Buca di Beppo spot goes to pot

The landlord finally found a tenant for the former home of Buca di Beppo, a choice space at 1400 Market Street that’s been empty since summer 2008. And what’s going in? Another big-name national eatery, like Ted’s Montana Grill just up 14th Street? Another prestigious local restaurant, like TAG or…

Ask the Critic: A final question answered

So the big question last week (and the week before) was what restaurant I should review before saying goodbye to Denver for good. I got a lot of suggestions. Some of them were good. Some of them were ridiculous. In the end, I went with my gut (and the demands…

Restaurant Roll Call for 2009

Dozens of restaurants closed in the metro area over the past year, ranging from such old-timers as the Trail Dust Steak House, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Chez Jose to newcomers like XO, which both opened and closed in 2009. But many, many more restaurants that opened this past year stuck…

Top 5 ways Whole Foods’ new chairman can make the company whole

Whole Foods CEO and chairman John Mackey stirred the pot in an August Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing President Barack Obama’s health-care plan.”The problem with socialism,” he insisted, “is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” It was a bold — and some would say really stupid –…

Swing Thai to take over XO spot

XO, the ambitious noodle house that opened this year in the Jet Hotel, also closed this year, in one of 2009’s fastest fatalities. But its space won’t stay empty long: As predicted, an outpost of the local Swing Thai chain will soon open at 1612 Wazee Street…

Boohoo for Bimbamboo

Bump & Grind wasn’t the only restaurant to get bumped off before the clock struck twelve on New Year’s. After two years, Bimbamboo, the modern Asian kitchen at 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, closed its doors on December 31. The web site promises a “new restaurant concept coming soon to…

Guess where I’m eating?

‘Tis the season for foods rich and warming, foods that comfort the belly and make you dread the next time you must venture outside. The tasty bowl of soup above boasts bright flavors of zucchini and roasted poblano peppers, and it’s finished off with toasted chile-lime pumpkin seeds. If you…

Denver’s Skychefs could be grounded

As if flying could get any more miserable, there’s one more complication in the “friendly skies.” Late last month, the FDA sent a warning letter to LSG Skychefs, LLC, indicating that Skychefs’ FDA inspection status had been changed from “approved” to “provisional.” While that may not sound too serious, one…

Restaurant Roll Call for December

RESTAURANTS OPENING IN DECEMBER Blue Rox Grill, 9271 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree Cielito Lindo, 4401 Tejon Street Circle, 1035 Pearl Street, Boulder Den Deli & Seafood Market, 1501 South Pearl Street Ernie’s Bar and Pizza, 2915 West 44th Avenue Ganja Gourmet, 1810 South Broadway Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, 1100 Sergeant…

Guess where I’m eating?

Rise and shine! It’s the new year, and if your resolution was to eat more pork in 2010, you’ll be in hog heaven with the special here today. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: At the end of today, anyone who gave the first correct answer to any…

A rearview look at the year in food

It was the year of the gastropub, the year of the gourmet hamburger joint and cupcake shop, the year of the noodle bar. For me, it was the year of the book, the year I lost my father, the year I found out it was to be my last year…

Samba Room gets some fresh blood

Just got word that the Samba Room (1460 Larimer Street) will be starting off the New Year with some new blood and fresh energy in the back of the house. Gabe Stallone, ex of Vesta, Steuben’s and, most recently, Izakaya Den, called on Monday to let me know that he’d…

Tonight: Parisi offers an end-of-December discount

Parisi, the beloved restaurant at 4401 Tennyston Street, is looking at a big night on New Year’s Eve — or Cenone di Capodanno, as they say in Italy. “We can’t serve our New Year’s Eve menu two days in a row due to its special ingredients (can you say cured…

Guess where I’m eating?

Voulez-vous poulet avec moi? The best things in life may be frites, but the chicken comes close at this bistro. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: On Friday, anyone who gave the first correct answer to any of the past two week’s Where am I drinking/eating posts will…

Cooking with Pete: winter solstice salad

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. For the next…

Garhing to go from mo po tofu to Hong Kong Barbecue

Garhing, the honest-to-Jesus Chinese restaurant at 1048 South Federal Boulevard that took over the space formerly belonging to JJ Chinese Seafood Restaurant, another honest-to-Jesus Chinese chow house that relocated to 2500 West Alameda, is shuttered. No more deep-fried pork intestines, bamboo fungus, Cantonese-style porridge or mo po tofu. According to…