Guess where I’m eating?

These niche tacos have been the tac-o the town for years, a constant in a fickle, ever-changing dining climate. And they’re just as awesome now as they ever were. Where did I get my crunch on? Special bonus: Every Friday, anyone who gave the first correct answer to any of…

Blues on Blake Supper Club fades to black

Blues on Blake Supper Club, the ambitious restaurant/music venue at 1925 Blake Street, was going to be closed from January 1 to 15 for “retooling,” according to its web site. “You have spoken and we have listened. Our New Year’s resolution is to improve on our first year and to…

Part two: Chef and Tell with Jeff Osaka of twelve

This is part two of my interview with Jeff Osaka, exec chef of twelve. You can read part one of my interview with Osaka here. Rules of conduct in your kitchen: I don’t have any rules per se. The only thing I ask from my kitchen staff is to pay…

Rioja team ropes together Martini Ranch deal

Jen Jasinski and Beth Gruitch, the talented duo behind Larimer Square restaurants Rioja and Bistro Vendome, have their eyes on a third spot around the corner, as Penny Parker reports in a good scoop this morning. According to the sign still on the former Martini Ranch at 1317 14th Street,…

BJ’s Port revival dries up

BJ’s Port was a classic Five Points dive, “a glorious little place at 28th and Welton streets that recalls the raucous, energetic organ-trio clubs of Jimmy Smith’s prime — right down to the barbecued ribs and collard greens on the menu,” Bill Gallo wrote for Westword back in 2002. But…

Tonight: Wine, spirits, two chefs and dinner at Black Pearl

The Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery, along with Peach Street Distillers, a Western Slope vodka, bourbon, gin, grappa and brandy distillery, will round out the libations at Black Pearl, 1529 South Pearl Street, the venue for tonight’s wine and spirits dinner spearheaded by Black Pearl chef Kate Horton and Paul Reilly,…

Medical marijuana patients enjoy pot luck at 8 Rivers

The first time I cooked pot food was my freshman year in high school. Two friends and I pooled our money, bought a quarter bag of Texas dirt weed and some instant brownie mix, and headed to an adult-free house with an open kitchen. After putting aside enough pot for…

Biker Jim takes his wieners to the asphalt of Argonaut Wine & Liquor

I got the first text late last night: “Lookin’ like our new location is at Argonaut Liquor,” it said. Two minutes later, another text: “Eeeyup.” And, finally, “Come down to 16th and Arapahoe tomorrow and I’ll make you rattlesnake or currywurst or something…” The barrage of texts and the promise…

Bison: It’s on the menu at the National Western Stock Show

Millions of bison used to thunder across the plains of Colorado. Today, the nation’s largest mammals still travel across the state – but they do so by truck. Nearly ninety buffalo are in Denver right now for the National Western Stock Show — 57 were unloaded Tuesday and another thirty…

Chef and Tell with Jeff Osaka from twelve

The location has been called “low-rent,” “brave” and “sketchy,” but Jeff Osaka, owner/chef of twelve, the obscure, 35-seat NoDo neighborhood restaurant, whose monthly-changing menu is always a stunning adventure in food, rolls his eyes and shrugs at the misconception. “I found this restaurant on Craigslist while living in Los Angeles,…

Cooking with Pete: Braised Spanish chicken

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. Paul, Pete’s partner…

Big Papa’s BBQ has a smokin’ third location

Big Papa’s BBQ will hold the official grand opening of its third location, at 5151 South Federal Boulevard, today — and there’s real reason to celebrate, says John Jensen, the director of operations. In April, the partners had just bought the building, an old Burger King, when their financing fell…

Pot and pans at 8 Rivers

The first time I cooked pot food was my freshman year in high school. Two friends and I pooled our money, bought a quarter bag of Texas dirt weed and some instant brownie mix, and headed to an adult-free house with an open kitchen. After putting aside enough pot for…

Clock Tower Grill starts ticking in Lone Tree

Clock Tower Grill, which opened at 9360 Station Street in Lone Tree in October, is no relation to Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret — instead, it’s a sibling to the Uptown Bar and Grill in Dallas, whose owners are hoping to recreate their Texas success in Colorado. “The word is getting out…

Open sesame: A third Ali Baba Grill

The third Ali Baba Grill, at 5380 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard in the Landmark project in Greenwood Village, finally opened today. For months, the owners of the popular spot in Golden and a sibling in Littleton had talked about getting their newest location open in December, then by the first of…

Encore enters the New Year with a curtain call of deals

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to save your pennies, Encore, the New American restaurant at 2550 East Colfax Avenue, sympathizes with your plight. To that end, exec chef Paul Reilly has introduced some swell new food specials that run Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week…

Guess where I’m drinking?

I’m a big fan of multi-tasking. Exhibit A: In the above pic, I was fine-tuning my immune system with Vitamin C and blowing off some steam. If you can guess where I was swilling this blood orange martini with a hint of Campari, the DINR deck could be yours this…

Virgilio’s ups the “Hugilio” pizza challenge ante…to $1,000

Apparently a crisp Ben Franklin, a bottle of wine and your mug shot on the wall of fame wasn’t quite enough incentive for the would-be food warriors that Virgilio Urbano, the master dough flipper of Virgilio’s Pizzeria, had hoped would try and tackle the 11-pound, 28-inch pizza-eating challenge that he…

Ninjas rob restaurant, leave tacos behind

On Sunday, a pair of ninjas robbed Deli Cioso, a Mexican restaurant in Longmont. Owner Rudy Masia says he turned over a day’s receipts to the mysterious miscreants, who were tiny and dressed in black. Longmont Police Sergeant Garrett Boden told the Longmont Times-Call that the culprits didn’t have large…