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Amber Taufen

Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

@polished_amber_taufen

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My First Restaurant Job: El Rancho

By Amber Taufen
May 20, 2021

At fifteen, I learned a lot.
PETA Latest Stunt Once Again Abuses Animals — the Human Animal

By Amber Taufen
Nov 12, 2015

In a move that should shock absolutely no one, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has launched yet another campaign that, at its core, is based on objectifying human beings. This time, though, the organization isn't posting billboards with naked supermodels on them or staging "protests" that involve nude women...
Infusing Edibles in Your Own Kitchen Is a Breeze With the Mota Pot

By Amber Taufen
Mar 12, 2015

Even though there are plenty of places where you can find a pot brownie in this town, sometimes you want something tasty that's not easy to find in an adult-use or medical dispensary...vegan ice cream, perhaps, or gluten-free chocolate cake. If that's the case, you're in for hours of prep...
The Bear & the Rat Makes Frozen Yogurt for Dogs

By Amber Taufen
Oct 22, 2014

Like many Coloradans, I'm a little obsessed with my dog. He sleeps on my bed. He's attended concerts with me and even come on a vacation or two. And of course I'm obsessed with what he eats (or, rather, what I feed him). I won't bore you with the details,...
At $21 a Pound, Roasted Hemp Seeds Look Like a Cash Cow

By Amber Taufen
Sep 30, 2014

Hemp seeds have started infiltrating grocery-store shelves across America. They're often sold shelled and in bulk quantities, but some producers have also been packaging them as snack items. Roasted and seasoned, they're fine snacks -- they taste nothing like pot and don't get you high, but they're high in protein...
Teakoe's craft iced teas now at Whole Foods, Tony's and Marczyk

By Amber Taufen
Jul 2, 2014

If you've tasted Teakoe iced tea at one of the various Colorado eateries that carry it: Illegal Pete's, Larkburger, Hacienda Colorado, Woody Creek and more, then you've experienced how habit-forming small-batch iced tea can be -- and now, Teakoe is putting its tea bags on the shelves of area gourmet...
Natural Grocers bans confinement dairy products

By Amber Taufen
Jun 4, 2014

The consumption of certain products can contain inherent ethical conundrums -- and those are the sorts of conundrums that cause outright hostility between, say, vegans and carnivores. What you eat is part of the issue, but another equally important component is how that food product was created and, perhaps, how...
Govinda's Garden grows extended hours

By Amber Taufen
Apr 29, 2014

When Govinda's Garden, the weekend-only vegetarian/vegan dinner buffet, re-opened last October, it quickly became insanely popular; within a half-hour of the restaurant openings its doors, the dining room was usually full. And now we're going to get even more of a good thing: another dinner and three lunch shifts have...
Cook Street's Eat Your Veggies class will inspire you to do just that

By Amber Taufen
Apr 3, 2014

As someone who doesn't eat any meat, I should know more than I do about cooking vegetables. I can make a salad, and I know how to saute, but I've never done much with grilling or roasting -- and while I'd heard the term "blanch," I wasn't entirely sure how...
Five best vegetarian restaurants in Denver

By Amber Taufen
Feb 20, 2014

Denver's vegetarian food scene is getting stronger all the time. All but the most vehemently meat-centric establishments in town have something besides salad to offer veggie-lovers, and ambitious, exclusively vegetarian eateries are opening all the time -- including Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant, which we review this week. When you want to...
Park Burger's veggie burger remains a top choice

By Amber Taufen
Feb 4, 2014

If you've had a burger at Park Burger -- whether the spot in Highland or in Uptown or the original restaurant on South Pearl Street, then you know this an unpretentious eatery does burgers right. The menu isn't vast -- shakes, alcoholic beverages, burgers and fries, and that's about it...
Wildflower Cafe's veggie breakfast is a garden of eatin'

By Amber Taufen
Jan 28, 2014

The Wildflower Cafe can easily be described as "intimate" -- the tiny dining room holds just a half-dozen tables; there's also a minuscule bar area and a couple of tables outside for those willing to brave the elements this time of year. So even if you show up early for...
Vegan pizza-pasta for a comforting, down-home option on Meatless Monday

By Amber Taufen
Jan 27, 2014

Many plant-based eaters weren't raised that way, and even have fond memories of homemade casseroles -- including the cheesy, sausage-laden baked pasta dishes you'd sample at potlucks. This recipe, adapted from the Post Punk Kitchen, uses cashews and roasted red pepper for a thick, creamy sauce; we added crumbled sausage-spiced...
At Nectar House, raw and vegan are opportunities, not limitations

By Amber Taufen
Jan 21, 2014

The long-anticipated Nectar House Cafe and Elixir Bar is finally open on South Broadway. The eatery took over the lobby space at Kindness Yoga, and yogis and yoginis leaving class can even get discounts on their sustenance! As the city's first true purveyor of raw vegan food, Nectar House is...
Homemade (vegan) dinner rolls for a warm welcome on Meatless Monday

By Amber Taufen
Jan 20, 2014

Soup is a winter favorite for lots of cooks -- it's easy, it's cheap and it's filling on a cold day. And a little effort nets you a big pot that can last several days (or feed lots of people). But for hungry eaters who aren't satisfied by a bowl...
Mustard's Last Stand has veggie items worth relishing

By Amber Taufen
Jan 14, 2014

A hot-dog stand might not be the first place you'd think of when looking for vegetarian and vegan fare, but Mustard's Last Stand has learned a lot of new tricks over its forty years. We recently visited the location near the University of Denver and found plenty to relish on...
Brussels sprout slaw for an easy side on Meatless Monday

By Amber Taufen
Jan 13, 2014

It's the time of year when everyone is trying to eat healthier, and this dish, adapted from an online recipe, is a good option, with Brussels sprouts, olive oil, almonds and just a smidge of honey. We increased the amount of dressing amount and used vegan Parmesan instead of actual...
Hapa Sushi advertises a marijuana pairing menu

By Amber Taufen
Jan 8, 2014

Even if it's nothing more than a publicity stunt, it's a brilliant one: The homegrown Hapa Sushi chain is running ads promoting a pairing menu unlike any other in the country (because it wouldn't be legal anywhere else!). Whether you'd like your raw fish with indica, sativa or a hybrid,...
Pho 007 sneaks on to the Littleton dining (and vegetarian) scene

By Amber Taufen
Jan 7, 2014

The stretch of Littleton Boulevard where Pho 007 opened last year -- just east of downtown Littleton -- boasts a handful of restaurants that all attract a decent amount of business. That isn't surprising, given the lack of dining options to draw in passersby. But what is surprising is the...
Creamy soup with spinach, potato, chickpeas and coconut for Meatless Monday

By Amber Taufen
Jan 6, 2014

When the weather outside is frightful, there's usually nothing more delightful than a bowl of homemade soup. This easy offering is packed full of goodness -- spinach, purple potatoes, chickpeas and more -- and coconut cream and spices give it a gorgeous finish. And the recipe is also both vegan...
Wake & Bake cookbook takes good food to new heights

By Amber Taufen
Dec 31, 2013

Talk about trend-worthy: A new cookbook by Colorado author Corinne Tobias focuses on the very latest in food trends, from farm-to-table to gluten-free to vegan to...infused. Wake & Bake is the state's first cookbook devoted to legal cannabis that has recipes for everyone from novice brownie-bakers to seasoned edible chefs...
Fresh salsa for a quick appetizer on Meatless Monday

By Amber Taufen
Dec 30, 2013

Entertaining on New Year's Eve and not sure what to serve for an appetizer? You can't go wrong with fresh salsa, which can be modified to suit your spiciness tolerance and taste. Consider this recipe just a jumping-off point; tweak as needed. See also: Homemade guacamole for a flavor-filled spread...