Enough is never enough for Kelly Whitaker at Pizzeria Basta in Boulder

“Alex Weiser, man. He grows the best potatoes.” Kelly Whitaker was standing in front of his roaring wood-fired oven at Pizzeria Basta, slicing a tiny, misshapen purple tuber with exacting precision, then spreading the disks on a just-stretched circle of dough. “I used to get potatoes from a local farm…

Review preview: Pizzeria Basta

It’s been a banner year for pizza in Boulder: Between January 2010 and January 2011, three ambitious pizzerias opened their doors, all with wood-fired ovens baking renditions of Napolitano or Napolitano-inspired pizzas. Kelly Whitaker, chef and owner of Pizzeria Basta, says the competition has actually helped; his restaurant’s numbers were…

Guess where I’m drinking?

On Friday night, we left Coors Field after the ninth inning, when the game was still tied. Obviously, this skull knew something we didn’t. Can you guess where we were drinking? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts is entered…

The Laughing Latte gets ready to brew

When New York native Dino Espejo picked up a spot in lower Highland at 32nd and Tejon, he projected, optimistically, that he’d open his coffee shop, the Laughing Latte, sometime in December. Four months later, he’s finally hiring his staff, stocking his coffee beans and getting ready to brew…

Guess where I’m eating?

I used to subsist on shepherd’s pie (and curry and scrumpy) when I lived in London, but it’s been years since I’ve had a good version of the stuff on this side of the pond. Sadly, the shepherd’s pie in the above snap did nothing to change that. Can you…

Five Star Burgers will open in May at the Streets at SouthGlenn

Because Denver doesn’t have enough burger fortresses to satiate a city of burger maniacs, we’re soon getting another one: Five Star Burgers, a Taos, New Mexico-based burger barn, with an additional location in Albuquerque, is adding a third outpost in Denver, which will open in May at the Streets at…

Pig porn from Cochon 555, aka the Super Bowl of Swine

Lard, have mercy on my soul. To say that I pigged out this weekend is the understatement of the year, and if I was porky before, you should see me now. In fact, I’m fairly certain that I single-handedly took “hog wild” to a whole new level of oink. And…

Guess where I’m eating?

I spent the majority of the weekend feasting on swine, but in between drinking shots from femur bones and getting my fill of blood sausage and chicharrónes, I managed to down a bowl of lamb tongue soup. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first…

Reader: Winston Churchill had the best martini recipe

Because Encore, which pours the town’s Best Martini, went on spring break the week it won that Best of Denver 2011 award, Laura Shunk served up four more of the town’s best martinis. Which prompted this response from eldaveablo: No love for Herb’s Hideout? Love the martinis there. It’s been…

Free French toast (sort of) at Strings tomorrow

“I have heard,” writes Noel Cunningham, “that I have the best French toast in town. I’m not sure if you knew that or not, but that’s the word.” Cunningham, the chef/owner of Strings, will put his money where his mouth is tomorrow morning, when he offers free French toast to…

Guess where I’m eating?

I had every intention of starting the morning off healthy — with Greek yogurt and a jog around the park — but then a trio of soft corn tacos, studded with chorizo, scrambled eggs, avocado, cheese and a duo of salsas, swayed me in a different direction. Can you guess…