Inside Rockbar, a rock bar. Wicked Garden debuted last Thursday in the old home of Open Bar (and before that, Hush), right next door to Ted’s Montana Grill in Larimer Square. A recent invitation to a Wicked Garden party calls the club “Denver’s only Rock Bar” — which has got…
There’s a certain sense of excitement I get when I walk into a restaurant I’ve never been to. When I stumble upon a small, somewhat rundown, definitely risky place, that excitement is amplified. The excitement is the hallmark of an adventurous eater. It seems like there are fewer and fewer…
Berkshire chef Woodie Thomas shows off a bacon flight. The Berkshire, which Andy Ganick opened in December in Stapleton, is all about the pig. It’s named, of course, after the most famous of the heritage breeds. Its décor is piggish, though not cutesy — focusing mainly on the repeated motif…
Zen Ultra Lounge opened last week — but it’s not related to Zen Asian Bistro & Sushi, one of several restaurants suddenly springing up in the northern suburb, in this case, in Westminster at 11940 Bradburn Boulevard. Zen Ultra Lounge took over the space at 940 Lincoln Street that had…
A pal called in search of a place in town that serves paella. Our longtime favorite was at Don Quixote, but that Spanish spot at First and Federal quit tilting at windmills a decade ago. A couple of miles away at 1575 Boulder Street, Lola offers a Sunday night, family-style…
Gordo’s, that longstanding Mexican joint that stood over Sixth Avenue at Sheridan for decades, recently closed up that location and started serving at a new spot — with a new name.The 44th Avenue Grill, at 44th and Wadsworth in Lakewood, is acting as a satellite location of Gordo’s — serving…
I am a serious science fiction geek. And while, in the food world, I generally contain my geekery to zombie movie references, Starblazers jokes, Blade Runner allegories and a recent, minor obsession with the high-tone weirdness of molecular gastronomy, lately I’ve been thinking about some of the other foodie promises…
Boo Berry General Mills Rating: Three spoons out of four Cereal description: Whole-grain-corn cereal pieces featuring triangular eyes — the better to see you with, my dear. They’re accompanied by purple, pink, blue and white marshmallows shaped like bats, ghosts and other spooky stuff. If that sounds similar to Frankenberry,…
The Ballpark neighborhood is hot. Last week I raved about Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza, at 2129 Larimer Street. And just up the street at 2233 Larimer, in the old home of Kokopelli’s (and Manny’s Smokehouse before that), the lower-cased twelve restaurant will open on Tuesday, November 4. The chef/owner is Jeff…
On day two of Naturally Boulder Days 2008, the city’s fourth annual celebration of the $62 billlion natural-foods business, we put down the bread, ate all the chocolate and began with the real substance. Chef Ann Cooper offered the keynote, speaking about her passionate attempts to change the way children…
In the great Venn diagram of foods, there’s a circle of foods we love, and a circle of foods that just don’t taste right—and then there’s the wonderful, sometimes surprising, always guilt-inducing delicious area where the two cross over. Yes, some foods just don’t taste like they’re supposed to. Let…
We’d been hearing about these fun Giant Chewy Nerds for awhile, but we couldn’t seem to locate any until a recent trip to Kmart. We’re both fans of Nerds, but we’re not necessarily OK with how the Nerds factory makes you commit to just two flavors per box. These candies…
Placido Domingo and Richard Sandoval at the new La Sandia. La Sandia Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar opens to the public today, but it already got a workout last night, when hundreds of people flocked to the stylish space at the edge of the Vistas at Park Meadows. La Sandia…
Good enough for the Oval Office. Barack Obama can’t get enough of Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, he’ll be in the Union Avenue Historic District in Pueblo – on his second trip to the Centennial state in just seven days, and his fourth since the Democratic National Convention in August. Last…
I enjoy dining at nice restaurants as much as the next person. Two problems: not only am I usually broke, but it’s also hard to find a satisfying vegetarian meal at many of this town’s finer estbalishments. While I’d love to try Fruition, the idea of paying $21 for what…
Wednesday night, I had a pizza. Doesn’t matter from where — let’s just say it was from a well-known chain, well-known for serving halfway-decent ingredients atop cardboard crusts to drunken frat boys, suburban families and, occasionally, lazy restaurant critics. Let’s just say the name rhymes with Papa Juan’s. Friday night,…
Just as Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria presents an uncompromising take on authentic Neapolitan pizza, with its magical pizza ovens and transplanted pizza man, Armando’s Ristorante in Aurora (one of three metro locations) presents an uncompromising take on another Italian-food experience. Here it’s a museum-quality reproduction of the classic (and, some would…
Spreading the word: Justin Gold. There’s a $62 billion industry whose dirt-encrusted hands, good-intentioned heart and green-tinted soul reside in Boulder. Naturally Boulder Days 2008, which runs through October 30 at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa in Boulder, helps put a face to this growing movement. Naturally Boulder Days…
Closed: Fritangas, a modest little Mexican joint at 2505 Federal Boulevard that had won a lot of fans with its authentic food. Coming: In the former home of Fritangas, yet another Mexican joint, Las Parrallida. The “grand opening banner” is up, but there’s no word on when it will open…
The Rib Shack is hard not to notice. The Rib Shack 4736 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-0212 Pulled pork sandwich (with a side of fries) $7.99 It’s hard to miss the Rib Shack. It’s jammed into an old school,red-and-white Aframe that looks like it used to be a drive-through of some…
Indulge Wine Bar For all the restaurateurs closing their joints and blaming the economy (see: Via), three times as many seem to be opening — this week, at least. On Monday, it was Indulge Wine Bar, which will be serving up two dozen vintages by the glass; lunch and dinner…
Mark Dym plays with fire at Marco’s. On Wednesday night, I had a pizza. Doesn’t matter from where—let’s just say it was from a well-known chain, well-known for serving halfway-decent ingredients atop cardboard crusts to drunken frat boys, suburban families and, occasionally, lazy restaurant critics. Let’s just say the name…
