off the line. Kirwan, who had spent the last five years as the executi ... More >>

Justice League of Street Food hypes secret street-food party on Facebook

​Last week, at a secret gathering of street-food vendors, these mobile entrepreneurs conducted a test run for what Josh Wolkon, owner of the Steuben's Food Truck, called Denver's own version of the Portland pod, a frequent meet-up of trucks and carts in that Oregon city that draws the crowds a ... More >>

The truck stops here: secret gathering of gourmet vendors Friday

Mark Manger​The hot food story of the summer is the success of the gourmet food trucks and carts, which we predicted in our June 3 cover story. So far, we've seen trucks from Steuben's, Deluxe, Paris on the Platte, WaterCourse Foods and the Denver Biscuit Company, in addition to such gourmet c ... More >>

The Steuben's Food Truck rolls into Civic Center five days a week

Mark Manger​Despite the tiff with Cherry Creek Fresh Market, Civic Center Eats is thriving, bringing crowds of downtown lunchers to the Tuesday food court. And now those lunchers won't have to wait until next Tuesday for another fix. The Steuben's Food Truck has secured a permit that will all ... More >>

Vesta Dipping Grill's Plates for the Peak benefit raises $20,000 for Urban Peak -- and the new Steuben's truck makes its street debut

Lori Midson This belongs to me: I won Matt Selby on a plate! ​At last night's Plates for the Peak, a fundraiser/silent auction to benefit Urban Peak, fifteen of Denver's star chefs convened in the hellishly hot kitchen of Vesta Dipping Grill to feed sweaty gastronauts who grubbed on everythin ... More >>

Tonight: Small plates at Vesta to benefit Urban Peak

​The annual Plates for the Peak fundraiser, tonight at Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, is a delicious highlight of the summer fundraising scene, featuring contributions by many of Denver's top chefs. From 6 to 10 p.m., enjoy small plates created by Brian Laird (Barolo Grill), Keegan G ... More >>

A fleet of gourmet food trucks is about to hit Denver

On the Grow at Vesta

Bartender Randy Layman lands at Vesta Dipping Grill

Nancy Levine​It must be difficult to leave a great job that you've had for seven years for a new job that lasts all of two days. But some things just don't work out, like former Avenue Grill bartender Randy Layman's move to Jonesy's EatBar, which ended after one weekend. You might expect La ... More >>

Steuben's brings in the pigs

​Got New Year's Eve plans yet? No? Well, have I got an event for you...

Steuben's going mobile

​After I chatted yesterday with Josh Wolkon of Steuben's and Vesta, he kindly forwarded me an article from the travel section of the Los Angeles Times about the sudden, fierce boom in food trucks that has gripped the foodie Shangri La of Portland. That city now has about 400 trucks, serving e ... More >>

Denver's Top Ten Diners

Davie's Chuck Wagon Diner, by Brian Butko.​I know from diners; they are my natural habitat. And Colorado has some classics. Johnson's Corner was one of the first places I visited when I first went west of the Mississippi, and it remains a favorite even post-renovation. My recent meals at Silve ... More >>

Top ten places to eat on 17th Avenue

​ When Olivea opened in May at 719 East 17th Avenue, it immediately earned a spot among the top ten restaurants on 17th Avenue, which has become a real restaurant row. Below, nine more places to brake for food along 17th.

Vesta Dipping Grill puts the happy back in happy hour

As ambassadors of good will, good drinks and good food, Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake Street, recently awarded free happy hours to thirty local businesses and non-profits, which, as you can imagine, made for some damn happy employees who'll get a few more hours of happy time at Vesta's bar with fr ... More >>

Helping One of Their Own

For the Boys

Chile-Head Confessional

Chile-Head Confessional

Road Warriors

The owners of Steuben's have region to believe.

American Idyll

Steuben's is dedicated to regional specialties -- and that's both good and bad.

Scorpion Bowl

Steuben’s

Survival of the Fittest

How the right cuisines could conquer the world.

Pearl Bucks

A little competition never hurt anyone.

2nd Helping

Sticking With a Winner at Vesta Dipping Grill.

Mouthing Off

Have a Nice Trip