Voluptuous vegans: From Portland, with love

If you’re in the mood for beauty without the beast, play like Lewis and Clark and head to the great northwest, where Portland is home to the first vegan restaurant/gentleman’s club. Johnny Diablo is the owner of Casa Diablo, and says it’s his mission to “save as many creatures from…

Yo, mates! Australian Noosa Yoghurt is now available in a store near you

Boulder-based Noosa Yoghurt (Don’t forget that “h” — It’s an Australian thing.), formerly just available for home delivery via Morning Fresh Dairy in Bellvue, has been gradually unveiling its Australian-style yogurt (typically denser and sweeter than typical yogurt) across the state and elsewhere. Since launching the business last November, the…

Gigi’s Cupcakes is now open off Sixth

We thought doughnuts were the new cupcakes, but it looks like cupcakes are here to stay. A specialty bakeshop featuring 45 different flavors of the mini-cakes opened Saturday at 550 Grant Street in Denver. Franchisee and Stapleton resident Carrie Bach says she sold over 1,200 cupcakes during this weekend’s opening…

Loaves N Ladles takes over the former Fisher Clark Deli

“We’re not changing a whole lot; we’re just making improvements and expanding our selection,” says Nina Stajcar, promotions manager of Loaves N Ladles. That’s the new name for the former Fisher Clark Deli, 723 South University Boulevard, which owner Mary Clark recently put on the market so she could sojourn…

Guess where I’m eating?

Yesterday, to celebrate Mother’s Day, I inhaled a green chile-cloaked breakfast burrito from El Taco de Mexico and then spent the afternoon sunning myself on another restaurant patio with a margarita, chips and salsa, guacamole and a plate of blue corn-fried oysters that go for dirt cheap during happy hour…

Fidel’s turning into Zocalo

The former Fidel’s Cantina (and before that, Fat Daddy’s) at 12 East Eleventh Avenue is being transformed into Zocala, which two former managers at Benny’s behind the project. The building already has a new coat of paint; look for Zocalo to open in a week or two…

Domino’s lovers take a bite out of crime

Anyway you slice, it, these were two dumb crooks. Francis Gallagher and Taylor Powell thought they’d hit the jackpot when the two bayou boobs from Louisiana snagged the identity of a Tennessee man with whom they’d been playing online games. And with the info from the stolen credit card, what…

Maggie & Molly’s Bakery & Shop opening on East Sixth Avenue

Just when you thought there were enough cupcakes shops in Denver, Maggie and Molly’s Homestyle Bakery will be opening soon next to the Truffle, at 2908 East Sixth Avenue. To be fair, Maggie & Molly’s makes more than just cupcakes. It’s been selling a variety of baked goods, including cookies,…

Fast food logos make you impatient

God grant me patience — or at least a burger. New research with 57 volunteers indicates there’s a real reason it’s called fast food. After his study, Chen-Bo Zhong at Toronto University came to the scientific conclusion that “fast food represents a culture of time efficiency and instant gratification.” I…

Guess where I’m eating?

Thse delightful pierogis aren’t served at a tavern that features polka bands or plays Lawrence Welk. In fact, the delicious golden brown goodness changes regularly, and is hardly traditional. These particular examples were filled with green chiles. Yum! Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the…

Leo Goto’s Riverfront: a closer look

Last week, we noted that old-school restaurateur Leo Goto was back in the biz with a restaurant and events center in Littleton. This week we took a closer look at his new digs, poked around the kitchen, caught up with executive chef Andrea McGrath — who is about to have…

Justin Cucci to open Linger in LoHi Marketplace

Linger has a date with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses on May 26. Justin Cucci, chef/owner of Root Down, has signed on for a second space a few blocks away from his restaurant at 1600 West 33nd Avenue. This one is in the old Olinger’s building that’s been…

LaMar’s red velvet cake donut, plus freebies

There are only a few places in Denver pumping out fresh, quality donuts to brighten your morning and LaMar’s is perhaps our favorite. When they announced their new limited addition flavor for May — red velvet — we knew resistance would be futile. “Look,” you’re saying, “all ‘red velvet’ means…

Frank Bonanno will open a French-American comfort food restaurant

Back in late March, we reported that Frank Bonanno was in the market for a new restaurant. The chef/restaurateur, who already operates four Denver restaurants — Bones, Osteria Marco, Mizuna and Luca D’Italia — said he was “looking for something we can buy, the right opportunity. We’ve made offers on…

Guess where I’m drinking?

Who doesn’t love a cock-tail with brunch? And Mint juleps are just the start of the delights available here on Sunday. Can you guess where I’m drinking? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts is entered into a pool –…

Amazing Jake’s reaches the end of an amazing run

The amazing saga of Amazing Jake’s will draw to a close on Saturday, when the entire contents of the 65,000 square-foot facility at 1400 South Abilene in Aurora will be auctioned off by Super Auctions. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone to bring their favorite entertainment experience into the…

Guess where I’m eating?

If the mojito happy hour that runs from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday isn’t enough to make you happy, these empanadas off the new appetizer menu should do the trick. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s…

Blue Bonnet expands its patio

Cinco de Mayo wasn’t really patio weather after all — a lucky break for the Blue Bonnet, the deceivingly named Mexican restaurant now finishing a patio expansion project that will increase its outdoor seating by 30 percent. “We’re on the tail end of it,” says owner Gary Mobell. “Weather permitting,…