Five foods that are just fine to waste — starting with Oreos

We Americans waste food — and lots of it. A recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council’s food and agriculture program determined that Americans discard 40 percent of the food supply every year, and the average American family of four annually throws away an equivalent of up to $2,275…

Reader: LoDo has declined with the rise of other foodie areas

Charlie Palmer, the celebrated New York-based chef and restaurateur who owns and operates dozens of restaurants across the country, will close Charlie Palmer’s District Tavern and Wazee Wood-Fire Pizza at the end of dinner service — less than a year after he first rolled into Denver. Did he misjudge the…

Photos: 2012 Denver Burger Battle

The Denver Burger Battle amounted to a cook-off of epic proportions at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium last night, as chefs from restaurants in Boulder and Denver competed in a fierce competition to raise money for the Kossler Foundation, which distributes funds to local nonprofits. I was there…

Five sexy Spanish wines to try now

Right or wrong, French wines seem to conjure up images of wood-paneled studies where “serious” oenophiles sip Burgundy and debate Bordeaux futures. Italian wine perceptions run the gamut — you’ve got Barolo fanatics who kneel before the throne of King Nebbiolo along with fans of simpler stuff like pinot grigio…

Reader: This chef’s arrogance is off-putting

Aaron Bennett, the exec chef of Boulder’s Bácaro Venetian Taverna, is the focus of this week’s Chef and Tell interview, and some of his comments already have readers simmering. The one that seems to be causing the most consternation? Bennett’s list of pet peeves: “People who come into a restaurant…

Dining meets designing in Denver’s restaurant concepts

Part of the project is always getting to know your different clients, getting inside their heads,” says Sarah Semple Brown, who founded the design and architecture firm Semple Brown Design in the early ’80s and has been designing restaurant spaces ever since. “It’s like reality TV at its best.” Brown’s…

Pasquini’s changes name of Cherry Creek spot to Tony P’s

Tony Pasquini opened the first Pasquini’s Pizzeria in 1986 at 1310 South Broadway, a space that’s expanded several times over the years. But that hasn’t been the only change in the Pasquini’s restaurant empire. At the same time Pasquini opened other locations, he also allowed franchise operators to run restaurants…

Win VIP tickets to Westword‘s Dish! #dishword

Update: Congratulations to our three winners — atarrell, Scot62 and Sherri 1! Check your email for information on how to claim your tickets. And to the rest of you: Stay posted for more chances to win. If you haven’t yet bought your ticket to Dish — or you bought a…

Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: chocolate zucchini bread

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. It’s August, Barb…

Photos: Twenty best food faces at LoDo Bites

Denver’s culinary enthusiasts have some seriously glorious food faces. As proof, we offer the following photos, taken by Westword photographer Brandon Marshall at last night’s LoDo Bites celebration. Hundreds of food fans flocked to a string of lower downtown eateries including 1515 Restaurant, Ambria, Bistro Vendome, Coohills, Euclid Hall, The…