Oysters, boars and bourbon in Boulder tonight

From the sea to the still, Boulder is celebrating food and drink in a big way tonight. Whether you’d rather be shucking and slurping at the Oyster Fest or sitting down to a multi-course meal centered on a whole boar at SALT, there is something for everyone — except, maybe,…

Redpyrope is the winner of our Jax High West Oyster Fest contest

UPDATE: We have a winner of our Jax High West Oyster Fest contest, in which we asked Cafe Society readers to answer this question: How many people attended last year’s High West Oyster Fest? Congratulations to redpyrope, who came the closest with a guess of 628; the actual number is…

Ian Kleinman’s Inventing Room wins ACF Achievement of Excellence award

The Inventing Room, chef Ian Kleinman’s company that uses molecular gastronomy to make food as entertaining as it is delicious, won an American Culinary Federation Achievement in Excellence Award at the ACF’s Western Regional Conference earlier this month. See also: The Little Nell and Denver author Adrian Miller nab James…

Tiller’s Kitchen and Bar opening at Denver Marriott Westminster

Drivers who hit traffic on the under-construction US 36 will have a new place to stop as of next month, when Tiller’s Kitchen and Bar is slated to open in the new Denver Marriott Westminster. See also: Pizzeria Locale will open its second Denver location in Highland later this year…

Guess where I’m drinking a (weak) pomegranate margarita?

I’ll give the guy who made this margarita an “A” for effort and attitude, but it was clear from the taste — or lack of it — that this may have been his first rodeo. Can you guess where I’m drinking? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer…

Recipe Wednesday: Chilled nettle soup with pickled fiddleheads

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 a spacious kitchen. They often bring some of their market’s best ingredients home with them and cook up a feast, and when they’re not…

Flavor revolves around carne al pastor at El Taco Veloz

In A Federal Case, I’ll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard — south to north — within Denver city limits. I’ll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I’ll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here’s the…

Review: Mecca Grill is changing course from Lebanon to Morocco

Mecca Grill 270 South Downing Street 303-722-4100 meccagrilldenver.com I’d heard the management had changed at Mecca Grill, a once-popular Lebanese restaurant in a tiny strip center in Washington Park, so I dropped by for dinner, curious to see if the new owner was going to give me a reason to…

Ten brand-new Colorado canned beers to look forward to in 2014

Colorado’s largest craft brewer, New Belgium, and one of its smallest, Black Shirt, both broke new ground in January when they began canning a pair of unusual beers. New Belgium’s offering was the tart Snapshot, one of the first canned beers using lactobacillius as a souring agent. Black Shirt rolled…

Beau Jo’s now offering electric-car charging stations

Beau Jo’s is going green. At all four locations of the local chain, you can charge your electric car while refueling yourself with a slice of Colorado-style pizza. See also: Mecca Grill is changing course from Lebanese to Moroccan cuisine…

Closed Burger King to be replaced by First Bank

As we recently reported, the Burger King outpost that reigned over the intersection at Sixth and Broadway for over 27 years suddenly closed a few weeks ago, with no notice of what would replace it. Yesterday, the Denver Business Journal reported that construction will break ground this week for the…

Guess where I’m eating a salmon burger?

Given Denver’s increasing proliferation of beef burger joints, it’s a welcome change to find an alternative, in this case a salmon burger that was as juicy as the gossip going on at the table behind me. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct…

Ocean Prime hosts winemaker Jonathan Honig tonight

Tonight Ocean Prime in Larimer Square will welcome Jonathan Honig of Honig Winery and Vineyards to talk about wine and meet with guests. For the occasion, new executive chef Eally Smith will serve up two specials that can be paired with Honig wines. See also: USA Today picks Denver’s top…