El Camaron Loco: A mini-vacation for the shrimp crazy

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…

Steak ‘n Shake returns to metro Denver as two locations reopen

They’re back! After being shut down after the franchisees got in a legal feud with the Indiana-based parent company, the Steak ‘n Shakes of Centennial and Sheridan are back slinging burgers. Both stores reopened yesterday, and this time they’re being run by the corporation. See also: Steak ‘n Shake will…

Exclusive first look: Pikkas opens Monday in Cherry Creek

Among the many missions of Pikkas Peruvian Cuisine & Pisco Bar, a new Peruvian restaurant that will open on Monday in Cherry Creek, in the former Abrusci’s space, is to house the largest pisco selection in the state of Colorado — and that’s just one of the major differences between…

Guess where I’m eating Cajun-spiced shrimp?

A few glasses of barley wine and a platter of Cajun-spiced, peel-and-eat shrimp. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon — and worth a repeat. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to a Guess Where post is entered into…

The Blue Cow’s vegetarian options are breakfast bliss in Morrison

There’s a little something for everyone at the Blue Cow, one of our favorite breakfast spots in Morrison — mostly because of the fresh fare and down-to-earth surroundings. The walls are covered with local art (including some Red Rocks paintings by “Scramble” Campbell that are worth checking out), and you…

Reader: Thanks for the memories, and the miso soup, at Taki’s

For almost two decades, Hisashi Takimoto ran Taki’s on East Colfax Avenue. The location would change, the name would change, but his hospitality and flu-killing miso soup remained constants. But since Takimoto passed away in 2009, nothing has been constant at Taki’s — and now the place is closed altogether…

Empanada Express Grill closes original location in Golden

Some of Denver’s most popular South American restaurants are devoted to empanadas — but they’re going through a few changes. Empanada Express Grill started as a cart that served up fluffy empanadas on the streets of Golden, then opened a brick-and-mortar location in a quiet spot in that town. Too…

Taki’s closes on East Colfax, ending a two-decade run

Colfax Avenue has seen a lot of changes since Hisashi Takimoto opened Taki’s two decades ago. And Taki’s went through changes, too, including a couple of locations and a variety of names: Taki’s Healthy Japanese Food Restaurant, Taki’s Golden Bowl. After Takimoto passed away in 2009, the restaurant got a…

Guess where I’m eating chili and cornbread?

There are still remnants of a winter wonderland outside, and when there’s snow on the ground — even a dusting — I gravitate toward a big bowl of chili, which I found at this pub that serves its boldly seasoned chili in a saucepan. Can you guess where I’m eating?…

Reader: Take your Stove Top and get stuffed!

In her list of the top five absolute worst Thanksgiving side dishes, Jenn Wohletz gave a surprising thumb’s up to Stove Top, the Kraft creation that revolutionized stuffing in 1972. But many purists did not appreciate her slight of from-scratch stuffing — and some even came to the defense of…

From tortas to Tex-Mex, a second helping of Cafe Society: November 18-22

Cafe Society had a definite south-of-the-border flavor this week. As Gretchen Kurtz reports in this week’s review of Rincon Argentino, which Buenos Aires native Christian Saber opened last year in Boulder, you don’t have to travel all the way to Argentina to enjoy authentic empanadas. Or even to Texas for…

Lowdown on LoHi: Soup’s on at Little Man, Linger goes topless

Little Man Ice Cream is ready for winter with a rotating lineup of killer homemade soups, including chicken noodle, blonde French onion, chicken enchilada, broccoli and cauliflower cheddar, potato and leek, and Tejon chili; prices range from $3.50 for a cup to $4.75 for a bowl. And Little Man is…

Jordan’s closes in DU neighborhood

Jordan’s Bistro and Pub had what looked like a prime spot by the University of Denver, but it closed this past Sunday. A shutter note — short, sweet and to the point — was posted on the pub’s Facebook page: “We are officially closed! Thank you DU for all your…

Top five absolute worst Thanksgiving side dishes

Thanksgiving — or Black Friday Eve, depending on your perspective — is filled with holiday joys, like listening to your uncle’s uncensored feelings about Obamacare, your kiddos smearing Cool-Whip on every surface with their mouths, your unemployed cousin digging through your couches for loose change and everyone talking loudly about…

In the kitchen with Nate Booth, chef of the Rio: guacamole

In this week’s chef and tell interview with Nate Booth, chef of the Rio Grande in Boulder, he makes a bold declaration: “We have the best damn margaritas and Tex-Mex food this side of the Rio Grande,” he insists. And while that may be a stretch, it’s certainly true that…

Guess where I’m eating a smashburger and fries?

Earlier this week, after taking my kid to the doctor to get eight stitches removed following an incident involving a can of soda and his cheekbone (thanks, Kyle!), he wanted sympathy, which, for him, means a burger and fries. So off we trotted to this restaurant, one of his favorites,…

Deli Zone closing its downtown store today

Yesterday the news broke that the Deli Zone is closing its location at 1601 Blake Street. “Gonna have to find another haunt for hungover breakfast,” laments one regular. Yes, she will: “Today’s our last day,” an employee confirms. See also: Best hangover breakfast at El Taco De Mexico…