8:20 am, Mar 21, 2013
There was a time when Sputnik, the indie-cool bar/restaurant on South Broadway, served migas. I ordered that Tex-Mex dish of eggs scrambled with crispy tortillas strips a lot—until it was taken off the menu. (Co-owner Allison LaBarge later told me it wasn't a big seller.) Ever since, I've been at a loss as to where to go for the Austin, Texas-spawned breakfast. (More often...
8:41 am, Mar 20, 2013
5280 is launching an on-going series called Ask a Chef, where we'll pose questions to local luminaries. It seems only fitting to kick off the sequence with Jennifer Jasinski, the chef and co-owner of Rioja, Bistro Vendôme, and Euclid Hall. Earlier this week, Jasinski was named (for the second year in a row) a James Beard Foundation Award finalist for...
2:00 pm, Mar 19, 2013
Wake Up Dead Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Lefthand Brewing Company, LongmontStyle: Imperial stoutABV: 10.2 percentServing Type: 22-ounce bomberMalty? Hoppy? Malty, especially in the nose.Reviewed: March 2013As a new mom, this beer's title was particularly appealing, because most mornings I feel like the waking dead. But, as a beer reviewer, I know not to judge a brew by its...
10:30 am, Mar 19, 2013
Nathan Miller, the pastry chef-turned chocolatier who rocked the ovens at the Kitchen for six and a half years, grew up near the Hershey's chocolate factory. So, perhaps it’s no coincidence that his career eventually embraced the sweet treats he loved as a boy. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Miller honed his skills with culinary greats Jean-...
8:41 am, Mar 19, 2013
When you run a place such as the much-loved Sweet Basil in Vail for 35 years, you learn a few things. That is obvious to anyone who has ever dined at the iconic, fine-dining restaurant. Now, partners Kevin Clair and Matt Morgan have taken those lessons and applied them to Mountain Standard, which opened below Sweet Basil in December. The clean-lined,...
7:08 am, Mar 18, 2013
Although I haven't tried all the "-chip" ice creams out there, I fully intend to. But after enjoying—again and again—the dulce de leche choc-chip gelato made by Ballpark's Buenos Aires Pizza, I'm not sure I'll find a frozen treat that's any better. There's an art to making chocolate chip anything. Sure, you can buy a bag of Nestlé or Ghirardelli and toss the nibs into your ice...
3:45 pm, Mar 15, 2013
If you’ve got a spring trip to Steamboat Springs planned, make sure Laundry is at the top of your to-dine list. The restaurant’s seamless combination of comfortable ambience, exquisite food, and spot-on service makes me wish for a Denver location. Even on a recent busy Friday night, our bartender was attentive and helpful, keeping my party’s drinks filled and guiding us through the shared plates...
10:30 am, Mar 15, 2013
Tropic King, Funkwerks, Fort CollinsStyle: Imperial SaisonABV: 8.0 percentServing Type: 750-mL bottleMalty? Hoppy? Hoppy, but you'll notice the spices first.Reviewed: February 2013Beer geeks trade brew recommendations like kids used to swap baseball cards. And, if there was a Mickey Mantle mint-condition card of late, it was Funkwerk's Saison (pictured, left)....
7:30 am, Mar 15, 2013
Give me a reason to celebrate and I’m usually all in. However, modern St. Patrick’s Day festivities feel less inviting than they used to (ahem, face paint, green-hued beverages, plastic beads). This year, I've decided to swap the all-day drink-a-thon for a low-key vibe and hearty Irish fare. Cherry Creek’s Second Home Kitchen + Bar caught my attention for its modern twist on...
7:33 am, Mar 14, 2013
There's another tenant-landlord dispute at hand (see Common Grounds, Geez Louise, Encore Restaurant), and this time it involves Skoops Eatery. The Cheesman Park cafe opened about 18 months ago, just a couple doors down from Dazbog Coffee on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Downing Street. And therein lies the problem.According to Skoops' owners Tim...
