Top 10 most popular food slideshows of 2009

It’s about damn time this year ended. But before it does, we’re taking a look back at your favorite stories of 2009. Here, the ten most popular food slideshows from westword.com/slideshow. (All photos by Mark Manger)…

Tonight: Football in Lola’s Belola

From 5 p.m. to close on Monday nights, Lola, at 1575 Boulder Street, hosts Barrio Night, with special deals in addition to the usual happy hour that runs from 4 to 6 p.m. — $12 buckets of Tecate (six per bucket), for example. Tonight, it should be warm enough to…

Cafe Society: Week in review

What you may have missed this week while you were reacting with horror and disbelief over news that restaurant critic Jason Sheehan is leaving Westword and the Mile High City to slosh through puddles do the same job at our sister paper, the Seattle Weekly:Turns out Paul Martinez, co-owner and…

Beer and Cheer: Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter

The Tommyknocker Brewery’s Cocoa Porter isn’t a particularly sophisticated beer, not a particularly powerful stout, but it is delicious nonetheless, almost like chocolate milk or hot chocolate. In fact, the beer is brewed with cocoa powder, which is quite apparent, and with honey, which is more subtle. Although the cocoa…

Denver’s top 10 Indian/Nepalese restaurants

Jason Sheehan just reviewed Nepal Cuisine, where he found more than enough momo to keep him warm through these upcoming winter months. On momo alone, Nepal Cuisine easily ranks among the top ten Indian and Nepalese restaurants in the area. Here are the rest:…

Tonight only, for the sushi lovers

For those of you who love sushi but don’t necessarily want to pay a lot of money for sushi, do I have a deal for you. For one night only, Joy Sushi Asian Bistro, at 7600 Park Meadows Drive, is offering its all-you-can-eat spread of dinner sushi for a lunchtime…

Update: More management change at Mezcal

The celebrated Mezcal restaurant, located at 3230 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, announced yesterday that it has appointed Basic Food Group as its new restaurant management company. “We will operate Mezcal with the highest of standards; the reasons people love Mezcal will not change. The staff and the managers of…

Will Denver man become greatest bartender in the world (of T.G.I. Friday’s)?

Since the late 1980s, T.G.I. Friday’s has held an international bartending championship for its own employees, granting the winner the no-surprise title of “Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender in the World.” This year, Colorado’s own Brad Kaplan of Thornton took the Colorado/Texas regional title and will be headed to the World…

One last kernel of the Colorado “Popcorn lung” case

It could be the asbestos of our generation: “Popcorn Lung” now has a website dedicated to victims of this dreaded “disease” (in truth, it’s a law firm’s site encouraging potential litigation) — and the phenomenon began in our own back yard. Although the medical condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans was…

Sugar High: Eggnog and snickerdoodle cupcakes from Happy Cakes

With the days of enjoying festive holiday flavors coming to an end, it would be a shame if you missed out on cupcake versions of a few classics: Eggnog and snickerdoodle. Happy Cakes Bakeshop in Highland is known for successfully translating offbeat flavors–Jack & Coke, bacon, kettle corn–into delectable frosting-topped…

Guess where I’m eating?

Fresh beets, however maligned by the people who swear they taste like dirt, are one of my favorite vegetables, especially this time of year. Their dramatic stained hues — yellow, purple, red, gold — lend themselves to beautiful presentations, and I love the root’s flavor and texture. At the restaurant…

Tonight: Santa and his naughty elves at Rockbar

Here comes Santa Claus…right down Rockbar’s lane. Rockbar is hosting its first ugly Xmas sweater party tonight. And guess who’s in town? You got it. Jolly old Saint Nick will make an appearance, and he’s bringing….well, backup. “Naughty elves” (and if you’ve ever been to Rockbar, you know exactly what…

Hana Matsuri opens today

Jessie and Steve Liu will open the doors of their second sushi restaurant today: Hana Matsuri takes over the former home of Village Bistro at 2821 West 120th in Westminster. The Lius have owned Land of Sushi, at 2412 East Arapahoe Road in Centennial, for nine years — and that…

Tonight: Organic, local food at the Mercury Cafe

Tonight, the Mercury Cafe at 2199 California Street will offer an Organic Local Food & Wine Pairing, a five-course meal that pairs Marilyn Megenity’s cooking with Jack Rabbit Hill and Peak Spirits Brandy libations. You can choose between an elk, fish, pork, vegan or vegetarian course lineup; the meal starts…

Domino’s Pizza admits it sucks, promises to do better

I hate Domino’s Pizza. Seriously loathe it in a way that ought to be reserved for the hating only of living things, not branded corporate entities. I hate it so much that when one of its commercials comes up on TV, I always turn away and give it the finger,…

Now hiring: Westword seeks critic, blogger to replace that Sheehan guy

By now you’ve read that disloyal ladder climber Jason Sheehan is leaving Westword for the grayer pastures of Seattle, which — shhhhhhh — he actually thinks is a borough of New York. We didn’t have the heart to tell him it’s just a wetter, NBA-less version of Denver. Kidding! We’re…

Top 20 worst food trends of the decade

I love the restaurant industry for so many different reasons. I love it because it is the last great American meritocracy, where nothing matters but what you can do on the job and where hard work, smarts and stamina are truly rewarded. I love it because it provides a creative…

Beer and Cheer: Wreck the Halls from Full Sail

Full Sail’s Wreck the Halls is certainly hoppy, and it’s crisp and tastes good. In fact, it’s like many other American IPAs, if just a touch more malty. But frankly, it shouldn’t take the holidays to produce a beer comparable to what many, many other breweries put out year round…

Breaking News: Management change at Mezcal

Last night was the sixth anniversary of Mezcal, the Mexican cantina and tequila bar at 3230 East Colfax Avenue that has played host to some of the best and some of the weirdest nights I have spent in the city over the past several years. Last night was also the…