Veggie Girl: US Thai Cafe

Sometimes noodles are just noodles. But thankfully, some noodles rise to the level of the drunken noodles from US Thai Café. There must be some kind of black magic that goes into getting the sauce just right, because I’ve had a lot of drunken noodles and none of them made…

Veggie Girl: City, O’ City

Although I love eating out, I don’t often go to vegetarian-exclusive restaurants. Sure, my husband and the majority of my friends don’t eat meat, but we like trying new places, and at last count there were only three exclusively vegetarian eateries in the metro Denver area: WaterCourse Foods, City, O’…

Hard Times

People are facing hard times these days, and tonight’s production of A Little Frayed at the Edge features characters navigating tough circumstances that take them to the edge of despair and determination — something many of us can relate to. “These are stories that might be about the life of…

Eat Your Words

Bookworms, unite! Literature lovers devour words on the printed page like the paper-loving insects they’re named for, but rarely do they have an opportunity to actually eat books. If you think cake tomes created from gelatin-based edible paper sound just as delicious as curling up with your favorite novel and…

Veggie Girl: Saigon Bowl

It was early Sunday evening when my husband and I arrived at Saigon Bowl, 333 South Federal Boulevard, and I was surprised to see the place already packed. Some large parties were gathering, and a few massive dinner parties were under way. Unsure if we’d even get a spot, we…

Sun Dressing

Our record-high temperatures of late have everyone flushed with spring fever, and if you like to greet each impending season in style, head to Fresh, the Fashion Denver Spring Fashion Market, where you can browse the wears of over thirty local fashion and accessory designers. Brandi Shigley, founder of Fashion…

The Arvada Tavern is back in business

The building at 5707 Wadsworth Boulevard that houses the Arvada Tavern started out as a blacksmith shop, then got Arvada’s first beer license after Prohibition, opening as the Dutch Inn in 1933, then turning into the Arvada Tavern. But by last year, the watering hole had gotten a little too…

Veggie Girl: Pasquini’s Pizzeria

Some days just beg to end in the back of a bar, hunched over a beer or two. There are plenty of Denver spots that will serve this purpose, but when your stomach also happens to be begging to be fed, a good bet is Zio Romolo’s Alley Bar, where…

Another taste of this week’s Cafe Society

Denver Restaurant Week is over, but there are still plenty of good meals and deals out there. Jason Sheehan offers a rundown on the top seven spots to grab a bite to eat on Broadway in The List. A week after his win on Top Chef, Tyler Nemkov finally caught up…

Candy Girls: Nothing Bundt Cakes

When the Candy Girls heard there was a new bakery in town crafting only bundt cakes, the first question that came to mind was this: What was its punny name? Because it is impossible to have a niche foodstuffs place and not find an appropriate pun for its name. It’s…

Veggie Girl: O’s Steak and Seafood

Being a vegetarian sometimes means feeling like you’re always a bridesmaid and never the bride. Sure, that gnocchi entree is delicious, but meat eaters who go to to Italian restaurants get to order both primi pasta dishes and secondi meat dishes for a full three- or four-course meal. I’ve always…

Amici’s has moved to Wheat Ridge

After years of serving up old-fashioned, red-sauce Italian at 53rd and Sheridan, Amici’s has made the leap into the 21st century with a new spot at 4330 Wadsworth Boulevard in Wheat Ridge. This address once belonged to Gemini Restaurant, but it’s barely recognizable. Gone is the high, peaked roof, as…

Candy Girls: IKEA Chocolate Bars

Last week, Aubrey was off cavorting in San Diego while Liz was stuck at home, forced to sample some of the grossest candy in Candy Girls’ history. It wasn’t all fun and games for Aubrey, however, as she had promised to bring back strange and unknown treats from IKEA and…

Veggie Girl: Moongate Asian Grill

When I have a craving for sesame tofu, I head to the one restaurant that I know gets it absolutely right: Moongate Asian Grill, at 745 Quebec Street. Moongate cooks up a variety of Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, with an extensive vegetarian selection — but I end up…

Party Like a Rock Star

Like Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson and that dude with the dreads from Counting Crows who dated every actress you’d ever heard of in the ’90s, Hollywood has always flirted with rock-and-roll stars. Add some fire to the flames at the Denver Film Society’s rock-and-roll-themed…

Candy Girls: Shaman Chocolates

We recently heard about organic chocolate bars from Shaman Chocolates, and were eager to try out these chocolates for a good cause: 100 percent of the profits go to support the Huichol Indians in the Sierra Madre mountains in central Mexico, and sales of the Fair Trade-certified chocolate have already…

Veggie Girl: Il Vicino

Like Little Anita’s, Il Vicino is one of the few Albuquerque chains to survive the trip to Denver. But while Little Anita’s has never been a top-tier spot back home (though it has some of the best chile I’ve found here in Denver), Il Vicino has always been one of…

Candy Girls: The Shoppe–Valentine’s Day Specials

We know that cupcakes aren’t technically candy, but luckily we’ve found a loophole around that for Valentine’s Day. The Shoppe, at 3103 East Colfax Avenue, is celebrating the holiday with a variety of adorable and delicious cupcakes all dressed up and masquerading as Valentine’s candy. But these are way better…

Veggie Girl: Taki’s

For fresh, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly Japanese food at a super-affordable price, Taki’s always fills the bill. Located at 241 East Colfax Avenue along a seedy strip, Taki’s has been feeding the masses for over fifteen yearsand has been a mainstay stop for my husband and his friends since high school, back…

A Sweet Deal

Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, good times and bad: Any excuse for chocolate is a good enough excuse for me. Fortunately, Julie Pech, Colorado’s chocolate therapist, says that enjoying chocolate every single day is beneficial to your health. At today’s eighth annual Chocolate Affair in Olde Town Arvada, you can listen to…

Veggie Girl: Taqueria Patzcuaro

Fresh, salty chips, burning hot salsa and maybe the best vegetarian red chile in Denver — these are just a few of the reasons that I frequent Taqueria Patzcuaro at 2616 West 32nd Avenue. An even bigger draw, though, is the chile relleno burrito, an absolute genius invention that starts…

Fine China

Some of my favorite Chinese New Year memories revolve around China’s many fantastic culinary contributions to the world: Buddha’s Delight, moon cakes, dumplings and any number of other treats. But while Chinese food may be the most easily accessible link to this holiday, the country’s traditional dance, song and other…