The Market Report, May 9

How do you kick off the first day of summer? (Yes, some people say it starts in late June — but I say it’s after the last day of finals!). Failing in my goal of waking up face down, possibly naked, and definitely hungover somewhere in Boulder, I went to…

Colorado beer drinkers have a crush on cans

It’s American Craft Beer Week – seven days that even the United States Congress felt should be set aside for one purpose and one purpose only: drinking micro brews. (To find out about tappings, food pairings and other events, click here or here.) But Colorado’s beer culture is worth a…

First impressions of Olivea

The Uptown ‘hood has no shortage of restaurants, but Olivéa, the new food temple from John Broening, Yasmin Lozada-Hisson, Keith Arnold and Stephanie Bonin (the foursome behind Duo), located at 719 East 17th Avenue in the former Aix space, could be just what the neighborhood’s been waiting for: an upbeat,…

Ask the Critic: Barbecue season, ’09

I hear from a lot of cranky (or just plain pissed off) readers every week.  Some weeks they’re complaining about my reviewing style (“All he talks about is himself!”), some weeks they’ve complaining about my review of someone’s favorite restaurant (“Only an idiot wouldn’t think Root Down was the best…

Tony’s Market is so close we can almost taste it

Tony’s, Tony’s, Tony’s! The highly touted butcher, deli and upscale market from the southern suburbs is roughly two weeks away from finally opening in the 900 block of Broadway. The dark-red and white striped awnings went up this morning, and a couple of trees were planted near the planned patio…

Guess where I’m eating?

Thanks to the wonders of technology, I’m going to start posting quick snaps from some of the restaurants I visit during the week. Your mission? To guess where I was gorging myself, using nothing more than the clues in the photos. Sorry, no prizes — just bragging rights and another…

Party down with Bob Schaffer’s margarita

Did you miss this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo festivities in Civic Center Park? You can still get a taste of them by picking up a bottle of Coyote Gold Premium Margarita — the margarita that former U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer’s wife, Maureen, is marketing along with her Fort Collins…

Milking It: Trail Mix Crunch Cranberry Vanilla

Trail Mix Crunch Cranberry Vanilla cereal Post Rating: Two spoons out of four Cereal description: An amalgamation of different grains — wheat, oats, barley, rice — blended with dried cranberries, almonds and plenty more. This potpourri produces a munch that’s marked more by dissimilarity than consistency — a crazy compendium…

Frasca dinner with Bodegas Muga wines

On Monday, May 11, Frasca Food & Wine, 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, will offer a wine dinner with Steve Lewis of Giuliana Imports presenting the wines of Bodegas Muga. Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey will be on hand, and chef/co-owner Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson will cook a four-course seasonal menu. The…

First look at the Snooze expansion

Soon the lines will be forming outside of Snooze, the popular breakfast spot in the Ballpark neighborhood. So popular, in fact, that owner Jon Schlegel decided to create a second Snooze.  “I’d say that we’re screening a lot of places right now,” he told me a couple of months ago…

The mother of all food weekends

This weekend, it’s all about Mom. Take her to the Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, from 10:30 a.m. to noon today, May 9, for a free tea-service demo. To make a reservation, go to www.denverlibrary.org. And before you take your mother to brunch on Sunday (check with…

The List: ‘fo schnitzel

I fell in love with Cracovia this week.Then, a few days later, I fell in love all over again with the schnitzel and potato pancakes and green chile at Hospoda. So is it that I’m some kind of restaurant slut, going all head over heels for any joint that catches…

Cafe Society: Week in review

What you might have missed on this week’s Cafe Society…The much anticipated Pho on 6th opened, along with Olivea and Otto’s Grill.We got to the root of owner Justin Cucci’s dismissal of Root Down’s executive chef, Ryan Leinonen.Jason Sheehan geeked out with the Geeks Who Drink and fought a pack…

Pizza Republica opens today

After a few delays and some dark days, Pizza Republica is finally opening at 4 p.m. today at 5375 Landmark Place in Greenwood Village.Here’s how the Jet Entertainment Group, which also owns the Jet Hotel and Nine75, describes its latest restaurant on the company’s website: “Pizza Republica focuses on homemade…

Room for one more Mo’s

Went to Mo’s last night. No, not Mo’ Tacos, which is right next to Mona’s at 123 South Broadway. And not Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl, further down the strip at 3295 South Broadway, right by the Gothic Theatre. And not any of the three Moe’s Broadway Bagel outposts in…

Candy Girls: Happy candyversary!

A year ago, we came to you with a simple pink maltball that tasted like Barbie, and the Candy Girls were born.  In addition to this momentous anniversary, Aubrey has even bigger news to commemorate with the birth of her baby boy last night!  What better way to celebrate the concurrence…

Bistro One to discontinue lunch…for now

This just in from Olav Peterson at Bistro One (1294 South Broadway). Come May 15, Peterson and his crew at the award-winning neighborhood bistro will stop serving lunch. According to Peterson, this is just a temporary thing, something he’s doing for the summer.  And he plans on replacing the vanishing lunches with…

Chocolate and beer — what more could you need?

The Colorado Chocolate Festival returns to the Denver Merchandise Mart this weekend, starting with a Friday Night Gala from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight; the regular show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets to the gala are $12, regular admission is $7 adults, kids 5-12 are $3,…

Obama orders Socialist condiment, gets served

Like all good journalists, I get most of my news from Gawker.  Actually, I get most of my news (at least that portion of my news that doesn’t involve the swine flu, robots, UFO sightings or the coming zombie apocalypse) from my wife, Laura, who gets her news from Gawker…

Now you can get in the swim at Casa Bonita

Joel Warner, who recently wrote a Casa Bonita survival guide as a public service for anyone headed to that bastard child of Disneyland and Tijuana in the heart of Lakewood, has news for fans of the colossal Mexican restaurant/amusement park. Casa Bonita is looking for a new recruit for its…

Stranahan’s leaves LoDo for old Heavenly Daze Brewery

Stranahan’s has become Colorado’s best-known distilled spirit – a favorite of locals and national whiskey connoisseurs alike. And now the micro-distillery will be able to meet that demand, even if it means leaving the neighborhood where it was born. On May 6, the company bought the old Heavenly Daze Brewery…

Veggie Girl: The Melting Pot

I love to have new dining experiences — but while being vegetarian creates some limitations, I’ve discovered that pregnancy really makes eating out challenging. Soft cheeses are a no-no nowadays and undercooked eggs will have to wait a few more days, until the baby is born. So will wine and…