Gorditas Doña Lidia is the Mrs. Garrett of Federal Boulevard

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…

Reader: Everything about Spuntino’s chocolate caramel tart is perfect

The 100 Favorite Dishes countdown continues, and No. 98 is the chocolate caramel sea salt tart from Spuntino, created by pastry expert Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, who’s married to John Broening, an equally talented chef. They’ve recently revamped the restaurant, and Spuntino is now getting raves for many things — but especially…

Seven signs that Denver is obsessed with bacon

Several years ago, Purina started broadcasting a line of commercials featuring a dog awakened by the scent of Beggin’ Strips. Not knowing the odor didn’t belong to real bacon, the dog frantically ran through the house, then finally found a strip and exclaimed, “It’s BACON!” But while dogs may not…

100 Favorite Dishes: Nachos from the Pioneer

Suffice it to say that I eat out more than the general population, unless, of course, the general population can catalogue more than 450 restaurant meals in a year — which is about the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I stomached in 2012. Pathetic, isn’t it? But all…

Cheba Hut downtown has new murals by Gamma Acosta

Cheba Hut is much more than a pot-based joke. The small chain of “toasted” sub shops may be based in Tempe, Arizona, but it definitely appreciates local customers, local produce and local beers — the Cheba Hut in downtown Denver has twenty Colorado beers on tap. And now it also…

Guess where I’m eating a breakfast burrito…next to gas?

Several people recommended that I try the breakfast burrito from this weird little joint that squats directly adjacent to a gas station, which happens to reek of incense. The breakfast burrito was merely pedestrian, as was the green chile that was more mild-mannered and mellow than the spacy dude in…

Leo Goto memorial set for Friday

Leo Goto, the legendary restaurateur who passed away on March 3, will be remembered with a Requiem Eucharist at 1 p.m. Friday, March 15, at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington Street in Denver. Goto, who opened his first restaurant, Leo’s Place, in 1969, was the youngest person ever inducted…

Photos: Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs is now open on Colfax

The third outpost of Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs opened last week in the former Office Depot building at 600 East Colfax Avenue. The two-story restaurant features funky decor and the same menu as the original location at 2445 Larimer Street. Westword’s Danielle Lirette brought back these pictures of the renovated…

Photos: Cana Wine Bar has uncorked on South Broadway

Cana Wine Bar finally opened last month at 2554 South Broadway, in what used to be a day spa. The bistro offers assorted cheese and charcuterie plates in addition to wine, spirits and beer. Flip the page for a first look at the casual spot. See also: – Restaurant roll…

Udi’s Cafe and Bar opens at Denver International Airport

Udi’s Café and Bar opened today on the B Concourse at Denver International Airport — the ninth location in this homegrown chain that emphasizes salads and sandwiches made with fresh, natural ingredients — and Udi’s artisan breads, baked fresh daily. And Udi’s has plenty of dough to spread around these…

Guess where I’m eating tater tots?

Tater tots are one of my guilty pleasures, and these little suckers, dusted with Cajun spices, arrived crisp and hot, just like the weather that’s predicted for later this week. And so much for that blizzard, which failed to materialize on the same day that I was toasty inside the…

In the kitchen with Patxi Azpiroz, chef of Patxi’s Pizza: meatballs

A few weeks ago, when I interviewed Patxi Axpiroz, the chef-owner of Patxi’s Pizza, our conversation moved from pizza to balls — meatballs, of course, which are popping up on menus at several local restaurants, including Cafe Bar, Gaetanos, Slotted Spoon and Spuntino. Some of those meatballs are funky and…