DRINK: WAZEE’S LAST SIP OF SUMMER Eek out the last days of summer by ordering a fresh-squeezed watermelon margarita at Wazee Supper Club. The $9 double marg mixes juiced watermelon with triple sec, sweet-n-sour, and—count ’em—four shots of tequila. The LoDo pizza spot will serve the 22-ounce cocktails until the melons run out…which, at best guess, is in a couple of weeks. 1600 15th St., 303-623-9518, www.wazeesupperclub.com.

PALISADE PEACHES: GET ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN I stopped by the Belmar farmers’ market over the weekend and came away victorious: eight Palisade peaches for $7. Sure, they might be more expensive than the grocery store variety but they were tree-ripened and organic—and worth their weight in gold. The fruit came from Morton’s Orchard‘s in Palisade (www.mortonsorchards.com) and will only be available through Sept. 20. Pick up some Morton’s peaches Wednesday and Saturday at the Boulder farmers’ market and Sunday at Belmar, then make this simple recipe: Peach, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad

  • 3 to 4 peaches (peel or no peel)
  • 1 cup fresh basil (chopped or torn)
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into about 1-inch chunks
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Toss gently with olive oil, salt, and pepper. UPDATE: CHEERS TO 8 RIVERS It’s hard to open a restaurant without a liquor license, but 8 Rivers’ full flavored Caribbean cuisine managed to pull in diners even without libations to cool the flames. But as of a month ago, the Red Stripe balloons began flying and now the Highland restaurant packs diners in noon and night. There’s a full bar, but really, what douses the heat of jerk chicken like a cold one? 3609 W. 32nd Ave., 303-477-1126, www.8riversrestaurant.com.

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.