Okinawa is going in where Nohana Sushi went out

Tall, black temporary walls conceal the specifics, but there’s no hiding the fact that something’s going on at 2301 East Colfax Avenue, in the John Hand building. The liquor-license permit application indicates that a restaurant called Okinawa — we hear it’s a sushi joint — will occupy the space, which…

In the kitchen with Cafe Options chef Craig Dixon: Hummus

In this week’s Chef and Tell interview, Cafe Options chef Craig Dixon talks about why he believes Denver is the country’s top city for slinging food, how he wishes that citizen journalism reviews were more factual and his role at Cafe Options as both a chef and teacher to the…

Solar Grill has a sunny outlook — rain or shine

The sun never made an appearance when Brett Morris was manning his Solar Grill yesterday — but fortunately, the former hot-dog cart, which has been converted to almost-all solar power, still uses propane for its grill. So Morris, who’d had trouble finding a job and finally decided to take matters…

Top Chef DC, round four: Oh, baby

Last night’s Top Chef DC, episode 4, felt like self-parody — too many chefs; too many flying shots of hands chopping, sauteeing, stirring; too many judgments and too many judges using truncated phrases that communicated only the most basic facts about what they were tasting — well-seasoned, delicious, bland, undercooked;…

Pub on Penn takes over Cafe Netherworld space

The Pub on Penn has moved into the former home of Cafe Netherworld, lightening up (and cleaning up) the space at 1278 Pennsylvania Street. The new watering hole is brought to us by some of the folks behind the venerable Pub on Pearl, at 1101 South Pearl Street. A grand…

Book pimping ex-chef Tony Bourdain wants 500 of your best words — for free

I’m currently paused on page 61 of Anthony Bourdain’s newest memoir, Medium Raw, in which the ex-chef, as usual, litters his prose with “fuck,” “fucked,” “fucking” and “motherfucker” while sucking us in with his drama-filled, demented stories of sexual encounters, drug-filled hazes and, for good measure, the day he watched…

Guess where I’m eating?

See those doughy perogies up top soaking in a butter bath? Worst things I’ve put in my mouth this year. Can you guess where I’ll never eat again? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts is entered into a pool…

Sexy Pizza’s on the lookout for new locations

Capitol Hill’s most suggestively-named pizzeria is in the scouting phase of bringing its New York-style, politically conscious pies to more Colorado residents. That’s right: Sexy Pizza is about to get even sexier. Owner Kayvan Khalatbari thinks the community is ready for more Sexy Pizza. The postage stamp-sized Capitol Hill spot…

Frasca Food and Wine’s expansion to include pizza and panini

Since master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson left the French Laundry to open a neighborhood restaurant in Boulder six years ago, Frasca Food and Wine has won national accolades, attracted top-name guest chefs and pushed out the edges of what’s possible when it comes to dining out in…

Amu is a secret worth spilling

On a rare slow Sunday night at Amu Sake Bar and Grill, a robed chef stands behind the wooden bar, pressing gingerly but firmly on a large knife to shave paper-thin strips of daikon radish for a garnish. We watch, mesmerized, leaning back in our chairs at the sushi bar,…

Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: Cherry chocolate sauce

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. Barb and Pete…

Steuben’s Food Truck gets a name

Yorba. Rocco. Steubaru. Those were just three of the many name suggestions the Steuben’s Food Truck crew got after they announced they were holding a contest to name the vehicle doling out gravy fries and fried pork “Steuby” snacks all over town. Convinced the truck is a girl, the gang…

Smiling Moose Deli secures spots downtown, around the state and beyond

A sagging economy isn’t keeping Smiling Moose Deli from winning itself some franchisee love. The local and organic ingredient-driven, Boulder-based sandwich chain, with a dozen locations throughout the state, is expanding not only throughout Colorado but pretty much in every direction save due west. According to company president Kevin Sloane,…