The chicken at La Polleria is a real bird in the hand

Roast-chicken fanatics tout experiencing the bird with bread salad at San Francisco’s Zuni Cafe the way others talk about climbing the Eiffel Tower or bagging a peak. Some buy the restaurant’s cookbook and start on the recipe two days in advance, drying, salting and stuffing herbs under the skin in…

Steve Progar leaves Abrusci’s, lands at Hideaway Steakhouse

Steve Progar posted this note on Facebook earlier today: “After a successful 12 years in partnership at Abrusci’s, I’ve taken on a new challenge at the Hideaway Steakhouse. Great place, great food, great people! Hope to see you all come in! Thanks for all the memories at Abrusci’s!” But if…

The molcajete rocks at Playa Azul

In A Federal Case, I’ll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard — south to north — within Denver city limits. I’ll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I’ll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here’s the…

Can Qdoba rescue brown rice — from itself?

The term “flavor profile” isn’t usually heard in reference to brown rice — unless “tastes an awful lot like water-logged wood chips” is considered a valid flavor descriptor. But Qdoba, the runner-up of Colorado’s homegrown, fast-casual Mexican chains, is introducing seasoned brown rice as an option in its restaurants. And…

Take a course on meat at University of Denver this evening

The University of Denver is hosting a free screening of American Meat — a documentation of the meat industry in America — tonight on the campus. And Westword editor Patricia Calhoun will moderate a panel discussion afterwards. See also: – Denver Restaurant Week and plenty of beer on the culinary…

Taco the town: Tyler Wiard, John Hickenlooper meet up in DC

When Governor John Hickenlooper was at the National Governors Association Taste of America Gala in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, he saw a familiar face: Tyler Wiard, culinary director of Elway’s Restaurant Group, who was there to champion Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. And no one who stopped by…

Steuben’s debuts a new late-winter cocktail menu

March is just around the corner, which means that winter is in full swing here in Colorado. Ryan Layman, the bar manager at Steuben’s Food Service, has recognized this by creating a new cocktail menu to beat the winter blues. See also: – Denver’s ten best plates of chicken and…

It takes pluck to open a polleria in Centennial

Quick! Name a Peruvian food. Chances are you named ceviche — raw, citrus-marinated fish. But Bob Van Diest is hoping that will soon change. A year and a half ago, Van Diest and his family opened La Polleria, a small restaurant in Centennial serving another type of authentic Peruvian fare:…

Guess where I’m eating oysters?

It doesn’t matter what I order at this Japanese restaurant — sushi, sashimi, udon or oysters — because there’s never a miss. Truth be told, every time I have the opportunity to go here, I’m more impressed than the time before. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone…

Reader: KFC and Popeye’s are finalists for best fried chicken?

Yesterday we revealed the current Food & Drink leaders in our Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll. In the Best Fried Chicken category, for example, the top five vote-getters are:Carrie’s Place, Steuben’s,White Fence FarmPopeye’s and KFC. And those last two just don’t fly with one reader. See also: – Best…