Advice From Ten Denver Chefs on Opening a Restaurant

We recently talked to five new restaurant owners on the pitfalls and lessons-learned of opening their own eateries. Here they — and a few other chefs who’ve piloted kitchens in their opening days — give advice for others who are thinking about going it solo. 1. “Get everything in writing…

First-Time Restaurant Owners Talk About What It Takes

With rising real estate prices, a labor shortage and plenty of competition for diners, new restaurants face tough challenges in Denver. And those challenges become even tougher for optimistic entrepreneurs who’ve never owned a restaurant. Still, this city’s restaurant scene continues to explode, with no end in sight. We caught…

Frozen Matter Targets Washington Park for Second Ice Cream Shop

When Geraldine Kim and Josh Gertzen opened Frozen Matter in Uptown in the spring of 2016, they built their ice cream shop with expansion in mind. Frozen Matter is the only retail ice cream shop in Colorado that is also a licensed dairy plant with an on-site pasteurizer, according to the owners,…

The Seven Best Events on the Culinary Calendar This Week

Fundraisers, fermentation and oration are on the menu this week in Denver. From a pair of benefits that will ensure you also get a good meal to a class on kombucha to a duo of distinguished guests giving speeches, here are seven spicy events on the culinary calendar from Monday,…

Vinh Xuong Owner Adds Coffee Shop to Zeppelin Station Plan

While there are still a few gaps in the market-hall plan at the upcoming Zeppelin Station development at 3501 Wazee Street, at least two gaps will be filled by Duc Huynh, who currently runs Vinh Xuong Bakery at 2370 West Alameda Avenue. Earlier this summer, Huynh inked a deal to bring…

All the Restaurant and Bar Openings and Closings This Week

Two coffee shops, a sexy new RiNo bar, an Aurora steakhouse and an escape-room concept are among the bar and restaurant openings this week. Joe Maxx Coffee Co. adds another artistic element to the Art District on Santa Fe, while Congress Park favorite Under the Umbrella doubles down on its…

Cider and Bluegrass Come Together at the Quickly Growing Stem

Stem Ciders, at 2811 Walnut Street in RiNo, is hosting its annual Cider Grass fall festival from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. this Saturday, October 7. No, not that kind of grass; Stem Ciders is a family-friendly craft cider maker. Grass, as in bluegrass music, will play live all day, with…

Chef Troy Guard Lets His Customers Design the Next Big Taco

If you’re a chef known for creative interpretations of Asian and Mexican classics and fusing Hawaiian, Japanese, American and Mexican cuisine into a new style of dining across several successful restaurants, where do you turn to for inspiration for a new dish? To the customers, of course! That’s exactly what…

Cocktail Lair Run for the Roses Heads to the Dairy Block

Development group McWhinney set out to make the Dairy Block a beacon of dining, drinking and shopping in downtown Denver, and every new tenant revelation raises the bar on that promise. On the heels of the announcement that Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno are building massive market hall Milk Market there comes…

The Summit Steakhouse Becomes Salvage Restaurant After Forty Years

At first mention, the name “Salvage” didn’t exactly evoke images of tasty steak dinners, historic Denver eateries or any kind of culinary experience, for that matter. In fact, it sounded like a second-hand store where I could take my old toaster and ’90s grunge-era button-up shirts. So it raised my…

Cheesehead Alert: Eight Denver Spots for Wisconsin Cheese Curds

Folks from Wisconsin (and Eastconsin, too) have been showing up in droves since Denver’s building boom began a few years ago. They’re a friendly lot, and they love the Packers, the Wisconsin Badgers and fried cheese curds. Other than the sports team, they’re not so different from the rest of…

Six Fantastic Events on the Culinary Calendar This Weekend

It’s an eclectic weekend in Denver. From pierogi and tapas to oysters and cider, there’s something on the menu (and at a price point) for everyone. Here are six delicious events on the culinary calendar from Friday, October 6, through Sunday, October 8. Friday, October 6 Even people sick of…

Ten Things to Watch for at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival

The Great American Beer Festival, now in its 36th year, has changed drastically over the decades. It has grown significantly in size, while the industry it represents has grown even more. These days, the specifics of the fest itself aren’t too different from year to year, but the issues surrounding…

The Bindery Aiming for Mid-October Opening in LoHi

There’s a new apartment complex at the corner of 18th and Central streets in LoHi (which will surprise absolutely no one) where many years ago a book binding company once stood. The only remaining evidence is in the name of the Bindery (1817 Central Street), a new restaurant that’s aiming…

Pints Pub Still Draws the Anglophiles After Nearly 25 Years

Pints Pub, 221 West 13th Avenue, is a landmark of sorts in the Golden Triangle, the sliver of land in the shadow of the Capitol, bordered by the arteries of Colfax, Speer and Broadway. Cruising by on West 13th Avenue, I am always reassured to see the familiar red phone…