I was in hot pursuit of a tow truck yesterday, which is neither here nor there, except that my chase landed me in Aurora, and whenever I’m in Aurora, I’m in taco country, and whenever I’m in taco country, I’m happier than a lizard lapping up flies. Today was no…
Luca D’Italia, 711 Grant Street, marks its six-year anniversary throughout the month with a march of visiting Denver chefs, including Wayne Conwell, exec at Sushi Sasa, 2401 15th Street, who will team up with Luca (and Mizuna, Osteria Marco and Bones) chef-owner Frank Bonanno tonight, June 3, for a five-course…
“I’m absolutely exhausted, and I want a bath,” declared Carla Stevens, co-owner of Giovanni’s Italian Cafe, at 3355 South Yarrow Street, when I caught her on the phone this afternoon. As reported here last week, Stevens and her husband, Salvatore Giacalone, had hoped to unveil their new space on the…
The noodle bar is big business these days. In Manhattan, David Chang has elevated the simple, neighborhood noodle bar to celebrity status (and turned himself into a minor rock star in the process) with his Momofuku brand. In Denver, we’ve got one of the originals — Oshima Ramen, straight outta…
News from Cherry Creek: The space at 287 Columbine Street that had been Java Creek, that neighborhood hot spot, then became C.R.E.A.M, is now turning into Café Colorado, and will be renovated to include a more complete kitchen…
The XO menu basically breaks down into four categories: ramen (in three varieties: duck, beef and seafood), semi-dry noodles (using about half as much broth as the ramen), dry noodles (mostly Korean, plus yakisoba and a chicken pad thai based on Guerrero’s time as a stagier in Bangkok), then rice…
Calling all grape geeks: Tonight, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Lala’s Wine Bar, 410 East Seventh Avenue, is uncorking five wines from several countries in the Southern Hemisphere — New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina — which is as good a cure as any to wash away the rainy day…
The renovation of the second Trattoria Stella looks to be finally complete. The former Cafe Star at 3201 East Colfax Avenue has been split in two, with the Trattoria on one side and the Starlight Lounge on the other. “The lounge is all barn wood with a cherry bar,” explains…
James Mazzio had hoped that the Icehouse Tavern, the replacement that the Momo brothers are putting into the former home of Via at 1801 Wynkoop Street, would be ready to go by June 1. But the place is going through a complete overhaul — with award-winning chef Mazzio doing some…
Cheba Hut is coming to the 16th Street Mall this summer, bringing its “counter-culture” sandwiches, including Kind, Kush and Chronic. But according to Matt Clark-Johnson, co-owner of this store as well as the Boulder franchise of the Tempe, Arizona-based chain, Cheba is about more than pot references. “it’s juvenile, but…
View Larger Map Some dirty dogs tried to blow up the Fat Cat Sports Bar (aka, Fat Cat Pub, Fat Cat Inn) Sunday morning between the hours of 1 and 6:15 a.m. According to a police report about the incident at 5060 North Federal, “unknown persons started a fire involving…
Okay, so say you’ve got a friend. And this friend, for whatever reason (religious aversion, misguided sense of moral outrage, PETA brainwashing), has chosen not to eat meat. Still, you, as a proud carnivore, want to go out somewhere where both of you can have a decent feed. This week’s…
This past weekend, when I sneaked through the open doors of Fogo de Chao, the new Brazilian churrascaria going into 1515 Wynkoop Street, to take photos of the space, a pair of hands came between my camera and the construction dust. “Absolutely no photos are allowed!” yapped the guy with…
There are plenty of people in Denver who love nothing more than catching me out in a mistake. But one of the benefits (and perils) of living and working in this freaky William Gibson future of the interweb? People from thousands of miles away can correct me, and also teach…
There’s more movement on the 2000 block of Larimer Street, where Three Door Bistro, an American/Italian restaurant, is skedded for a mid-July opening at 2049 Larimer. The space, run by Marion Hoffman, who briefly owned Fantastic Bistro and Catering at 2740 South Wadsworth Boulevard, is named for the three wooden…
At this point, it’s safe to say that I could commit myself to a full-time position of doing nothing but reporting on where the President (or VP) decides to eat his lunch every day. I mean, we’ve already had the Grey Poupon controversy (and the resulting, tongue-in-cheek marketing push by…
Summer is just around the corner, and it shows at the market. While the selection is still focused on vegetables of the lettuce variety, warmer-weather vegetables are beginning to peak through. But that wasn’t the highlight of my visit to the market Saturday. No, the highlight was a conversation inspired…
As reported here last month, Ryan Leinonen, the starting chef at Root Down, 1600 West 33rd Avenue, was uprooted on April 24, when owner Justin Cucci snipped his stem. But chefs are survivors and Leinonen is no exception. He’s landed the sous position at Colt & Gray, the farm-to-plate gastropub…
The venerable Castle Bar, at 6657 South Broadway, has new owners: Tapp (great name for a tavern owner!) and Kara Smith. After several years in the bar and restaurant business (Tapp most recently at an Old Chicago on South Wadsworth Boulevard and Kara at the Elephant Bar in Belmar), the…
KJ’s Coffee Bar opened last summer at 1710 East 25th Avenue, but it finally held its grand opening celebration on May 23. And KJ’s could soon have more reason to celebrate. This community gathering place for the Whittier neighborhood is going for a beer/wine liquor license, with a hearing slated…
RESTAURANT OPENINGS IN MAY Belemonti’s Pizzeria, 644 Santa Fe Drive Otto’s Grill, 2200 Market Street Pho on 6th, 1312 East Sixth Avenue Olivea, 719 East 17th Avenue Buffalo Wild Wings, 15570 West 64th Avenue, Arvada Recovery Room, 819 Colorado Boulevard Pizza Republica, 5375 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village Gelato Spot, 607…
Smart Start Toasted Oat Kellogg’s Rating: Two-and-a-half spoons out of four Cereal description: Heavy, dark oat flakes that ripple and curl like shingles that should have been replaced a few decades earlier. They’re supplemented by rolled oats, wheat, rice and God knows what else bound together in light-hued wads that…
