Reader: Was Brian Laird too good for Russo's?

The news that Brian Laird, who lasted a decade at Barolo, is out after just a few months at at Russo's Kitchen + Tavern , the restaurant that Peter Kudla put in his Vallagio project, has generated lots of response, including this from Tico: Know the feeling, I once ran...

By Patricia Calhoun

June 9, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The news that Brian Laird, who lasted a decade at Barolo, is out after just a few months at at Russo's Kitchen + Tavern , the restaurant that Peter Kudla put in his Vallagio project, has generated lots of response, including this from Tico:

Know the feeling, I once ran a place where the owners' wife wanted escargot on the menu and he wanted nachos...

Then there's this from Jeff:

I went to Russo's once, and it was a crushing disappointment. I have the utmost respect for Laird, and I know what Barolo was like at its peak.

Russo's was such a mess and it sounds like it's going to get worse. You already couldn't sense Laird's influence anywhere on the menu. I really hope that he lands on his feet, and I hope that Kudla eventually comes to the realization that he clearly doesn't know food and that nobody is going to come eat his plastic bag bullshit.

And the final (at the moment) word from watBaddaU?

Chef Jackson is the dawn.... I highly suggest you taste what he can do... Brian Laird will soon be forgotten.

Is Russo's what the suburbs need? Or deserve? Add your comments to the string started here, or just post them below.

Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

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.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927