Announcement! We have a winner in our The Big Eat! contest

On Sunday, a troop of independent Denver restaurants — all of which are members of EatDenver — will congregate in the parking lot of Union Station as part of The Big Eat, a circus-themed culinary orgy that also includes plenty of libations from local brewers and distillers, as well as…

Guess where I’m eating?

While we sent the goat dish back to pasture, the golden dosa, enveloping curried vegetables, and sided with flavor-bombed chutneys and sambal, was a definite keeper. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts is…

Round two with Madison Street’s Rob Michaels

Rob Michaels Madison Street 1222 Madison Street 303-736-2260 www.madisonstreetdenver.com This is part two of my interview with Rob Michaels, chef de cuisine at Madison Street. In part one of this interview, Michaels dishes on dumbing down menus, the pitfalls of parsley, and pork heaven. Favorite Denver/Boulder restaurant(s) other than your…

Exploding melons and the top five dangerous foods

China has a new crop: exploding watermelons. Apparently Chinese farmers trying to fill an increased market demand for watermelons — it’s backyard barbecue season, after all — hosed down 115 acres of melons with the growth accelerator forchlorfenuron, causing the fruits to randomly combust. The chemical isn’t illegal, and it’s…

Reader: More beer news! More beer!

It’s American Craft Beer Week, a fact you cannot miss in bars across town — or on this blog, where we’ve been shamelessly touting the introduction of Big Shikes, as well as hyping other beery events around town. But apparently there can never be enough beer for aerofan, who posted…

The Asian Cajun is going in at Alameda and Zuni

This building at Alameda and Zuni held Taqueria La Capilla until last fall, when the place closed up shop. And while we saw no activity inside, the windows are papered over, suggesting that renovations are afoot. Another clue: The Asian Cajun lists this address on its application for a liquor…

La Scala Trattoria set to open tonight in Wash Park

La Scala Trattoria, a new Italian restaurant in Washington Park, will start serving dinner at 5 p.m. tonight. The space features a small dining room and bar with a clean and dark feel; interim chef Nate McBroom says the menu will focus on straightforward, rustic Italian food…

Ethiopian Restaurant’s veggie dishes are simple, but special

You’ve probably driven past the Ethiopian Restaurant dozens of times without giving it a second glance — unless it was to scope out the green, yellow and red paint adorning the entire building. But if you stop and go inside for a meal, we’re certain you’ll never overlook this spot…

Gindi Cafe shutters in Boulder

Gindi Cafe recently underwent an overhaul to pump life into the fledgling spot, revamping the business model to focus on baked goods, breakfast and espresso. But it wasn’t enough to save the place: The two-year-old spot shuttered last month, blaming the closure on a misunderstanding with landlords at the Peloton,…

Sausage bread, pumpkin candy and Miso Easy: Weird foods at H Mart

A distinctive smell assaults your nostrils as you pass through the front doors at most Asian markets. It’s a distinctive aroma of old durian fruit, fish sauce, musty vegetables and dusty shelves, with subtle hints of international commerce. This smell is unpleasant compared to whiffing a fresh-cut pineapple, but after…

Readers: Was T.G.I. Friday’s ever cool?

T.G.I. Friday’s — which has five restaurants in the metro area and a frightening number around the country — is trying to update its image with craft beer and other specials. But is it too little, too late? Our “Top Five Reasons T.G.I. Friday’s isn’t cool anymore” is bringing out…

Review preview: Hops and Pie

I’ve yet to find a cuisine I’d pass up in just about any context. But at the end of a long day, I often go looking for that holy grail of low-key dinners: hot pizza and cold beer. There are plenty of places in Denver that feature both good beer…

Perk Hill is closing up shop today

Park Hill residents are spreading the bad news: Perk Hill, a coffeeshop at 2202 Kearney Street that’s a neighborhood institution, has lost its lease and is closing for good today. The owners are looking for a new location; in the meantime, they’re reportedly offering free kid cones at 3 p.m…

Guess where I’m eating?

During the one sun-smooched day we enjoyed last week — or was it two? — I spent the afternoon soaking up the rays while dissecting the Denver restaurant scene with a handful of television producers, all of whom, smartly, ordered calorie-shy dishes, while I dug into a decidedly calorie-high Philly…

Top five reasons T.G.I. Friday’s isn’t cool anymore

T.G.I. Friday’s would be so much cooler if the chain would just embrace and enjoy the fact that it’s a punchline. Being a joke isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Charlie Sheen, Tom Tancredo and the entire cast of Jersey Shore get it and make it work for them, and are…

Berkeley’s Hops and Pie is cooking…with beer!

Are you going to eat that?” I asked, eyeing the golden-brown crust my companion had abandoned after she’d eaten the rest of the slice, the part with all the toppings. She glanced at me. “Uh, no,” she said, then looked away, as though I was embarrassing her. I was too…