After a series of construction delays and a no-show from a city inspector, Stir, Katy Hume’s recreational cooking school and bar will open tomorrow at 3215 Zuni Street. “We’re doing a happy dance,” jokes Hume. “We passed our last inspections on Thursday and we’re ready to go.” Hume is holding…

Eight local street pavement pushers, who hustle grub from the confines of their mobile kitchens, will roll their wheels into the parking lot of Elitch’s tomorrow as part of a toy drive to benefit the Denver Santa Claus Shop, a local nondenominational non-profit that collects and distributes free toys to…

The corned beef hash at Snooze is one of my favorite breakfast dishes in Denver, and Spencer Lomax, Snooze’s culinary king and the subject of this week’s Chef and Tell interview, was happy to share it here. “It’s inspired by the diner classic, but we use custom corned beef and…

This month, my son is celebrating eleven years of being on this earth, which, according to him, requires a special dinner — specifically, lobster. We marked the occasion with several lobsters, including the one in the above snap that was prepared “French style.” Can you guess where I’m eating? Special…

Are you an amateur kitchen wizard? Do you have the chops to run your own restaurant? More important, how do you feel about Gordon Ramsay, the acerbic, deafeningly insulting, tantrum-prone, foul-mouthed, red-faced, in-your-face beast who brings his smoldering hot temper to the Fox TV airwaves? If you think you can…

Based on the glowing recommendations from several local chefs, I wandered into this slightly worn and unadorned feast house, nodded at the cops stowed away in a back booth and snatched a seat at the counter, which overlooks the kitchen where this shrimp scampi — Mediterranean style — was made…

Spencer Lomax Snooze, an A.M. Eatery Four locations in Colorado www.snoozeeatery.com This is part two of Lori Midson’s Chef and Tell interview with Spencer Lomax, the culinary director of Snooze. In part one of that Q&A, Lomax dishes on swine, green chile and cheek meat. Favorite restaurant in America: El…

House, which opened in 2009 in the former Gemelli’s space at 4363 Tennyson Street has closed, as has the Cozy Cottage, which had spent the last four years residing at 2423 South Downing Street, in a space the size of a rabbit hole — but there’s a twist: the Cozy…

Every Sunday night — and only on Sunday night — this sensational cocktail den turns out juicy chicken, fried golden, with mashed potatoes and peppery gravy. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts is…

Spencer Lomax Snooze, an A.M. Eatery Four locations in Colorado www.snoozeeatery.com This is part one of Lori Midson’s interview with Spencer Lomax, culinary director of Snooze. Part two of this interview will run tomorrow. I spent pretty much every summer break through high school and college working at restaurants and…

“That Lou’s yelp review looks promising,” deadpanned Frank Bonanno on his Facebook page, referencing a pre-review of Lou’s Food Bar, Bonanno’s newest restaurant, which will, uh, open in mid-December at 1851 West 38th Avenue, a good month and a half (at the minimum) AFTER the Yelp review — typed on…

Edgewater’s restaurant and bar culture continues to grow, what with newcomers like Walk-In Burgers (2255 Sheridan Boulevard), Providence Tavern (5280 West 25th Avenue), The Cooler (2045 Sheridan Boulevard) and Vina Pho & Grill (2045 Sheridan Boulevard) joining stalwarts like U.S. Thai (5228 West 25th Avenue), Sloan’s Bar & Grill (5820…

I love the gorditas and salsa setup at Tacos Y Salsas (which is not where the above snap was flashed), but the deep-fried orbs of cornmeal sandwiching spit-grilled caramelized pork al pastor at the terrific taqueria where the above pic was taken, coupled with its killer salsas, has completely thwarted…

Ramon Campos, who owns Empanada Express Grill in Golden, stands in front of a dwarfed storefront at 4301 West 44th Avenue, a former Mexican joint that will soon become Empanada Grill, Campos’s second Venezuelan restaurant. “It’s in really bad shape, but we’re working very, very hard to get it ready,”…

There are bargains galore during the daily happy hour at this serene Asian restaurant, where the chicken lettuce wraps, topped with cranraisins and plated with translucent slices of ginger, are a mere $3, as are several other notable dishes. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives…

My last dinner before Thanksgiving included, among other hits and wonders, tater tots with bacon and blue cheese playfully paired with a diminutive bottle of Tabasco sauce. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts…

Clint Wangsnes Zengo 1610 Little Raven Street 720-904-0965 www.richardsandoval.com/zengodenver This is part two of Lori Midson’s interview with Clint Wangsnes, chef of Zengo. Read part one of that Q&A. Rules of conduct in your kitchen: I have high expectations of all of my staff. I expect them to give me…

We’re taking a mini-vacation on Thanksgiving — so all may eat, drink, sleep and reconcile with family members — but your regularly scheduled bloggery will be right back here on Friday. Enjoy the bloodbath break. Follow ” target=”_blank”>@CafeWestword on Twitter…

There’s only one way to prepare for the food frenzy that’s Thanksgiving: eat tacos — specifically al pastor tacos tarted up with fresh cubes of pineapple, white onions and flecks of cilantro. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s…

Clint Wangsnes Zengo 1610 Little Raven Street 720-904-0965 www.richardsandoval.com/zengodenver This is part one of Lori Midson’s Chef and Tell interview with Clint Wangsnes, chef of Zengo. To read part two of that Q&A, check back here on Friday. “I truly love food, and the high-stress, high-energy, crazy and chaotic environment…