Mark Antonation
Audio By Carbonatix
No. 22: Empanadas at Lazo Empanadas
Lazo Empanadas is the streamlined offshoot of Boulder’s Rincon Argentino. The bright but bare-bones shop in the Ballpark neighborhood (which was once the cafe side of Buenos Aires Pizzeria) sells nothing but the South American pastries and a few packaged foods, like jars of chimichurri and bags of yerba mate tea, without the sandwiches, salads and tartas of the original. But while the shapes of Lazo’s empanadas are a little more uniform and the crimped edges less hand-formed than those at Rincon, the savory fillings and flaky crust are every bit as Argentinian as at the original.
There are fourteen fillings to choose from in two sizes: regular or appetizer (which has fewer filling choices). The regular size is $3.50; a set of three for $10 makes for a satisfying lunch while saving you fifty cents.
You can devote valuable brain cells to memorizing the patterns of the crimped edges (each pattern corresponds to a different filling), or you can just let the first bite be a little surprise. (Hint: the baker on duty will arrange your order in numerical order from left to right, in case you need to keep track.) Sauces are an extra fifty cents, but this is no time to be a penny-pincher; spring for a ramekin of garlicky chimichurri, spicy red sauce or tangy green sauce made with cilantro and avocado.
If you’re new to Argentine-style empanadas, don’t expect much similarity to the Mexican equivalent. The spices are milder (even in the chicken, steak and ground beef options labeled “spicy”), and most of the ingredients are grounded in European tradition. The chorizo, cheese and egg empanada is the closest you’ll find to New World flavors. Mix up your order with a threesome of traditional steak, comforting ham and cheese, or Italian-style caprese to experience Lazo like a Buenos Aires native.
Hungry for more? All of the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju’s Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No. 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil’ Ricci’s New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery
No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
No. 72: The Tuna Poke Bowl at Ohana Island Kitchen
No. 71: Mini Chile Rellenos at La Loma
No. 70: The Combination Banh Mi at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 69: The Falafel Waffle at Moxie Eatery
No. 68: Korean Fried Duck Wings at Chow Urban Grill
No. 67: Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola
No. 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer
No. 65: The Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado at Poppies
No. 64: Super Pass Key Special at Pass Key
No. 63: How the West Was Won at Dozens Restaurant
No. 62: Manzo With Polenta at Spuntino
No. 61: P & S Snack Mix at the Pig & the Sprout
No. 59-60: Sloppers at Gray’s Coors Tavern and Diego’s
No. 58: Potstickers at Zoe Ma Ma
No. 57: Griddle Cooked Bullfrog at Yum Yum Spice
No. 56: Macaroni and Cheese at Work & Class
No. 55: Lobster, Egg and Caviar Bruschetta at Bar Fausto
No. 54: Orecchiette at Coperta
No. 53: Cheese Steak at Steuben’s Food Service
No. 52: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats
No. 51: Gold Miner’s Breakfast at River and Woods
No. 50: Bison Pastrami at To The Wind Bistro
No. 49: Spicy Beef Hot Pot at Bronze Empire
No. 48: Brad’s Neo Gyro at Avelina
No. 47: The Egg and Croissant Sandwich at La Fillette Bakery
No. 46: Smoked Brisket Stroganoff Pot Pie From Humble Pie and Kitchen Table
No. 45: Hisbiscus-Flower Tacos at Comal
No. 44: The Juicy Lucy at the Midwestern Saloon
No. 43: Italian combo #2 at Carbone’s
No. 42: Huevos Rancheros at Las Potrancas
No. 41: The Roti Taco at Mister Tuna
No. 40: Mile High Nachos at Racines
No. 39: Classic Rooster at Royal Rooster
No. 38: Toomkha Soup at US Thai Cafe
No. 37: Smoked Lamb Shank at Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que
No. 36: Banh Mi Tacos at Vital Root
No. 35: Barbecue Sandwiches at Globe Hall
No. 34: Ebelskivers at Three Little Griddles
No. 33: Bagna Cauda Broccoli Rabe at Dio Mio Handmade Pasta
No. 32: Flavorsome Ramen at Sera’s Ramen Enclave
No. 31: Chicken Tenders at the Fainting Goat
No. 30: Sesame Chicken at Red Dragon
No. 29-28: Last Great Lunch of 2016, First Great Plate of 2017
No. 27: Rocky Mountain Oysters at Lulu’s Inn
No. 26: The Shawarma Sandwich at Edri’s International Market
No. 25: Panuchos at Que Bueno Suerte
No. 24: Fish and Chips at Public School 303
No. 23: The Sloppy Joe at Thunderbird Imperial Lounge
