gastronaughty's Profile
Larkspur in Vail and Avondale in Edwards (Colorado) -- Zagat-worthy?
I'm the Colorado editor for Zagat, and Larkspur was definitely on my survey list -- as it has been for several years -- but you're absolutely right: It's not on the ballot, which I don't get either.
Are there Decent Soup Dumplings (XLB) in Denver/Boulder?
Try Lee's Garden at Mississippi and Federal, which is actually owned by the brother of the guy who runs Chopsticks. I've been to both several times and prefer the XLB from Lee's Garden.
This is my first dog and pony show. Good Asian Market and Pho in Denver please.
I'm wondering if Booger actually means H Mart, rather than KoMart. H Mart is brilliant and by far the best one-stop-shop for anything and everything Asian, especially foodstuffs. You're right about the Alameda and Federal intersection, which is where the Far East Center resides. But all along Federal Boulevard are Asian markets and restaurants. You asked about pho: The best pho joint in and around Denver is Pho 95, at 1002 South Federal Boulevard. I go at least once a week and that's not nearly enough. Seriously stupendous pho.
Pagosa Springs/Durango/Pueblo CO
You've got plenty of great recommendations for Durango. Pueblo is a culinary wasteland, although Restaurant Fifteen Twenty-One is the exception. As to restaurants in Pagosa Springs, here's a link to a story I wrote for Sunset: http://www.sunset.com/travel/rockies/play-hard-and-eat-well-in-pagosa-springs-colorado-00400000012342/. Enjoy your trip!
Denver Restaurants for tourists
Why do you want to go to touristy restaurants, rather than local favorites?
Just curious.
Quite frankly, I would never take a 4-year-old child to the Buckhorn unless you're hip to him being walled in by taxidermy. Literally. And the Brown Palace? That's certainly not the place for a 4-year-old unless your child is as grown up as you presumably are. Aside from all of that, the Buckhorn, Brown and The Fort are three of the most expensive restaurants in the metro area. The Brown does have a bar/tavern, but you can do so much better than that.
Take your child to Steuben's (Uptown neighborhood, due east of downtown), Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria (also great for a group), Sam's #3 (breakfast), Buenos Aires Pizzeria or Rocky Mountain Diner, and for a group dinner, Vesta is great (and fine for kids; the owners have two of their own -- and they're young), as is Rioja, Panzano, Osteria Marco and Tamayo.
These are all downtown restaurants, by the way.
Anywhere good in Westminster/Thornton area?
If you like dim sum, I'd definitely go to Heaven Star, which is Broomfield, just west of Westminster. Zen Asian Bistro, in Westminster, is another good bet, as is Sushi Tokoro in Thornton. Bella Bistro, an Italian restaurant in Arvada (close to Westminster) is also quite good, and I love the pho at Pho Duy, which is right by Heaven Star. If you happen to be around on a Saturday, go to Emporio do Brasil for their feijoada mineira completa. Tucked into a strip mall in Westminster, It's a Brazilian grocer/cafe that only serves lunch on Saturday.
http://zenbistroandsushi.com/
Heaven Star: 6700 W 120th Ave.
Pho Duy: 6600 W. 120th Ave.
Sushi Tokoro: http://www.sushitokoro.com/
http://www.bellabistro.com/
http://www.emporiodobrasil.com/
Denver cheese markets
Both The Truffle (http://www.denvertruffle.com) and St. Kilian's Cheese Shop (http://www.stkilianscheeseshop.com) are excellent, as is the Cheese Company (http://cheesecompanyanddeli.com) and Urban Pantry (http://www.urbanpantry.com/). Of the four, however, my favorite is The Truffle. It's remarkably busy this time of year, so be patient.
Dining with a large group in Denver
Uh, Claire, Maggiano's is anything but a "small" chain.
* 42 Maggiano's locations
* part of a company that does OVER $4 billion in sales
* over 1800 Brinker locations
In the great scheme of "chaindom," Maggiano's is a kingdom.
Aspen's Food and Wine Classic
There are horrifically long lines for the cooking demos spearheaded by big name chefs like Emeril, Bobby Flay and Thomas Keller. Cooking demos take place at various venues throughout Aspen, however, and the smaller demos, usually conducted by lesser-known chefs, are much easier to get into. Still, it's pretty much a clusterf*ck. If you can snag a seat in the first few rows (good luck), then you have an up close and personal view of the chefs, otherwise you'll need to rely on mirrors and oversize projectors, which actually isn't as bad as it sounds. Be forewarned, though, that some of the demos are standing room only by the time you get in there.
The grand tasting tent, which peddles wines from around the world, also turns out food, but you have to hunt for it -- and, yes, the lines are long, but they move quickly. Cheeses, crackers, bread and fruit, however, are strewn throughout the tent and readily available. But the Classic is far more about the grape divide than it is about food -- although Aspen does trumpet some amazing restaurants.
Like Claire, I'm a journalist and have never had to pay. But I'd certainly be less inclined to go if I did have to pay, mostly because the event has morphed from a few hundred people (my first year there ) to over 5,000 and I think it's lost a lot of its original intimacy. That said, if you have the money to splurge on both tickets and lodging (astronomically expensive to begin with and even more so during the Classic), then it's probably worth it to go once.
If only one dinner in Santa Fe...
With all due respect, Maria's is terrible. It's overrun with drunken tourists and the food is an insult to New Mexican cuisine.
Aspen's Food and Wine Classic
Many,.many times. What, specifically, do you want to know?
Deep Dish Pizza near Vail
I suspect you're talking about Zacca Za!, in Avon.
www.zaccaza.com
If you search the boards, you'll find some discussion about it, although none it it particularly recent. I had lunch there a year or so ago and thought it was good -- not great -- but I'm more of a Neapolitan-style pizza fan that a deep-dish devotee.
good asian in denver?
It's actually JJ's Bistro -- not to be confused with JJ Chinese on Alameda, which is also fabulous -- and as authentic as it gets. The woman who owns JJ's Bistro is wonderful, and while it's not as good as JJ Chinese, I absolutely agree that it's worth seeking out.
Caterers in Denver
I love Epicurean (they catered my wedding, not to mention several other parties I've hosted) and highly recommend them. Only thing is ... they might be up to their canopies in DNC events already. Alternatively, I've had very good luck with Whirled Peas, Catering by Design, Occasions by Sandy and Three Tomatoes.
Here's a relatively comprehensive list of Denver caterers, if you're interested: http://kmgh.cityvoter.com/a-list/weddings/caterer
korean bbq - NW Denver
Korean Garden does have the grills -- on some tables, but not all. I've only been once and the service was a bit surly, but the barbecue was decent. Not rapturous, but good.
Chicago-Style Pizza: Denver?
Have you been to Basil Doc's? I love their New Haven white clam pizza. It's not quite as good as Pepe's in New Haven, but it's as close as I've found in Denver.
4 Nights In Denver. This is my list. Any Additions?
I assume you mean the "Waffle Brothers" cart on the 16th Street Mall (at Tremont). If so, yes, it's very good: sugared Belgian waffles with every topping imaginable, including lots of fresh fruits. If you're into food carts, DEFINITELY check out Biker Jim's, at 16th and Arapahoe. The best Alaskan reindeer sausage. Ever.
I'd go to Bistro Vendome for Sunday brunch, especially if you're a Francophile, but Steuben's is a lot of fun as is Jonesy's EatBar -- and both are good. I would also add Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria to your culinary itinerary.
Advice on Colorado Corkage Please
From the Colorado Liquor and Licensee Handbook:
"Can I bring my own alcohol beverages into a place that has a liquor license?"
"It is also unlawful to bring alcohol beverages into any place that is licensed to sell or serve alcohol beverages, i.e., restaurants, sports stadiums. Similarly, it is unlawful to bring alcohol beverages onto an unlicensed public business, i.e., restaurants, for consumption due to the prohibition on public consumption."
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:sT6hcs56c3YJ:www.revenue.state.co.us/liquor_dir/pdfs/04licenseehandbook.pdf+colorado+liquor+laws,+restaurants&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Marco's Coal Fired Pizzeria Denver Colorado
No, Marco's is not the only game in town for Neapolitan pizza -- although it's excellent and certainly worth going to. But Osteria Marco, Via, Via Baci, Virgilio's and Proto's all do Neapolitan pizzas, too.
Middle Eastern in Denver/Boulder
Damascus Grill, on Littleton Blvd., is excellent, and in my opinion, far better than the Mid-East feast houses that line Colorado Boulevard, although the handful of Mid-East markets on Colorado Boulevard are worth seeking out, at least for their fetas and spices.
DEN Doughnuts on the east side?
Not on the east side of town -- not even in Denver -- but Tin Star in Evergreen does absolutely amazing doughnuts. And don't even get me started on their apple fritters.
Denver--request for some specifics
The roster is HUGE and gives equal attention to both American and global wines and the pour sizes are more than adequate, plus, you can order flights, which I like. If memory serves, they offer around 70 wines by the glass, plus bubblies. Lovely space, too.
Denver--request for some specifics
For New Mexican, bypass Little Anita's, which is fine, but hardly inspiring and instead go to Jack-n-Grill, where both the red chile and green chile are indicative of exactly what you'd find in New Mexico. The owners hail from Albuquerque, they roast their own chilies during the growing season, serve stacked enchiladas and the corn-in-a-cup -- fresh shucked corn, butter, hot sauce, fresh lime juice and Parmesan cheese -- is terrific.
The Fort is a hike (about 30 minutes west of Denver), but if you're looking for game meats, it's worth the trek, plus the views of the Denver skyline from the window tables are an extra bonus.
As for wine bars, I love Cru, on Larimer Square, directly across the street from Rioja, which I would highly, highly recommend for dinner. Cru, however, does a nice job with its small plates.
For Thai, US Thai, in Edgewater (a 15 minute drive from downtown) is far and away the best Thai food in the city, but be warned that their food is hotter than a sidewalk sale in July, which is exactly how I like it, but I've seen people there literally double over in pain. There's no atmosphere to speak of and no liquor license, but the food is remarkably good.
Nice dinner in Fort Collins?
If I had to pin it down, I would say upscale comfort food (artisan pizzas, too) with global influences. As for price range, it's moderate. Patrick is a wonderful guy, immensely down-to-earth, but intensely passionate about food and wine. One of my best friends used to be the pianist at Ciao Vino, which is how I initially met Patrick and while he's been tremendously successful with his wine business and was also a personal chef to one of Colorado's most notable billionaires, he has no ego. And he can cook his ass off.
Nice dinner in Fort Collins?
I highly, highly recommend the Plank, a new restaurant in Fort Collins (Old Town) that opened about four weeks ago. Patrick Laguen, the chef-owner-sommelier, is absolutely brilliant. He's been cooking in and around Fort Collins for more than 25 years, produces his own wines and is renowned worldwide for his food and wine pairing seminars. The menu, which is seasonal and culls from local farmers, changes monthly. Groovy space, energetic vibe, lots of verve and just overall fabulous.
Marco's Coal Fired Pizzeria Denver Colorado
Hours are Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. They officially open to the public on Wednesday.
Tastes Wine Bar, DEN?
The original location, which opened a couple of years ago, is on Tennyson. The second outpost is the one you're talking about, on 17th. It sounds like they haven't updated their Web site to reflect the second location. I've only been to the Tennyson Street spot and I really enjoyed it. Nice staff, an interesting, global wine list with a nod toward small producers and good -- not great -- food.
Best Mex on 38th? (DEN)
Absolutely second the recommendation for El Paraiso (4690 Harlan St.). Their parrilladas and molcajetes are life-changing.
