Reader: Green chile is not inspiring, interesting or satisfying

We asked several of Westword's previous restaurant reviewers to offer advice for Gretchen Kurtz, our new Cafe critic, whose first review will be published next week. Laura Shunk, who left the job for a move to New York in June, came up with ten tips, including this one: 9. If...

By Patricia Calhoun

August 31, 2012

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We asked several of Westword's previous restaurant reviewers to offer advice for Gretchen Kurtz, our new Cafe critic, whose first review will be published next week. Laura Shunk, who left the job for a move to New York in June, came up with ten tips, including this one:

9. If you don't have an opinion on green chile, get one. Fast. Or take mine: All roads lead to Chubby's.

It's impossible to talk about the Denver dining scene without mentioning green chile, a homegrown dish. But that doesn't mean everyone likes it:

Says incredulous:

Enjoyed this post, especially observation #9 - have an opinion on green chile. Why is Colorado so obsessed with green chile? I've never found green chile that was in any way inspiring, complex, interesting, or satisfying. the whole subject is annoying but if you live here you are apparently required to have an opinion. My opinion - skip it and find something more interesting on the menu.

For another opinion, come back to Cafe Society this morning, for Jenn Wohletz's list of the five top qualities of green chile stew.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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