The molcajete rocks at Playa Azul

In A Federal Case, I’ll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard — south to north — within Denver city limits. I’ll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I’ll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here’s the…

Can Qdoba rescue brown rice — from itself?

The term “flavor profile” isn’t usually heard in reference to brown rice — unless “tastes an awful lot like water-logged wood chips” is considered a valid flavor descriptor. But Qdoba, the runner-up of Colorado’s homegrown, fast-casual Mexican chains, is introducing seasoned brown rice as an option in its restaurants. And…

Take a course on meat at University of Denver this evening

The University of Denver is hosting a free screening of American Meat — a documentation of the meat industry in America — tonight on the campus. And Westword editor Patricia Calhoun will moderate a panel discussion afterwards. See also: – Denver Restaurant Week and plenty of beer on the culinary…

Taco the town: Tyler Wiard, John Hickenlooper meet up in DC

When Governor John Hickenlooper was at the National Governors Association Taste of America Gala in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, he saw a familiar face: Tyler Wiard, culinary director of Elway’s Restaurant Group, who was there to champion Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. And no one who stopped by…

Steuben’s debuts a new late-winter cocktail menu

March is just around the corner, which means that winter is in full swing here in Colorado. Ryan Layman, the bar manager at Steuben’s Food Service, has recognized this by creating a new cocktail menu to beat the winter blues. See also: – Denver’s ten best plates of chicken and…

It takes pluck to open a polleria in Centennial

Quick! Name a Peruvian food. Chances are you named ceviche — raw, citrus-marinated fish. But Bob Van Diest is hoping that will soon change. A year and a half ago, Van Diest and his family opened La Polleria, a small restaurant in Centennial serving another type of authentic Peruvian fare:…

Guess where I’m eating oysters?

It doesn’t matter what I order at this Japanese restaurant — sushi, sashimi, udon or oysters — because there’s never a miss. Truth be told, every time I have the opportunity to go here, I’m more impressed than the time before. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone…

Reader: KFC and Popeye’s are finalists for best fried chicken?

Yesterday we revealed the current Food & Drink leaders in our Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll. In the Best Fried Chicken category, for example, the top five vote-getters are:Carrie’s Place, Steuben’s,White Fence FarmPopeye’s and KFC. And those last two just don’t fly with one reader. See also: – Best…

Exclusive first look: Moontower Tacos opens in Capitol Hill

Y’all know how I roll: Tacos rule my universe, and now, there’s a new spot — Moontower Tacos — giving me (and the rest of you who agree that tacos are the equivalent to enlightenment) another reason to ballyhoo their virtue. See also: – Moontower Tacos will soon be serving…

Photos: McCormick’s Fish House & Bar makeover is complete

The McCormick’s Fish House & Bar renovation project is finally done. After the Cruise Room got a facelift this fall, the dining room also got an update. The last space to be spruced up was the Corner Bar, which has looked largely the same since McCormick’s opened in LoDo 26…

Little India was the audience favorite at Artopia

Despite its name, Westword’s eighteenth annual Artopia spotlighted much more than art. Across this year’s five venues, the event also featured food from Little Man Ice Cream, The Shoppe, El Camino, Little India, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Sushi by Night, Mustard’s Last Stand and DJ’s Berkeley Cafe. We asked Artopia attendees…