Swimclub32 was the hippest spot in town when it opened six years ago — but it was a misfit in its Highland neighborhood. And two years ago, the place got a major overhaul when owner Grant Gingerich traded out the dark, signless concept for a bright Mexican joint. He named…
Nachos are one of our go-to drunk junk-food snacks, and we’re partial to versions that are gooey, spicy and so packed with toppings that they’re impossible to eat without making a mess. Our award for Best Nachos in the Best of Denver 2011 went to El Camino, where the chips…
While some Colorado brewers have been pulling their beers out of other states recently, breweries from other states continue to try their luck in Colorado, where craft beer seems to flow in the streets like water and in the veins of its residents like blood. Since the beginning of 2011,…
Thanks to the years I spent traveling for work, I’ve got my airport routine down to a science: I usually show up with barely enough time to make my flight, so as to minimize the minutes spent on any concourse — and eliminate my intake of crappy food consumed out…
With all the great restaurants and the amazing farmers’ market in Boulder, you sometimes feel like you’re living in some food fairytale here. But when you don’t jump down the rabbit hole, it’s not hard to see how bleak the situation is around the rest of the world. And it’s…
Last month, Phil Armstrong, the founder of HUSH Concepts, let loose NOMAD — one-off dinners that “pop-up” at various venues throughout the city, their addresses kept off the radar until just hours before the dinners begin. James Mazzio was tapped to be the chef for the March dinners, but a…
Last week, we gave you the lowdown on our picks for Denver’s top five burgers, piquing the ire of quite a few local burger-loving peeps. In the spirit of fueling potentially even more controversy, we felt it only proper for us to spark a whole new debate: What kinds of…
A long, long, long time ago, before Denver became inundated with Philly cheesesteak joints, this was my favorite place to get my fix. 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 entered into a…
Want to run a restaurant in Five Points? Here’s an ad from Craigslist: Newly renovated and ready-to-go restaurant/bar facility is looking for an owner/operator to run an upscale TACO BAR concept. Located in the heart of Denver’s up-and-coming Five Points/Whittier/Curtis Park neighborhood. Facility already has existing liquor license in place,…
You’re a man, so by definition, everything you do must be manly, right? Wrong. There are hundreds of beers out there to choose from, lining the liquor store shelves and bar taps like kids waiting to get picked for a game of recess football. But only a very few of…
Inverness Hotel and Golf Club, 200 Inverness Drive West in Englewood, is the setting for the UncorkedDenver.com/Denver Wine Meetup with award-winning winemaker Rick Sayre. The fun starts at 4:15 p.m. today; for more info, go to www.uncorkeddenver.com. For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food…
I went to Swimclub32 more times than I liked to admit, since the dark den in the heart of Highland was haunted by a crowd more common to the depths of LoDo. My friends and I were fascinated by the hordes of men bathed in Acqua di Gio, the women…
Once he decided he truly wanted to be part of the neighborhood, Grant Gingerich abandoned his addled Swimclub32 concept and instead returned to the area’s roots with a Mexican restaurant — albeit one in a tricked-out, contemporary form. It was a smart move, since this slice of northwest Denver has…
I have never been to a Jack in the Box, but as I was making the descent into Denver this weekend after a jaunt to Vail, I saw one just off Sixth Avenue and Colfax — and I got a sudden urge to go there. But then I got permanently…
Many of the people who work in Colorado’s craft beer industry believe that brewer-in-chief Governor John Hickenlooper would never sign a bill allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer — even if the legislature passed it. Now they won’t have to worry about it — at least not…
How is a first date different from a blind date? The blind date is basically an interview, after which you decide whether you’d like to go a second round. First dates imply that some level of familiarity and attraction already exists, and you’re making a calculated step, putting your best…
Colorado has a reputation as one of the healthiest places in the country — and in many regards, it is. But while this state’s residents may be more successful than most at resisting over-consumption, that doesn’t mean Coloradans are without food issues. According to a 2007 Boulder County youth-risk behavior…
There are plenty of $10 meal-deals in Denver, as evidenced by our recent roster detailing five of the city’s best dinners for a tenner or less, but a lot of those joints are cheap to begin with, and unless you eat like us — pigs — you’d be hard-pressed to…
The new South Philly Cheese Steaks location is open at 2070 South University Boulevard. Students and passerby alike can take advantage of the joint’s daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. with dollar beers, thirty-five cent wings and cheese steaks on straight-from-Philly Amoroso rolls…
Never mind that the mountaintop picnic at this year’s Taste of Vail was nearly blown into oblivion by 50 mph wind gusts that knocked over tents, and, in some cases, a few snow bunnies who were tipsy to start with, thanks to the high volume of alcohol that was being…
This week, our culinary cup overflows with beer events, including a couple that feature Boulevard’s brewmaster, Steven Pauwels. Here’s a taste of what’s on the menu:…
In Best of Denver 2011, we served up many places to drink, including Best New Bar, Best Dive Bar and Best Tap House. But what if you’re looking for a drink and a smoke? Frank asks: Your last edition featuring “Best of” failed to mention best Cigar Bars. I would…
