miniBAR is a big deal for Cherry Creek

Stopped in at Bill Ward’s miniBAR Friday night, for an early look at the start of its grand-opening festivities. It’s tucked below the old Village Inn at 2623 East Second Avenue. And although the place is tiny, it’s definitely big on style…

The Gelato Spot: One more reason to visit 13th Avenue

Gelato alert: While cruising around Cap Hill last night in search of food — which I got in the form of a real deal slice of New York-style pizza from the excruciatingly surly crew at Benny Blanco’s Slice of the Bronx, at 616 East 13th Avenue — I saw a…

A Crush on Cans: Ska Brewing

It’s American Craft Beer Week – seven days that even the United States Congress felt should be set aside for drinking micro brews. But Colorado’s beer culture is worth a deeper look, since 100 craft breweries operated here in 2008, producing 75,000 barrels of delicious beer. Of particular interest is…

Ruth’s Chris shutters downtown Denver location

Just got off the phone with Ray Gross, who handles investor relations for Ruth’s Chris Steak House — a chain that, until yesterday, had a Denver outpost at 1445 Market Street. “Basically, Marcel Taylor, the franchisee of the Denver location, closed it for personal reasons,” explained Gross, adding that Taylor…

Guess where I’m eating?

For all of you who think I don’t do anything all day, here’s a snap of the aftermath of yesterday’s Cafe Society meeting. Where were we? Post your answer as a comment…

Drink beer out of a bowling pin. No, really!

A recent trip to Elitch Lanes, at 3825 Tennyson, for a friend’s surprise birthday party turned up another (totally awesome) surprise: bowling pin-shaped Budweiser bottles. They’re appropriate, curvaceous and refreshing, three things you may or may not expect to find at a bowling alley. Manager Frank Rangel says Elitch Lanes…

The Market Report, May 9

How do you kick off the first day of summer? (Yes, some people say it starts in late June — but I say it’s after the last day of finals!). Failing in my goal of waking up face down, possibly naked, and definitely hungover somewhere in Boulder, I went to…

Colorado beer drinkers have a crush on cans

It’s American Craft Beer Week – seven days that even the United States Congress felt should be set aside for one purpose and one purpose only: drinking micro brews. (To find out about tappings, food pairings and other events, click here or here.) But Colorado’s beer culture is worth a…

First impressions of Olivea

The Uptown ‘hood has no shortage of restaurants, but Olivéa, the new food temple from John Broening, Yasmin Lozada-Hisson, Keith Arnold and Stephanie Bonin (the foursome behind Duo), located at 719 East 17th Avenue in the former Aix space, could be just what the neighborhood’s been waiting for: an upbeat,…

Ask the Critic: Barbecue season, ’09

I hear from a lot of cranky (or just plain pissed off) readers every week.  Some weeks they’re complaining about my reviewing style (“All he talks about is himself!”), some weeks they’ve complaining about my review of someone’s favorite restaurant (“Only an idiot wouldn’t think Root Down was the best…

Tony’s Market is so close we can almost taste it

Tony’s, Tony’s, Tony’s! The highly touted butcher, deli and upscale market from the southern suburbs is roughly two weeks away from finally opening in the 900 block of Broadway. The dark-red and white striped awnings went up this morning, and a couple of trees were planted near the planned patio…

Guess where I’m eating?

Thanks to the wonders of technology, I’m going to start posting quick snaps from some of the restaurants I visit during the week. Your mission? To guess where I was gorging myself, using nothing more than the clues in the photos. Sorry, no prizes — just bragging rights and another…

Party down with Bob Schaffer’s margarita

Did you miss this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo festivities in Civic Center Park? You can still get a taste of them by picking up a bottle of Coyote Gold Premium Margarita — the margarita that former U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer’s wife, Maureen, is marketing along with her Fort Collins…

Milking It: Trail Mix Crunch Cranberry Vanilla

Trail Mix Crunch Cranberry Vanilla cereal Post Rating: Two spoons out of four Cereal description: An amalgamation of different grains — wheat, oats, barley, rice — blended with dried cranberries, almonds and plenty more. This potpourri produces a munch that’s marked more by dissimilarity than consistency — a crazy compendium…

Frasca dinner with Bodegas Muga wines

On Monday, May 11, Frasca Food & Wine, 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, will offer a wine dinner with Steve Lewis of Giuliana Imports presenting the wines of Bodegas Muga. Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey will be on hand, and chef/co-owner Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson will cook a four-course seasonal menu. The…

First look at the Snooze expansion

Soon the lines will be forming outside of Snooze, the popular breakfast spot in the Ballpark neighborhood. So popular, in fact, that owner Jon Schlegel decided to create a second Snooze.  “I’d say that we’re screening a lot of places right now,” he told me a couple of months ago…

The mother of all food weekends

This weekend, it’s all about Mom. Take her to the Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, from 10:30 a.m. to noon today, May 9, for a free tea-service demo. To make a reservation, go to www.denverlibrary.org. And before you take your mother to brunch on Sunday (check with…

The List: ‘fo schnitzel

I fell in love with Cracovia this week.Then, a few days later, I fell in love all over again with the schnitzel and potato pancakes and green chile at Hospoda. So is it that I’m some kind of restaurant slut, going all head over heels for any joint that catches…

Cafe Society: Week in review

What you might have missed on this week’s Cafe Society…The much anticipated Pho on 6th opened, along with Olivea and Otto’s Grill.We got to the root of owner Justin Cucci’s dismissal of Root Down’s executive chef, Ryan Leinonen.Jason Sheehan geeked out with the Geeks Who Drink and fought a pack…

Pizza Republica opens today

After a few delays and some dark days, Pizza Republica is finally opening at 4 p.m. today at 5375 Landmark Place in Greenwood Village.Here’s how the Jet Entertainment Group, which also owns the Jet Hotel and Nine75, describes its latest restaurant on the company’s website: “Pizza Republica focuses on homemade…

Room for one more Mo’s

Went to Mo’s last night. No, not Mo’ Tacos, which is right next to Mona’s at 123 South Broadway. And not Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl, further down the strip at 3295 South Broadway, right by the Gothic Theatre. And not any of the three Moe’s Broadway Bagel outposts in…

Candy Girls: Happy candyversary!

A year ago, we came to you with a simple pink maltball that tasted like Barbie, and the Candy Girls were born.  In addition to this momentous anniversary, Aubrey has even bigger news to commemorate with the birth of her baby boy last night!  What better way to celebrate the concurrence…