Guess where I’m eating jalapeno poppers?

There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with these — save for the fact that the jalapeños were completely bereft of heat and I’d prefer an absence of yellow cheese — but they still brought tears to my eyes in remembrance of the terrific jalapeño poppers at Encore. #Sniffle. Can you guess…

Round two with Joe Freemond, exec chef of the Cellar Wine Bar

Joe Freemond Cellar Wine Bar 2556 15th Street 303-455-9463 www.cwbon15th.com Read part one of my interview with Joe Freemond, exec chef of the Cellar Wine Bar. Best thing about cooking in Denver: Being a part of the culinary explosion that this city is finally experiencing. Having grown up here, I’ve…

Reader: X marks the spat for Denver restaurant coverage

While controversy continues to rage over the packed parking situation in LoHi, let’s return to a bigger picture: the geographic area Westword covers, and why we continue to refer to the entire metro area as simply Denver. Have we gone too far? Why not refer to the area as New…

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo early at El Diablo

El Diablo, 101 Broadway, will kick off its Cinco Central 2012 party tonight. Starting at 6 p.m., guests can enjoy live Latin music from DJ Gonzo and the Qrquesta La Brava salsa band while sipping on some of Denver’s best margaritas — and then dancing, depending on how many margs…

The 2UP will move into Pete’s Monkey Bar space

Just over a year after opening the 1UP, the hot arcade/bar in LoDo, owner Jourdan Adler has taken over the former home of Pete’s Monkey Bar, which closed on Monday, and will be putting a second bar, the 2UP, in that spot. According to Adler, the 2UP will have arcade…

New cottage food law is the icing on Cake Pandemic

Christine Black is an avid home baker, one who bestows treats on her friends, family and co-workers. As requests for her goodies grew, she considered renting commercial space and actually growing her passion into a business. But when the “cottage food bill,” which allows home cooks to sell their goods…

Big Easy Creole Kitchen is coming to Cherry Creek North

Creole is suddenly on a roll in Denver: Zydeco’s opened last fall on Wynkoop Street, a new Gumbo’s is going into the space that had been Roam on East 17th Avenue, and the 1812 Restaurant & Bar is currently amassing funds to build a restaurant in Five Points. Now you…

The Gold Hill Inn opens for its fiftieth season this weekend

In 1962, husband and wife Frank and Barbara Finn purchased the old Bluebird Lodge and its dining hall, nestled in the mining town of Gold Hill (ten miles west of Boulder, up Sunshine Canyon). The couple turned the almost-century-old spot — now known collectively as the Gold Hill Inn –…

3 Monkeys Cantina opens in the former Bistro One space

I was rather hoping to see a few monkeys when I stopped by 3 Monkeys Cantina, the new Mexican restaurant that owner Alex Waters opened yesterday in the former Bistro One space, which he closed four weeks ago after a four-year run at 1294 South Broadway. No monkeys, no trees…

Guess where I’m drinking this mint julep?

Saturday could very well be a national holiday for drinkers, with Cinco de Mayo celebrations colliding with Kentucky Derby-watching parties. It’s not hard to find a good margarita around town — but a great mint julep? That’s a much more elusive creature. Still, I recently found a perfect version –…

Nourish your inner vegan at Chomp! tonight

Chomp!, a monthly vegan supper club, convenes at 7 p.m. this evening at Green Spaces Colorado, 1368 26th Street. For a suggested donation of $7 to $10, guest will be treated to vegan Thai food — and also a chance to win prizes. Reservations are required (so that the organizers…

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill: Hail fellow, well-Med!

Colorado is the birthplace of a number of popular chains, including Noodles & Company, Smashburger and that golden child, Chipotle Mexican Grill; we’re definitely ahead of the curve when it comes to the growing fast-casual movement. And also when it comes to the growing group of fast-casual chains that emphasize…