The Recovery Room has recovered!

When the state seized the Recovery Room (819 Colorado Boulevard) for nonpayment of taxes last January, it was a temporary flatline for the legendary dive. But Chris Campbell and Mark Lane, who have owned the Old Towne Tavern (2410 West Main Street, Littleton) for the past four years, stepped in…

Jack-n-Grill’s Juarez burger gets a top 50 nod from Food Network magazine

Just got off the phone with a gobsmacked Jack Martinez, the patriarch behind Jack-n-Grill, the family-owned New Mexican joint at 2524 Federal Boulevard whose gut-busting seven-pound burrito, recently featured on the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, was apparently a prelude to bigger and better things to come–a colossal shout out…

Colorado, Italian-style: How the West was undone

As soon as Obama shells out enough cash to buy our economy back from the devil, do yourself a favor and book a trip to Italy. You deserve it. First, get the whole tourist thing out of your system: drink a few Bellinis, float around in a gondola and snag…

What’s cooking? Events at cooking schools

What’s cooking? Mise en Place Cooking School, at 1801 Wynkoop Street #175, is hosting the kick off of LiveWell Colorado’s five-year plan to end obesity in Colorado today. At 9:30 a.m., Dr. Collins, the “Cooking Cardiologist,” will offer a cooking demonstration, followed by speakers at 10 a.m. For more information,…

Joe Vostrejs and his army are out to conquer Denver

Spring storms. Swine flu. The complete collapse of the capitalist experiment. Fuck it: Nothing seems to stop Denver’s restaurateurs. They take in stride world events that would have most big-city entrepreneurs, moneymen and chefs hiding under their beds. Sure, their plans may get delayed — but their places still open…

Cracovia is no small potatoes when it comes to Polish food

Bigos. Flaki. Czerwony barszcz, with or without uszka. Kapusniak. Pyzy, placek and kiszka. I’m pretty good with languages, particularly on my favorite conversational topics of food, kitchens and cooks. My pronunciation might be embarrassingly bad, but I can say “please,” ask after individual ingredients, order, appreciate and offer thanks with…

Home, sweet Second Home

Who knew? Who knew that on the first warm Thursday of spring, the hot place in Cherry Creek would be Second Home? I started the evening with what was supposed to be one drink at Cucina Colore. That turned into appetizers at Elway’s and more drinks at North. And then…

Hospoda: Czech it out!

Okay, so Polish food is excellent, as I discuss in this week’s review of Cracovia. Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes and pork. But you know what’s even better, in a weird way? Eastern European-Colorado fusion. That’s what I had at Hospoda, the place that first-time restaurateurs Vlad and Irene Lesner opened last…

Who wants cupcakes…? Nomelie has them

Just hit Nomelie Cupcakes at 19751 East Main Street in Parker. According to the website, the joint technically closes between 2 and 4 p.m. on weekdays — and maybe I’m just being crazy here, but wouldn’t you think that a cupcake maker (or at least a cupcake maker who actually…

Shead’s BBQ resurrected in Aurora

Good news for all you barbecue fanatics out in the eastern ‘burbs: Shead’s is back in the barbecue game. As reported here a few weeks ago, the former home of Sabo Tropical Grill (and, before that, the plain old Tropical Grill) at 12203 East Iliff Avenue in Aurora (literally ten…

A fine swine of a time at the Berkshire’s first pig roast

In the midst of all this swine flu hysteria, there’s just one thing to do: Eat more pork! The H1N1 influenza outbreak is not transmitted in any way, shape or form by anything with a snout, curly tail or hooves, as Jason Sheehan reported last week. And if you don’t…

Up Close: Cracovia

To further whet your appetite for Cracovia, the subject of Jason Sheehan’s review this week, see more of Mark Manger’s photos at westword.com/slideshow…

News from the James Beard Awards

This year’s James Beard awards were finalized on Monday, and while most of it is bad for us here in the Flyover States, there are plenty of parties going on elsewhere. Colorado got completely skunked in the journalism awards, with most of the medals going to the usual suspects: Alan…

Win $500 from El Monterey for a good idea

Yesterday, when people were downing Coronas like Tamaflu, more than a few were yearning for a taquito, taco or tostada. And I’m sure a few of those people, with the help of something starting with a ‘t’ and ending with an ‘equila,’ started to talk Mexican food. Ideas were shared…

Our Weekly Bread: Snarf’s, mmmm, Snarf’s

The sandwich: Corned Beef Brisket and Swiss What’s on it: Corned beef briskey, Swiss, mayo, mustard, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle, oil, seasonings, hot pepper relish Where to get it: Snarf’s (1001 East 11th Avenue, 303-832-9999) How much: $7.65 Hey! Who put the hot peppers on my corned beef brisket? Hey!…

Eat Your Beer With Old Chub Bread

Maybe you know Old Chub because you’ve had it on tap at Oskar Blues or bought a six-pack of this canned Scottish Ale at the liquor store. Or maybe you’ve heard the name because you took a momentary leave of your senses and purchased a tube of Old Chub chapstick,…

James Mazzio set to open the Icehouse Tavern

The action is heating up at the Icehouse, 1801 Wynkoop Street, where the Icehouse Tavern could open as early as June 1. It’s another project by the Momo brothers, who’d owned Via, the previous occupant of the space, and run Cucina Colore in Cherry Creek. And James Mazzio, Via’s last…

MiniBAR mini-opening; grand opening this weekend

miniBAR opened on Cinco de Mayo, serving specials and drinks, of course. “We are ramping up throughout the week,” promises miniBAR’s e-mail announcement, “serving food and our full menu starting this Friday.” The grand opening is May 8 and 9 — and since this spot tucked under the old Village…

Dining blind at Cracovia

Bigos. Flaki. Czerwony barszcz, with or without uszka. Kapusniak. Pyzy, placek and kiszka. I’m pretty good with languages, particularly on my favorite conversational topics of food, kitchens and cooks. My pronunciation might be embarrassingly bad, but I can say “please,” ask after individual ingredients, order, appreciate and offer thanks with…

Denver’s best female chefs wowed at Women Cook!

See photos from the event at westword.com/slideshow. Last night, nearly 500 foodophiles packed the ballroom at Congregation Emanuel to lend their support for the fifth annual Women Cook!, Dining for a Difference, the largest silent auction and fundraiser of the year for Work Options for Women, a non-profit that offers…

Something’s cooking in Summit County

Imagine being in an endless meadow high in the mountains, the shadows of a few clouds dancing with the deep green of the ground. You reach into your quaint napsack for a bite (you MUST keep up those energy levels on wildflower hikes, lest you miss the Asteraceae on your…

Frasca finally opens for lunch — for two days only

For the first time, Frasca Food & Wine is opening for lunch — but only on Friday and Saturday, May 8-9. Although the schedule change is to accommodate people in town for graduation ceremonies at the University of Colorado, you don’t need to know a student to sign up for…