The location has been called “low-rent,” “brave” and “sketchy,” but Jeff Osaka, owner/chef of twelve, the obscure, 35-seat NoDo neighborhood restaurant, whose monthly-changing menu is always a stunning adventure in food, rolls his eyes and shrugs at the misconception. “I found this restaurant on Craigslist while living in Los Angeles,…
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. Paul, Pete’s partner…
When news broke that Randy Layman was leaving Avenue Grill to run the bar at Jonesy’s EatBar for Leigh Jones, it sounded like a match made in heaven. Layman is an incredible mixologist with a passion for tending bar — and for teaching neophytes how to tend bar well. Leigh…
Big Papa’s BBQ will hold the official grand opening of its third location, at 5151 South Federal Boulevard, today — and there’s real reason to celebrate, says John Jensen, the director of operations. In April, the partners had just bought the building, an old Burger King, when their financing fell…
Slinging craft beers requires knowledge beyond the basic pour. Everybody knows what Bud Light tastes like, but how many people can answer on-the-fly questions about lager versus ale, hops versus malts and everything in between? From 6 to 9:30 p.m. tonight, Left Hand Brewing Company and the Old Chicago outpost…
The first time I cooked pot food was my freshman year in high school. Two friends and I pooled our money, bought a quarter bag of Texas dirt weed and some instant brownie mix, and headed to an adult-free house with an open kitchen. After putting aside enough pot for…
The race for governor of Colorado is in full swing, but the next “Gubna” of Colorado has already been decided. Oskar Blues Brewery will release Gubna Imperial IPA on March 1, the Longmont-based brewer’s sixth canned brew. The unusual rye beer is made from three kinds of malt, including rye…
Clock Tower Grill, which opened at 9360 Station Street in Lone Tree in October, is no relation to Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret — instead, it’s a sibling to the Uptown Bar and Grill in Dallas, whose owners are hoping to recreate their Texas success in Colorado. “The word is getting out…
The third Ali Baba Grill, at 5380 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard in the Landmark project in Greenwood Village, finally opened today. For months, the owners of the popular spot in Golden and a sibling in Littleton had talked about getting their newest location open in December, then by the first of…
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to save your pennies, Encore, the New American restaurant at 2550 East Colfax Avenue, sympathizes with your plight. To that end, exec chef Paul Reilly has introduced some swell new food specials that run Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week…
I’m a big fan of multi-tasking. Exhibit A: In the above pic, I was fine-tuning my immune system with Vitamin C and blowing off some steam. If you can guess where I was swilling this blood orange martini with a hint of Campari, the DINR deck could be yours this…
Apparently a crisp Ben Franklin, a bottle of wine and your mug shot on the wall of fame wasn’t quite enough incentive for the would-be food warriors that Virgilio Urbano, the master dough flipper of Virgilio’s Pizzeria, had hoped would try and tackle the 11-pound, 28-inch pizza-eating challenge that he…
As a countdown to the Best of Denver 2010, coming April 1, Cafe Society is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in Denver. Send your own nominations to cafe@westword.com…
On Sunday, a pair of ninjas robbed Deli Cioso, a Mexican restaurant in Longmont. Owner Rudy Masia says he turned over a day’s receipts to the mysterious miscreants, who were tiny and dressed in black. Longmont Police Sergeant Garrett Boden told the Longmont Times-Call that the culprits didn’t have large…
“Pinch the tail, suck the head, burn in hell.” That’s the verbiage on a makeshift church sign at godhatesshrimp.com. God hates shrimp? Clearly, he (or she) just hasn’t sucked good shrimp heads. But the opportunity exists for the rest of you if you can guess where I’m eating. Special bonus:…
Jamba Juice wants to give you a jump-start on your resolution of staying healthy in 2010. Every Wednesday in January, Jamba Juice is selling its organic, steel cut-oats for 1$ — down from the regular price of $2.95. Not too shabby. With a hump-day starter of oats and a choice…
The City of Aurora hosts a wine class, Petite Syrah, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Summer Valley Recreation Center, 17400 East Lehigh Place in Aurora.Tuition runs from $22 to $29, and you must be 21 or older. To learn more and sign up, go to auroragov.org/recreation or…
A cop from Miami Gardens, Florida somehow keeps his cool while dissecting a maggot-laden steak sandwich from a restaurant that clearly doesn’t live by the motto, “To serve and protect.” The determined police officer insists on keeping the eurolarvae alive as evidence for the local news station. Warning: This is…
Let us take a moment to pray praise the taco. Last July, Gidget, the talking prima donna Chihuahua best known for making Taco Bell’s fast food look cute (and, at times, even edible), passed away at 15 after complications from a massive stroke. Now comes word that the last bell…
There’s plenty of food for thought on the local culinary scene, with everything from talks on healthy cuisine to overdosing on the best pizza around. Here’s a taste of what’s ahead: Monday, January 18: Elizabeth Somer, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness: 10 Diet Secrets to Improve Your Mood,…
During truffle season, chef Daniel Boulud serves a $150 black truffle burger, stuffed with braised ribs and foie gras, at DB Bistro Moderne in the Big Apple. At Serendipity 3, also in New York, the Golden Opulence Tahitian vanilla ice cream sundae, garnished in a 23-carat edible gold leaf, sells…
Argyll Gastropub, the subterranean grub-and-ale house at 2700 East Third Avenue, is about to get bigger — much bigger. That’s because Argyll owner Robert Thompson just snatched up the Plush space directly next door, which closed following New Year’s Eve. Thompson’s first priority is to expand the patio before St…
