in the past few weeks i have been blown away by the amount of places, and menus to discover here in colorado - namely the metro area.
a few places you MUST MUST MUST add on to your list:
Crave - a dessert bar in downtown denver - across from the buell.
http://cravedenver.com/about/about-crave/
what you MUST try: their carrot cake. it is to die for.
their service is amazing, and their atmosphere is perfect for a girls' night of theater and fun. ask your bartender to pair up the cake with wine, they do an amazing job! (i had mine paired with a white riesling, and it was absolutely delightful). if you are not a big dessert fan, fear not - their cocktails, coffees, and teas will mean you have something to try too!
Lou's food bar - "american country food with a french twist" - west 38th avenue in denver.
http://lousfoodbar.com/
big thing: go during happy hour, because all their appetizers are way WAY cheaper - 3-6 tuesday to friday
things you MUST try (i have a long list):
lump blue crab cakes - they dissolve in your mouth. there are two per order, so if you go with more than 2 people, you definitely want to get more than one order (trust me, you will want the whole crab cake to yourself). they are absolutely perfectly prepared, and crunchy on the outside.
potato croquettes - if you like croquettes, you will crave these after visiting lou's. they are a perfect mix of creamy and crunchy, not too salty and buttery delicious. they are also piping hot, so be careful.
they have a selection of sausages for you to try, i recommend the Lamb Bourguignon w/ Crispy Potatoes. it is well seasoned, rich in flavor, and the crispy potatoes are the perfect companion.
a side that you DEFINITELY need to order is the jalapeño cheddar cornbread. it is pretty big, so you can share. we shared it among 4 people and everyone was able to get a good portion of the bread to try. if you are like me and jalapeños scare you away, do NOT shy away from this cornbread. it is fluffy, cheesy; it is everything cornbread is supposed to be and more. the jalapeños add a delicious twist to this country classic, but not in a spicy sense - all you can taste is the flavor of the jalapeños.
this is american food. you must try a burger. go for the short rib hamburger. it is DELICIOUS. the meat literally falls apart in your mouth and it is extremely well-sized for a "fancy" restaurant. the bread is delicious, and the whole thing just works! please note: the fries are definitely not the reason why you order this dish. eat the whole hamburger before spoiling your appetite with something that tastes the same no matter where you go. and don't forget to eat the pickle, too.
Bones - noodle shop - on grant and 7th (capitol hill)
http://bonesdenver.com/
i love noodles. always have. always will.
it had been a while since i wanted to go to bones, and my dream finally became a reality on friday night.
please note: you MUST make a reservation for this restaurant. without counting the seats at the bar, there are only nine tables. opentable.com is your best bet.
i was greeted happily at the door, and quickly walked to my table while my friends parked outside. the place has big big big windows, and the kitchen is smack dab in the middle of the restaurant. you can see everything!
the menu is tiny and to the point... what you must try are the following:
sparkling sake sangria - if you like regular sangria, this is the drink for you. it is fruity and dangerous in an "i cant taste the alcohol" kind of way. it is pretty big too. it lasted me through dinner, so it's a great investment if you are a cocktail drinker...
suckling pig buns - PLEASE do not skip these. they are like an asian taco (i hope i am not offending anyone). and to show you i am not lying, here's a picture:
the meat is tender, and juicy. the green onions add a new flavor... and the bread itself, the bun, is sweet, fluffy, and absolutely delicious. the closest thing i could compare these pieces of heaven to is a steamed bbq pork bun at a dim sum restaurant - the flavors are similar but this is way better.... way way way way way better.
after you are done savoring the deliciousness that are those buns, you must try their seaweed salad. it sounds gross (especially to those of you who are non-sushi lovers), but i assure you - this salad is fresh and light as a feather. the vinaigrette is very well balanced, not too acid or salty. there are a few pieces of tofu and thin slices of cucumber to complete this salad.
but hey, i did mention this was a noodle restaurant, no?
you MUST try the udon noodles: Slow Cooked Pork Shoulder, Plum-Soy Broth, Poached Egg. warning: if you are going on a date, be careful with your clothes - you will eat this with chopsticks! the broth alone was worth this dish. it is savory, and not greasy. it is very different from any other broths i have come in contact with, perhaps because of that "plum" twist. the pork shoulder is cooked to perfection, and it is so tender that it falls apart and becomes "one" with the broth. the udon noodles are plenty, and after you are trough with this dish, you will not want anything else. the flavors are married to each other, and the mix of ingredients works oh-so-well.
as you can see, food is something that i adore. in the next few weeks i will be attending cholon asian bistro and il posto for restaurant week. i will definitely update.
