Osaka

Best Chef: A nostalgic look back at our Best of Denver chef winners

In just a few short hours from now, the Best of Denver 2013 will start hitting the street -- and the web. This year's edition is packed with more than 400 winners (we're still counting). One of the most anticipated categories in our Food & Drink section is also one of the the most coveted: Best Chef ... More >>

Twelve will open seven nights a week beginning on February 24

When people ask me what I'd like to see more of in Denver, which is a question I pose every week to the chefs I interview, my immediate response is more restaurants that are open on Sunday and Monday nights. In fact, I was recently having that same discussion with Jeff Osaka, the owner-chef of twelv ... More >>

Menswear Mondays: 7/Eleven clerk and writer William Reynolds on his thrifty style

This past weekend, as many savored the sunlight, we spotted William Reynolds, a 7/Eleven clerk who writes poetry and short stories, enjoying the weather while wearing an unusual piece of menswear: a purple hoodie. Read on to learn his personal connection to thrift stores, what pseudonyms he goes by, ... More >>

Jeff Osaka's twelve wins the numbers game on 12/12/12

When chef Jeff Osaka opened twelve in November 2008, he wasn't thinking about a day more than four years in the future, the last triple date of this century: 12/12/12. He wasn't thinking about the future much at all. He'd named his restaurant twelve to reflect the fact that he planned to change the ... 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 >>

Boulder's Amu brings on a new chef, Mune Taira

Samantha BakerAmu's menu will get some changes under new chef Mune Taira.​Six years ago, Japanese restaurateur Nao-san took the sliver of space next to his raucous Boulder sushi joint, Sushi Zanmai, and built the tea garden-like Amu Sake Bar and Restaurant, an authentic izakaya that serves an ... More >>

Pain and suffering after eating the "Nuclear Roll" at Osaka Sushi (Video)

Five. That's how many times the specials board describing the Nuclear Roll at Osaka Sushi said "very" before "spicy." Ten. That's how many ice cubes were on the plate owner Jay Chung gave me before I started inhaling this tuna roll topped with liquid fire. "Just in case," he said with a chuckle. ... More >>

Ask the bartender: The sun rises on Japanese whisky

​Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource ... More >>

Jeff Osaka on monthly menu creation and twelve's February lineup

Mark MangerJeff Osaka rolls out his February menu tonight.​Several Denver restaurants make seasonal changes to their menus, but none with the clockwork regularity of twelve, which rolls out a new board on the first of every month. And Jeff Osaka, chef-owner of the place, isn't simply recycling ... More >>

Readers' love-hate relationship with Rick Griffith

Sachi Sushi serves up authentic ramen in Niwot

More predictions, rants and raves from local chefs on the culinary trends of 2011

Sustainably-farmed fish will be a big trend in 2011, say local chefs​Yesterday, several local chefs -- Michael Long (Aria and Opus); Eric Skokan (Black Cat); Brandon Biederman (Steuben's); Brad Rowell (Colt & Gray); and Troy Guard (TAG and TAG Raw Bar) -- dished on the culinary trends that wou ... More >>

twelve's December menu debuts today

Mark MangerChef Jeff Osaka debuts his December menu​When I reviewed twelve a few weeks ago, sampling most of chef-owner Jeff Osaka's November menu, I noted that I was "already hungry for December, excited to see what Osaka will come up with next." Today marks the first day of that new menu, a ... More >>

Jeff Osaka's talents in the kitchen add up to a sublime experience at twelve

Eating my words about Wolfgang Puck alums

Wolfgang Puck's alums prove me wrong​A few weeks ago, when I reviewed Euclid Hall, I wrote that I'd noticed a certain shortcoming common to chefs who'd trained under Wolfgang Puck. "They're excellent cooks with mastery of technique," I mused, "but they're not innovative chefs." Plenty of read ... More >>

Jeff Osaka's twelve lures patrons to the Ballpark neighborhood

Mark Manger​On a block just beyond the revitalized stretches of downtown, twelve, at 2233 Larimer Street, is tucked amidst dilapidated storefronts.

Jeff Osaka reopens twelve today with a new fall menu

Jeff Osaka changes twelve's menu monthly.​Chef/owner Jeff Osaka will reopen twelve today, after an eleven-day break. The restaurant at 2233 Larimer Street is getting close to marking its second anniversary; although the neighborhood was a little lonely when Osaka opened his place, other spots ... More >>

Twelve takes a break

Lori Midson​ If you have a hankering for the food cooked up by chef/owner Jeff Osaka at the almost-two-year-old twelve, head there tonight -- because tomorrow, the restaurant at 2233 Larimer Street will close for an eleven-day "break to rejuvenate." Until twelve reopens, appropriately enough ... More >>

Chris Fogal discusses Parts, the new Gamits album, the band's first release in six years

The Gamits celebrate the release of their new album, Parts, this Saturday, September 4, at the Gothic Theatre, with UME and Joy Subtraction.​ The Gamits were one of the classic, melodic punk bands of the late '90s. Unlike many of their peers, they survived well into the new decade before call ... More >>

And the winner of two seats to Sunday's seafood supper is...

​Behold the final winning entry in our Sunday summer supper contest. Just in case you missed all this, here's the short version: We asked readers to suggest a name for the coalition of chefs -- Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Jeff Osaka (twelve), Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli an ... More >>

Round two: Win free tickets to Sunday's summer seafood supper with chefs Jeff Osaka, Alex Seidel, Scott Parker and Justin Brunson and wine geek Ben Parsons

Lori Midson Jeff Osaka and Alex Seidel​This Sunday, August 22, chefs Jeff Osaka (twelve), Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Scott and Deanna Parker (Table 6) and Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli and Lechon) will host a summer seafood feast at Infinite Monkey Theorem, the urban winery ... More >>

Win free tickets to Sunday's summer seafood supper with chefs Jeff Osaka, Alex Seidel, Scott Parker and Justin Brunson and wine geek Ben Parsons

Lori MidsonJeff Osaka, chef/owner of twelve​This Sunday, August 22, chefs Jeff Osaka (twelve), Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Scott and Deanna Parker (Table 6) and Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli and Lechon) will host a summer seafood feast at Infinite Monkey Theorem, the urban ... More >>

In the kitchen with Jeff Osaka, chef of twelve

Lori Midson​Jeff Osaka, chef/owner of twelve, and the center of this week's compelling Chef and Tell interview, changes his menu monthly, hence the restaurant's name. The January board trumpets foie gras and pork belly, Colorado lamb and a vegetarian paella and several sugar-laced finales, inc ... More >>

Part two: Chef and Tell with Jeff Osaka of twelve

Lori Midson​This is part two of my interview with Jeff Osaka, exec chef of twelve. You can read part one of my interview with Osaka here. Rules of conduct in your kitchen: I don't have any rules per se. The only thing I ask from my kitchen staff is to pay attention and be respectful. There's ... More >>

Placebo postpones North American tour

​After Placebo's singer Brian Molko collapsed on stage at the Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan from a combination of a virus he picked up in Asia and jet lag, the band decided to postpone its North American tour. The band's September 23 show at the Gothic Theatre has been canceled and refunds ... More >>

Twelverestaurant introduces its third menu

When I checked in with Jeff Osaka, chef/owner of twelverestaurant, last month, he told me that although he'd just opened his restaurant at 2233 Larimer in early November, he was already reducing the prices on his changing-monthly menu. (His concept of a dozen menus a year -- each featuring seasonal ... More >>

Hotel restaurants are at your service

A mystery whets our appetite for Twelve

Osaka Sushi

Sake to me.

Osaka Sushi

This restaurant exhibits raw power.

Contestant #11: Alec Smith

Contestant #11: Alec Smith

Spain Cycle

Swimclub 32 is ready to take the plunge.

Overlooked in '05

Ten discs that are worthy of your money and your close attention.

Mothers Day

Acid Mothers Temple is on a long, strange trip.

Westword Music Showcase 2005

Love at First Bite

Osaka Sushi brings out the raw emotions.

Watch the Birdie

Making Trouble

THE THRIFTERS

ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE BELL-BOTTOM TOLLS. IT TOLLS FOR THEE.

BORE NONE

THE BOREDOMS ARE AS ALTERNATIVE AS LOLLAPALOOZA '94 GETS.

KNIFE GIRLS