These days, street food is all the rage. And while Denver has fewer food trucks than other cities, the 16th Street Mall still has plenty of vendors that dish up the goods (think Biker Jim on Arapahoe, the Thai Food Cart on Stout, or the gyro stand on Market). Now, there’s a newcomer to seek out: The almost three-week-old Gastro Cart, which sits on the corner of 18th and Curtis streets.

Run by Bryan Hume and Mike Winston, former cooks at Table 6, this is a chef’s approach to street food: killer veggie tacos with a caramelized cabbage roll, whole grain rice, and smoked jalapeño aïoli; pulled pork sandwiches with smoked curry sauce, Granny Smith apples, and cabbage on a sesame roll; roast lamb gyros with tzatziki sauce, tomato guajillo, mint foam, and cabbage on grilled naan; and spicy chicken tacos with homemade kimchi and Thousand Island dressing on a caraway-corn tortilla.

Bonus: Street food is such a hot trend, look out for other local restaurateurs to get in on the act. To wit, Frank Bonanno is considering a food truck that’ll serve steamed buns and noodle bowls à la Bones.

Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Leroux Creek Vineyards in Hotchkiss took home a Double Gold Medal in the Colorado Mountain Winefest for its 2005 Après Vous, a delicious port-style dessert wine. Made from French hybrid Chambourcin grapes, the wine is deep cherry in color, smells of dark plums and black currant, and is slightly sweet, but not overbearing like many ports.

Thinking it would provide a luxurious finish to the Thanksgiving meal, we taste-tested the Après Vous with several favorites and came up with recommendations to satisfy a fickle range of dessert lovers:

For foodies: Serve with a mixed plate of Stilton cheese, dark chocolate (no more than 70 percent cocoa), and dried cherries. The rich, tangy cheese is nicely offset by the dark fruit of the wine, which also stands up to the chocolate.

For traditionalists: Serve with a warm slice of cherry pie. The sweet fruit of each nicely complements the other.

For chocoholics: Serve with a thick slice of frosted chocolate cake. The lingering finish of the wine takes the edge off the cake.

For those who can’t possibly eat another bite after the main course: The Après Vous is gorgeous and satisfying on its own. Serve straight up in a sherry glass.

Leroux Creek Vineyards, 970-872-4746

In the heart of a Highlands Ranch strip mall lies an authentic slice of France. Pierre Michel–Organic French Bakery Cafe twinkles with French music and owners Eric and Isabelle’s singsong as they banter behind the counter.

The duo bakes up flaky croissants and buttery pastries each morning (get there early for the best selection), as well as fresh quiche, cozy soup, and classic sandwiches for lunch. I’m a sucker for the croque monsieur: Each bite of the melty, grilled ham-and-Swiss sandwich takes me back to the Parisian cafe where I had my first croque.

Bonus: Pierre Michel does pizza (baked up on their baguette dough) on Fridays. I’ve got my eye on the Alpine, which is topped with potatoes, bacon, cream sauce, and cheese.

3624 E. Highlands Ranch Pkwy., Ste. 205, Highlands Ranch, 303-471-4828

Candy counters at the Tattered Cover Book Store, Vitamin Cottage, and Whole Foods Market got a little sweeter this week, when the Boulder chocolatier, Chocolove, rolled out three new dark-chocolate bars: coffee crunch, peppermint, and almonds in sea salt. Each is tempting, but the punch of caffeine makes the coffee crunch my favorite.

Bonus: The company’s holiday bar—chock full of dried currants, cherries, orange, nuts, and a hint of fresh ginger—is back for the season.

Chipotle has long been one of my on-the-go lunch staples. It’s fast, tasty, and provides enough options to keep me from getting bored. The $6 price tag and the calorie count, however, persuaded me to look into creating my favorite Chipotle recipe—the chicken burrito—at home.

I found copycat recipes (which I adapted slightly) for the chicken (below), guacamole, rice, refried beans, and hot salsa at chipotlefan.com.

My dining companion declared that our meal tasted “90 percent like Chipotle.” I was pleased that I could not only create a smaller version of the original, but also that the recipe yielded six burritos at the cost of about $2 each. (more…)

I’m already a fan of Park Burger, Jean-Philippe Failyau’s eatery in Platt Park. And while I’m completely partial to the Croque burger (a one-third-pound patty of Harris Ranch beef, ham, fried egg, and Swiss cheese), I’ve also been known to put down an El Chilango, which comes topped with cheddar, jalapeños, and guacamole.

So, when Failyau e-mailed me that Park Burger is now serving breakfast sandwiches (8 to 11 a.m. daily), I checked out the menu and headed down. Aside from the classics—ham or bacon, fried egg, and American cheese—there’s also a breakfast version of El Chilango (the egg replaces the burger, and there’s ham) and the Royal, with two eggs, caramelized onions, bacon, and American cheese.

These are breakfast sandwiches made with care. They take a little time to arrive, but when they do, the egg is cooked to your liking, the cheese is perfectly melted, and the bun is soft enough to keep the whole mess glued together.

1890 S. Pearl St., 720-242-9951

If you haven’t heard, beer-pairing dinners are on the rise. You can sign up for these events at several restaurants around town––or simply create your own at home. We opted for the latter, and drew inspiration from two new brews from Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins.

Mountain Standard Reserve, released just days after we set back the clocks, is a dark, hoppy beer with slight malted sweetness. Pair it with a mixed antipasto platter consisting of sliced meats, salty cheeses, tart apple slices, and homemade candied almonds. (The crunchy almonds, made with Mountain Standard, are especially delicious and easy to make.) Then, follow the appetizer with a main-course linguine, tossed with juicy, beer-steamed mussels and peppery arugula.

For dessert, serve up a slice of dark chocolate cake with a glass of Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout. The rich, creamy notes of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla are nicely offset by the oakiness of bourbon-barrel aging.

800 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins, 970-498-9070

Opus‘ fall menu is in full swing, and one of the best dishes sits squarely on the appetizer menu. As he’s known to do, executive chef Michael Long takes a typical combination (in this case, scallops and bacon) and elevates the dish to his standards.

Here, he wraps Maine-caught diver scallops with uncured pancetta, seasons them with salt and pepper, and sears them until just hot. Then, he plates the scallops with Brussels sprouts braised with dried cranberries, pancetta (plus pan drippings), capers, broth, and wine.

The final effect is both rich and light, autumnal and fresh, in each bite. Paired with a glass of Emeritus Pinot Noir, the dish could stand in as a light meal or simply set the stage for greater things to come (namely, the Colorado lamb rack with brown-butter-whipped potatoes, mint-apple marmalade, and a mustard-herb crust).

2575 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-703-6787

Bluepoint Bakery’s decadent double-orange scones, made with both Mandarin oranges and orange icing, have the ability to brighten even the bleakest morning. And that’s before you pair one with a latte.

While you can’t pick up this addictive treat from Bluepoint directly (the bakery is wholesale only), you can find the pastries at shops around the metro area. Our go-to spots include Enstrom’s in Cherry Creek and Tuscany Coffee & Deli downtown.

Enstrom’s, 201 University Blvd., Ste. 118, 303-322-1005;

Tuscany Coffee & Deli, 1700 Lincoln St., 303-861-4544, and 1600 Stout St., 720-932-8787

At Belemonti’s Pizzeria, owner Tammy Maleckas tosses Chicago’s “other” style of pizza: thin, crackery-crusted pies. And she comes by the profession naturally (her parents opened a pizza joint on Chicago’s South Side, and her grandmother immigrated from Calabria, Italy).

Belemonti’s sits between Sixth and Seventh avenues on Santa Fe Drive, specializing in carryout and delivery pizza, though you can gobble a slice right on the spot. One great bet is the Windy City, a well-rounded combo of Italian sausage, roasted red and yellow peppers, Spanish green olives, and cayenne pepper. (We went light on the cayenne, and the pie was still plenty spicy.)

Bonus: Check out the cannoli, which can be ordered in both traditional (chocolate chip) and seasonal (cranberry) flavors.

644 Santa Fe Drive, 303-952-9879

The latest offering to show up on my cheese board is the Sunset Chipotle Cheddar from Buena Vista’s Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy. Made from goat’s milk, this hard cheese has a streak of russet-red chipotle paste running through the middle. Each bite melds nutty cheddar with smoky, spicy chili pepper. (Tip: The closer you get to the chipotle, the spicier the bite.)

I like to serve this robust cheese on Nita Crisps and offset it with the creamy Buttercup cheese (made from goat and cow’s milk) from Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy. I found both at Marczyk Fine Foods in Uptown.

770 E. 17th Ave., 303-894-9499

An evening at Cracovia, an upscale Polish restaurant located just off Wadsworth Parkway in Westminster, should begin with an authentic, herbaceous sip of the Polish Cocktail (Bison Grass vodka, honey liqueur, and apple juice).

From there, move to the house-made kielbasa sausage or a plate of pierogi, scalloped half-moon dumplings filled with cheese, meat, cabbage, and mushrooms and topped with caramelized onions. (Order the combination plate for a taste of all nine fillings.) If you’ve never had pierogi, think ravioli—only much heartier and without the sauce.

Don’t miss: The gorgeous beet soup—it’s light, brothy, studded with potato cubes, and swirled with tangy sour cream—or, for dessert, the blueberry pierogi with sweet sour cream.

8121 W. 94th Ave., Westminster, 303-484-9388

My two-year-old is crazy about hummus. She’s particular, too; the blend has to be just smooth enough, garlicky (but not too much), with a hint of lemon.

Over the weekend, my husband and I took her to  Saj Mediterranean Grill at the Streets at SouthGlenn Mall to give the hummus—and few other dishes—a try. We ordered the chicken shawarma saj wrap (saj is a chewy, tortilla-like bread), a beef-chicken-falafel combo plate, and a saj mana-keesh (a tasty quesadilla-like sandwich with melted mozzarella and nutty-tasting akawi cheese).

My little connoisseur immediately took to the hummus, as well as the other dishes. The tabbouleh is bright, with lemon and mint, and the baba ghanoush is pleasingly smokey (both come with the combo platter); both complement the tender chicken, savory beef, and crispy falafel. The wrap—a get-up of chicken, hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles—disappeared quickly.

The eats taste fresh and clean, and the prices are right, too. Our meal, which could have easily fed another adult, came to just $20.

Bonus: The fast-casual eatery, which is set up like a Chipotle, bakes their pita and saj breads daily. Kids love watching the bakers work.

The Streets at SouthGlenn Mall, 6955 S. York St., #423, Centennial, 303-797-8000

Mulberries, the adorable cake shop once housed on Old South Pearl Street, is thriving in its new Colfax location. With an uptick in foot traffic and twice the workspace for a fraction of the rent, the Capitol Hill digs have proven to be a sound business decision.

“We love our new location,” says owner Kathleen Karr. “We have enough space to produce all of our customers’ favorite cakes and cupcakes, plus add a new line of vegan baked goods.”

And the icing on the cake? With plenty of elbow room, the cheerful space becomes the ultimate spot for “build-your-own-birthday-cake” theme parties.

Don’t miss: The new vegan chocolate-chip scones or the butter-pecan cupcakes with dark-chocolate frosting.

2027 E. Colfax Ave., 303-282-1044

This week, if your server at Vesta Dipping Grill or Steuben’s seems more bright-eyed than usual, you can thank Josh Wolkon. Six years ago, in response to the restaurant business’ pervasive bar culture, the owner of Vesta (and now Steuben’s) challenged his staff to forgo alcohol for a week. As Wolkon says, “Sober Week is an opportunity for you to focus on your health, your rest, and ultimately yourself.”

But it’s more than just refraining from the bar after a shift: Wolkon arranges for free classes at various yoga studios and athletic clubs around town, picks up the tab for bike rentals during organized rides, and ensures that staff meals are healthier than usual.

Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St., 303-296-1970;

Steuben’s, 523 E. 17th Ave., 303-830-1001.

If pizza can be healthy, Sazza, a sustainably minded eatery in Greenwood Village, has found the formula. Portion control is managed by the small (personal) and large (feeds two) sizes, and the thin-crusted pies can hold only so many organic toppings before drooping.

There are menu staples, but specials make creative use of what’s in season. Right now, that means a roasted-pumpkin pizza made with local organic pumpkin from Stewart Farms, garlic oil, Gruyère, mozzarella, organic caramelized onions, bacon, fresh Colorado organic sage, and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Bonus: The mismatched styling further reflects Sazza’s green mantra: Glasses are recycled wine bottles, and customers donate the silverware and employee’s T-shirts.

2500 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, 303-797-2992

If you’re the kind of person who would rather skip the entrée and make a meal out of small plates, then Tastes Wine Bar & Bistro is your kind of spot.

With a diverse and ever-changing selection of wines by the glass and an extensive menu, Tastes allows you to design your own private tasting menu with accompanying wine pairings.

Recently, I created a three-course, two-wine dinner for just $30. I started with a house favorite: chewy, Brie-stuffed dates wrapped in thick shavings of smoky Serrano ham and drizzled with balsamic glaze. This was followed by a small bowl of slightly sweet and tender butternut-squash ravioli with sage butter. Both dishes pair well with the crisp Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. (Tastes pours a generous glass.)

For dessert, I opted for the warm apple crisp blended with tart cranberries and topped with a scoop of mellow vanilla gelato. This goes well with the R.L. Buller Tokay from Australia, a smooth, sweet sherry.

Tip: Tastes offers happy-hour specials from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 3-6 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Selected tapas are $3 and the majority of wines run $5 a glass.

1033 E. 17th Ave., 303-459-2311 and 4267 Tennyson St., 303-952-9590

At the sushi bar, I usually forgo decadent rolls for simple nigiri sushi and sashimi. But last week, I couldn’t resist trying Sushi Den’s tempting Red Dragon roll.

The deviation paid off with a creamy, crunchy mix of spicy tuna, avocado, and cucumber on the inside and sushi rice and garlic butter tuna tataki on the outside. “Dragon roll” sauce—a closely guarded secret recipe—gives the dish fire and zip. No soy sauce needed.

Bonus: Across the street, construction continues on Den Deli, the Kizaki brothers’ much-anticipated noodle bar and seafood market. There’s talk the eatery will open in mid-November.

1487 S. Pearl St., 303-777-0826

When lunchtime demands a heavy dose of tradition and sophistication, nothing beats the Old World charm of Ellyngton’s in the historic Brown Palace Hotel.

Completing the experience is the menu’s lobster BLT. The decadent sandwich combines toasted brioche, Maine lobster claw, crisp Bibb lettuce, basil aïoli, heirloom tomato, and thick slices of applewood smoked bacon. Served with your choice of side (cottage cheese, coleslaw, fruit, fries, or house-made chips), this dish—plus the gracious service and opulent surroundings—makes lunchtime feel like a special occasion.

321 17th St., 303-297-3111

In our eternal quest for the city’s best breakfast sandwich, I ordered the “Shannon” on whole wheat at Under the Umbrella Cafe and Bakery in Congress Park. What arrived was a buttery scramble of eggs and cheese, stirred with diced onion, spinach, and tomato. The coffeeshop’s satisfying sandwich is made all the better with the addition of a foamy cappuccino.

Bonus: Grab one of the muffins (baked daily) to go. Favorites include the blueberry or pumpkin, both of which make a tasty afternoon snack.

3504 E. 12th Ave., 303-256-0797