Ali Awada left his native Lebanon and came to Colorado eleven years ago, when his brother married a woman from Denver. “My family has restaurants in Lebanon, but when I moved here I went to work as a financier for American Express,” Awada explains. “But I love cooking so much,…
A bite of the big Apple: Chef Matt Selby of Vesta Dipping Grill, at 1822 Blake Street, is just back from a stint at New York’s Gramercy Tavern. Sent there by Vesta owner Josh Wolkon to work with Gramercy owner Danny Meyer and chef Tom Colicchio in order to come…
Since The Hornet opened in 1996, the restaurant has been busier than the proverbial bee–but the food hasn’t always gotten good buzz (“The Green Hornet,” June 6, 1996). Initially, the most appealing thing about the place was the cavernous space, which had been cleaned of decades of clutter left by…
Mouth of the border: For years, Cafe Brazil (see review above) was one of just a handful of South American spots in town, but now we’re about to get more cuisine from countries far south of the border. This fall, the old home of Chives, at 1120 East Sixth Avenue,…
When Tony Zarlenga first spotted Marla Maria Diaz, they were both on vacation in Greece. “I was by myself, and I noticed this girl on the other side of the boat who was laughing and having a good time,” he remembers. “She had a wonderful smile, and I kept thinking…
From the start, the concept seemed fishy. An all-you-can-eat sushi spread sounds promising for about three seconds–until you start thinking about just how long that raw fish has to sit out there under those bright lights before everyone has eaten his fill or the joint closes for the evening. But…
Bested of Denver: I’ve been involved with the last six Best of Denver issues (there have been sixteen altogether), and the June 24 edition was the toughest yet. Yes, there are more restaurants here than when I started, but that doesn’t mean there are more good restaurants–much less consistently good…
When your cardiologist isn’t looking, motor down to the Bamboo Hut on Larimer Street, slip onto a bar stool and order a big bowl of green chile. But before devouring this masterpiece, drop five or six crunchy nuggets from your side order of chicharrones into the steaming bowl. Stir well,…
Clam up: Here’s a truly Italian dish that just made its way onto the menu at Panzano (see review this page), and while I didn’t try it in the restaurant, it turned out beautifully at home. Panzano’s Clams With Prosciutto, Leeks, Tomatoes and Sherry 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus…
My two young daughters and I were playing ladies who lunch the other day when the four-year-old suddenly pointed at what was obviously a hard-as-a-brick loaf of bread in the window next to our table. “Can we eat that?” she asked. “No,” I said. “It’s just there for decoration.” “Why?”…
Monaghan’s Tavern prides itself on Big. It’s home to the Monster Beer (huge), the Monster Burger (not so huge) and–on Wednesday nights–the Monster T-Bone Steak (huger than some, smaller than others). This neighborhood bar is also Big on its own history. For instance, owner Niles Oppenheimer, who bought the place…
Singing the blues: The music was great at last weekend’s Denver Blues and Bones Festival, but many barbecue fans have a bone to pick with the organizers. Although the event included a two-day barbecue championship, with contestants ranging from mom-and-pop joints to backyard cooks and the final round of judging…
The secret’s in the sauce. Without it, much of the assorted Asian cuisines would be little more than slightly undercooked vegetables and thin slivers of stir-fried meat. The right sauce, though, can transform straightforward ingredients into such delightful dishes as orange beef and curry shrimp. Yes, the secret’s in the…
Freshly starched: Both owners of Cafe Bohemia (see review above) got early culinary starts. Jeffrey Cleary began at the age of thirteen, when he enrolled in the three-year culinary program of a vocational-technical college; by sixteen, he owned his own bakery in Minersville, Pennsylvania. His partner, Pascal Trompeau, grew up…
For the first two years, Jeffrey Cleary was delighted to look out into the eclectic dining room of his Cafe Bohemia and see just half of the eight tables full. “It was tough going,” says Cleary, a veteran chef who specializes in New American and French cooking, “but at least…
In Italy, just try walking into a pizzeria and ordering a pie with, oh, say, ham and pineapple. They’ll laugh you right into France. Black olives and green peppers? No way. Pepperoni and mushrooms? Fuggedaboutit. At the source, there are specific, standardized types of pizza. You don’t order a medium…
Nearly every Cafe review elicits responses from readers who agree or disagree, but one in particular inspired an unusually heavy load of negative reactions: my critique of Wild Ginger (“Sugar and Spice,” January 15, 1998). Eighteen months ago, I loved everything about the place. Unfortunately, one of the things I…
A pizza the action: Good pizza is hard to come by, and consistently good pizza is even less common, which is why Parisi (see review above) is such a find. But several other, lesser-known places in town serve up a decent slice, including Abo’s Pizza at 305 South Downing Street…
Cream of the crop: Some steak buffs are so eager to get to the meat of the matter that they don’t bother with side dishes, but I like something to turn to between beef bites. The creamed spinach at Sullivan’s Steakhouse is an ideal break, because it’s a little salty…
The server, who looked young enough to be Mick Jagger’s granddaughter, twittered with excitement as she leaned toward one of my dining companions. Pointing to his Rolling Stones sweatshirt, she asked, “Have you ever seen them?” Barry Fey made a low chortling noise but kept a straight face. “Yes, dear,…
Jerry Feld’s Club 404 (Your Host: Jerry Feld) is the soul of old Denver. Zebulon Pike and William Bent may have missed this wonderful, windowless refuge under the red awning at Fourth Avenue and Broadway by a decade or two, but virtually everyone who’s lived in our fair city during…
Back home in San Salvador, Hector and Maritza Gil ran a pupuseria with their families. After they decided to leave El Salvador and its horrendous economy and move to Denver last fall, they also decided to continue doing what they know best. And do best, judging from the wonderful food…
