Southeast Asia

Little bundles of joy at Gio Cha Cali

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Golden Pho & Grill is a newcomer, but fits right in on Federal

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Vietnam Grill serves up a surprising culinary lesson on Vietnamese cuisine

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

At Pho 95, warmth and familiarity slow down the rush on a cold night

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Cream of tartar from 1967 wins Marczyk Old Spice contest

At a potluck dinner party at my home a few years ago, I made the mistake of handing Pete Marczyk a can of Scotch Buy black pepper that had expired in 1988 -- which meant the pepper was old as the friends' marriage we were celebrating, and a lot less spicy. But that black dust did manage to provide t ... More >>

One-man, one-day production of The Things They Carried here Friday

Young Americans have lots of experience with war, right? I mean, we've lived (very remotely) through wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and we've got hard-hitting blockbusters like Battleship and Red Tails to learn from. We can even step into a soldier's shoes with video games like Call of Duty, Hal ... More >>

Jo Koy on the presidential election, sleep apnea and Chelsea Handler's benevolence

You probably know him best from his weekly appearances on E!'s Chelsea Lately, where host Chelsea Handler frequently questions his sexual orientation and capitalizes on stereotypes related to his Asian-American heritage. But Jo Koy isn't just a basic-cable punching bag. He's been climbing his way up ... More >>

How Hollywood movies led to genocide: The act of killing at the Toronto Film Festival

Editor's note: Village Voice media film critic Karina Longworth is currently at the Toronto Film Festival, from where she'll be writing regular blog posts. This is her second in the series. The best, most daring and form-defying documentaries in the world right now are being funded by the Danish Fi ... More >>

Tyler Nemkov: The thing where I say what I'm doing

Three years ago, Tyler Nemkov was a Johnson & Wales student who came to Cafe Society as an intern, interested in where a culinary career could take him. So far, it's taken him to J-school at the University of Colorado, a gig at Cured and, at the edge of 23, a short-lived job as exec chef at Mateo th ... More >>

Jenna Johansen talks frankly about her boot from Around the World in 80 Plates

It's been several months since Bravo's Around the World in 80 Plates was filmed in cities spanning the globe, but the memories for hometown chef and contestant Jenna Johansen, who made it through seven countries -- and countless challenges -- before she was given the boot in last night's Thailand ep ... More >>

Photos: Five Points Jazz Fest, 5/19/12

This past Saturday, the annual Five Points Jazz Festival returned to its namesake historic district with performances from a slew of acts like Carmen Sandiem and Aakash Mittal, among others, spread out across six stages all along Welton Street. Our own Nick Callaio was on hand for the fest and broug ... More >>

Photos: New Saigon, the subject of this week's review

New Saigon is one of the oldest Vietnamese restaurants in Denver, and its kitchen is one of the most comprehensive, turning out not just pho, but hundreds of dishes from Vietnam's culinary canon. For this week's review, I stopped by the restaurant that's been under the same ownership for 25 years, a ... More >>

A 16th Street Mall vendor gets a permanent home at Thai Street Food restaurant

For six years, Utumporn Killoran has been peddling Thai curries from a cart on the 16th Street Mall. And her recipes, culled from her native Isaan Province in Thailand, have gained her such committed fans that they're willing to wait in line for an hour just to wolf down her lunches.

Taste of Thailand goes garden-to-table with Garden Blossoms soup

Jenny AnThe homegrown flowers in the Garden Blossoms soup are edible. ​Noy Farrell doesn't use pesticides in her garden. The chef/co-owner of Taste of Thailand uses ladybugs and beer instead. The ladybugs eat the insects that try to devour her greens and herbs, and a shallow bowl of beer attra ... More >>

Vietnam Grill goes for a liquor license

​Vietnam Grill has been slinging pho and spring rolls from its Federal Boulevard strip mall spot for a few years, but now the eatery is hoping to add alcoholic pairings to the menu. The restaurant just applied for its liquor license, and if all goes according to plan, it'll add beer, wine and ... More >>

The five strangest foods I've ever eaten

Mark MangerPeanut butter soup, fufu and bone-in, skin-on goat: not actually so weird.​My first trip to African Grill and Bar for this week's review was a thrill ride because it offered a chance to explore a cuisine with which I'd had no previous experience and an opportunity to eat something s ... More >>

Thai Flavor curries favor with reviewer Laura Shunk

Eat like the Thai: family-style...and with a fork

​Without exception, during every visit I made to Thai Flavor for this week's review -- and during the lunch I ate at US Thai Cafe for this week's Second Helping -- I overheard at least one table ask for chopsticks. I'd venture a guess that those diners thought they were being respectful, eatin ... More >>

One chapter book reviews: Missing in Action: A Family Saga, chapter six

​As far as fictional characters go, there is maybe no archetype so boring as the Hero, that figure of unwavering nobility and poise. Whether that hero is deftly vanquishing foes like Superman or valiantly overcoming adversity a la Odysseus, the construct is the same: The Hero represents the Da ... More >>

Stupid ad of the week: Champ Thai Drink Co.'s working man

Not this kind.​Thankfully, foolishness is a worldwide phenomenon. Otherwise when we would see another culture's advertising on the internetz we might feel all dumb by comparison and end up sending them angry emoticons in their comment boxes -- because we all know Emoticon is the universal lang ... More >>

Boulder restaurateur Opas Sinprasong will do time for exploiting workers

Daily Camera​Last October, Opas Sinprasong -- a Thai national who once owned Siamese Plate, Siamese Plate on the Go and Sumida's in Boulder and Louisville -- pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens and failure to pay taxes. Yesterday he was sentenced: The restaurateur will do time, pay a h ... More >>

Ba Le serves authentic banh mi and more

Warming trends: The bare-bones Pho Duy provides warm comfort food just in time for winter

Dear Lotus of Siam, please come to Denver next

​Cafe Society can't get enough of Lotus of Siam. When she was in Las Vegas last week, Patricia Calhoun twice ventured off the Strip to visit the northern Thai restaurant in its original location, a silly strip mall off Sahara Avenue. That was after a strong endorsement from Lori Midson, who o ... More >>

Siamese Plate on the Go spot gets a fresh start as NaRaYa

​Pranom Kiatreungwattana, who goes by "P.K.", and her father had been looking for a spot for a Boulder restaurant for two years when Opas Sinprasong, who'd been charged with human trafficking, left his Siamese Plate/Siamese Plate on the Go spot at 1575 Folsom Street up for grabs. And grab it ... More >>

Opas Sinprasong, Siamese Plate owner, pleads guilty to treating workers like slave labor

NaRaYa has replaced Siamese Plate on the Go​I was at Lotus of Siam, one of Lori Midson's favorite restaurants in the world (and she's right -- too bad it's in Las Vegas), eating and catching up on my Westword reading, when I found this report by Michael Roberts on a Thai restaurant group much ... More >>

Steely Dan

Thursday, October 29, Wells Fargo Theatre, 800-745-3000.

Taste of Thailand has the cure for the flu -- and the cure for boring food

Can Tho Pho is no substitute for Ha Noi Pho

More Chinese food, more Vietnamese food - all good news

Spa-Rama

Indulge in treatments from around the world at Spa Experience Aspen.

Nut House

Parallel 17

Holding the line.

Ha Noi Pho

At any time of day or night, a meal here is memorable.

Ghost Story

Old Town

As new ethnic enclaves appear, the originals die off.

US Thai

This little storefront curries favor with fans of Thai food.

Drink of the Week

Lychee- and Starfruit-Infused Vodka Martini

Green Light

Head for the hills -- the hill country of Sapa.

Room at the Inn

T-Wa has been to hell and back.

Check, Please!

Readers give our food critic something to chew on.

Street Dreams

Tuk Tuk takes casual Thai food indoors.

So Pho, So Good

Bowls of broth and pig knuckles add up to great meals.

All Thai'd Up

Two new eateries to feed your habit.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Restaurants

J's Noodles muddles along without its owner at the helm.

Mouthing Off

Sugar and Spice

Miss Saigon?

CURRY UP

TONGUE THAI'D