International House of Pancakes: back to the backup restaurant

The concept of “the backup” is a pretty familiar one in sports, electrical generators and dating, but you don’t usually see it applied to restaurants. But the International House of Pancakes is my idea of the perfect backup restaurant: It’s not a first choice for dining, but it’s a suitable…

Reader: Bacon has finally jumped the shark

Can there ever be too much bacon? Diners were in hog heaven at last weekend’s Bacon and Beer Festival, featuring craft beers from some of the state best breweries as well as bacon in every form imaginable, some edible — and some not, as the photo above indicates. It was…

Culinary Calendar: The end of the world, cheese tastings and more

The Mayan calendar ends this Friday, December 21, which some people believe predicts the end of the world. As a precaution, the Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street, is offering would-be refugees a Party Like There’s No To-Maya package this Friday. The deal includes rental of the entire fifteenth floor; limousine…

Is Colorado the center of the “crafty” beer universe?

Colorado — home to the Great American Beer Festival, the Brewers Association and 161 breweries — is the center of the universe when it comes to craft beer. But is it also the center of the “crafty” beer universe? On Thursday, the Brewers Association, which represents small brewers nationwide, fired…

Guess where I’m eating Malaysian shrimp laksa?

One of my all-time favorite street foods is Malaysian shrimp laksa, and here, at this playful noodle and curry house that doesn’t play by the rules, the rich, thick coconut soup is perfumed with herbs, textured with cashews and slurp-worthy with slithery noodles. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special…

Larkburger will spread holiday cheer this weekend in downtown

The new downtown location of Larkburger,which just opened December 1, has invited a quartet of carolers to sing holiday classics tomorrow and Sunday, December 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The group will be collecting donations for the Denver Children’s Home — a local nonprofit that helps children and…

Reader: Burnsley bar was built for marital infidelity

If these stools could talk! The Burnsley Hotel closed yesterday, and with that closure Denver lost an elegant hotel dining room and a tucked-away bar that was many things for many people… Including a great spot for an assignation. See also: – Reader: I’m bummed to see the Burnsley go…

Bye-bye, Burnsley….

Hoping to have one last drink at the Burnsley before the hotel closes in anticipation of turning into apartments? You’re too late. The doors are already locked, the restaurant and bar dark, and the sign above posted on those doors. RIP, Burnsley. See also: The Burnsley Hotel — and its…

Bin 1884 Cheese Bar is open in the Empty Bottle

The owners of the Empty Bottle wine shop have finally popped the cork for Bin 1884 Cheese Bar, a casual eatery they opened in the shop at 1886 South Pearl Street that offers soups, sandwiches and antipasta plates. Here’s a look at Bin 1884: See also: -Bin 1884 Cheese Bar…

Jeff Osaka’s twelve wins the numbers game on 12/12/12

When chef Jeff Osaka opened twelve in November 2008, he wasn’t thinking about a day more than four years in the future, the last triple date of this century: 12/12/12. He wasn’t thinking about the future much at all. He’d named his restaurant twelve to reflect the fact that he…

Photos: Tuaca Cinnaster gets in the Denver swim at Dive Inn

Colorado is one of the top two markets for Tuaca, and judging from the local launch of Tuaca Cinnaster at the Dive Inn last night, this cinnamon-laced extension of the brand is going to be hot in more ways than one. Westword photographer Elyse Mitchell brought back these photos from…

Guess where I’m eating lamb with scallions?

The above dish — sliced lamb with a garden of scallions — hails from a Chinese restaurant with a lengthy menu (aren’t they all that way?), much of it Americanized, but if you dig a little deeper and study the last two pages, you’ll be rewarded with authenticity. Can you…

Round two with Ignacio Leon, exec chef of Paxia and Los Carboncitos

Ignacio Leon Los Carboncitos 3757 Pecos Street 303-458-0880 www.loscarboncitos.com Paxia 4001 Tejon Street 720-583-6860 www.paxiadenver.com Part one of my interview with Ignacio Leon, exec chef of Paxia and Los Carboncitos, ran yesterday; this is part two of our conversation. Favorite food city in America: The nation’s best chefs are in…

Smashburger hauls its buns all the way to Costa Rica

Smashburger, a homegrown burger chain, just opened a new location in Costa Rica. And so far, it’s been a smashing success, with a special, indigenous burger and fries combo and more international flavors to come. See also: -Smashburger and New Belgium team up on burger-and-beer pairings -Smashburger capitalizes on Manning…

Reader: Central Bistro is hot, but its HOT sign is not

Gretchen Kurtz reviewed Central Bistro & Bar this week, and although she loved many of chef Lance Barto’s dishes, she didn’t like the giant HOT sign that dominates the decor. Even though it comes with a tasty back story — the six-foot-high letters used to be part of the sign…

Central Bistro & Bar: A taste of this week’s review

Interior designers are paid to think about color, and for good reason. Whether on walls, fabrics or furniture, colors impact how we feel and act, often without our knowing it. Yellow, the color of sunshine, makes people happy, whereas red, the color of stop signs and Xs on school papers,…