On Wednesday night, as part of Dish, Westword’s annual tribute to Denver’s dining scene, seven local cocktologists participated in a mixology battle judged by yours truly, Westword Drink of the Week scribe Nancy Levine, and Ian Grzybowski, the district manager for Coca-Cola North America. The competition, emceed by Sean Kenyon,…
Granted, chili is something of a sacred thing — and the nature of that sacredness varies, depending on where you were brought up, and what your grandma ladled into a bowl. Still, there are some things that you can do to chili that seem like anathema, whether or not you…
The already-extended Civic Center Eats will hold its last Tuesday event of the year next week — but the fun isn’t over yet. “Starting in October, we will be shifting to a much smaller-scale version, but on a daily basis,” explains Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, director of the Civic Center Conservancy…
Roberto Diaz, the chef featured in this week’s Chef and Tell interview, was born and raised in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, where gorditas are king. “They were always served with our meal on Sunday while I was growing up, and I could never get enough of them,” says Diaz…
Missoula, Montana, is a lovely town in the middle of nowhere with a population consisting primarily of cowpokes and carnivores. Yesterday, the two met in a standoff on the back porch of a house just outside of town, when a black bear paid a surprise visit to a local woman…
Nothing says fall like roasting green chiles, and Pueblo is celebrating in style — plus adding beans to the mix with the annual Chile and Frijoles Festival, which starts today with a farmers’ market. Tomorrow, there’ll be a chile and salsa showdown; on Sunday, a jalapeno-eating contest. Get more information…
Dessert’s a funny thing in fancy restaurants these days. No more slices of cherry tart, chocolate cake or apple strudel unless they’re miniatures, deconstructed, flavored with something incongruous like curry, set on curlicues of sauce you have to sample with your finger because there’s not enough to get on a…
Smother love: It’s easy being green in Denver in September, when the smell of roasting chiles overrides the odor of exhaust along Federal Boulevard, and the green chile at your favorite Mexican joint carries the heat of the new harvest. For the next several weeks, Cafe Society will feature some…
For years, Gaetano’s, the iconic neighborhood Italian joint at 3760 Tejon Street, has billed itself as “Italian to die for.” And now it’s pouring cello, the potent Italian liquid that infuses fruit with vodka and packs the kind of lethal punch that knocks you on your ass in no time…
Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs has released the label for its Double Rainbow saison and there’s only one way to describe it: “It’s so intense!” That’s right, the brewery is a beer — due to be tapped on October 24 as a dessert beer during a saison dinner — based…
There’s nothing quite like sea urchin roe, which isn’t roe at all, but the female gonads from the prickly, spiny sea creature that dwells on the ocean floor. It’s creamy, like custard, the hue of flames and its pronounced oceanic, slightly sweet flavor makes for an insanely gratifying indulgence, especially…
When brothers Kevin and Craig Caldwell took over the former Aroma Cafe (and Pita Jungle before that) at 2017 South University Boulevard near the end of 2009, they’d hoped to reopen the spot as the Crimson & Gold Tavern in the spring. But in February, they were denied a liquor…
It was a delightful Saturday morning on the sprawling front porch at Gaia Bistro, 1551 South Pearl Street. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and I was very much enjoying a savory crepe, stuffed full of succulent duck confit, creamy, decadent mornay and fluffy scrambled eggs. A friend was…
Dish, Westword’s annual party celebrating the local dining scene, went down last night at the Exdo Event Center, attracting dozens of local restaurateurs, bartenders, business types, hungry eaters and thirsty drinkers. Photographer Teal Nipp brings back these photos: Food Porn from Westword’s Dish. Here are some of the highlights:…
Roberto Diaz Mezcal 3230 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-5219 www.mezcalcolorado.com This is part two of Lori Midson’s Q&A with Roberto Diaz, executive chef of Mezcal. To read part one of that interview, click here. What you’d like to see more of in Denver from a culinary standpoint: Mexican food for Mexicans…
Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market’s choicest ingredients home with them, and cook up a feast. Barb’s sister Mariah,…
With the advent of the interwebs (big ups to Al Gore), just about anyone who eats — and yaps about it — can now be classified as a “Food Expert,” or “foodie.” Everywhere around us are douchey tools and butter-laden ladies who think that they are far superior to mere…
As resort-goers probably know, Tommy Bahama makes beach-friendly clothing — and beach-friendly rum, too. You can taste what Tommy has to offer from 7 to 10 p.m. at 8 Rivers Cafe, 1550 Blake Street, which is presenting a four-course Tommy Bahama Rum Tasting and Dinner, along with live music by…
Elissa and I studied the front of our menus for a moment, then looked up at the same time. “Uh, FEED each other?” she giggled. According to the history of Ethiopian food printed there, the proper way to enjoy a feast in that country is by linking arms and lovingly…
Ninety-five percent of the time, I’d rather chew tin foil than a vegetarian entree. During a brief spell, I tried to convince myself otherwise; I eschewed meat for a full four months during my freshman year at a liberal arts school in Southern California — the kind of place where…
I’m sure the six-week-old Rockaway Tavern — part 15th Street Tavern museum, part club of its own — is a great place to see live rock and roll. When I visit twice over the span of four days, however, I don’t experience any. Which is fine, because thanks to the…
Cafe Society is off to Dish, Westword’s annual celebration of the Denver dining scene, which debuts tonight in its new location at the Exdo Events Center, 1399 35th Street. We hear there are a few general admission tickets left; they’re $40 at the door, with a portion of the proceeds…
