Tifamade Cantine proves that good things come in small packages...and sandwiches

The sign at southbound I-25's exit to Speer Boulevard gives no hint that you're about to enter one of Denver's hottest dining neighborhoods. Instead, the hungry traveler sees that a Starbucks and Subway are just ahead. But LoHi is home to dozens of restaurants, both big and small. And the...

By Patricia Calhoun

July 11, 2014

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $17,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$3,100

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "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": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

The sign at southbound I-25's exit to Speer Boulevard gives no hint that you're about to enter one of Denver's hottest dining neighborhoods. Instead, the hungry traveler sees that a Starbucks and Subway are just ahead. But LoHi is home to dozens of restaurants, both big and small. And the smallest of all may well be Tifamade Cantine, which opened last month in back of the Truffle Table. See also: Vote for Tifamade in Daily Candy's Start Small, Go Big entrepreneur contest

Since 2010, Tiffany Iung and her pink bike have traveled the world (well, two continents, she admits), delivering sandwiches and combining two of Iung's passions: feeding people and riding her bike. After a two-year stint in Paris, she moved her operation to Denver two summers ago.

But this summer Iung has parked the bike for a while, and has been selling sandwiches from a window in the 2800 block of Umatilla Street, behind the Truffle Table, whose kitchen she uses to create these goodies, putting farm-fresh ingredients on her homemade focaccia bread.

The Tifamade Cantine is open for lunch only, Tuesday through Saturday, and is hard to find (we're betting that no traveler coming off I-25 will ever locate it) but definitely worth the search.

Find out more about Tifamade here.

Follow @CafeWestword

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.

A message from Patricia Calhoun: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today