My favorite 2 weeks of the year has started! Denver Restaurant Week which started yesterday and runs through March 11th offers 3 course menus for $26.40 from over 200 restaurants from downtown Denver all the way to Boulder. Most of the popular places are booked solid but i can certainly suggest a hidden gem if you are looking for one.
Edge- DRW Menu
Located in the new Four Seasons hotel downtown, Edge is a reason to brave the horrific opera traffic on a saturday night. I would probably never eat here as the appetizers ($12-18) and entrees ($25-45 would make a large dent in my wallet so restaurant week at Edge is an absolute steal! The overall meal was delicious but the star was most definitely the appetizer: pan seared (JUMBO) scallops with brandy apples, huckleberry gastrique and mache salad. The two scallops were seared perfectly and i can think of a few people who would certainly enjoy those. A steakhouse that can do seafood successfully wins a place in my books. Too bad i forgot my camera....
When they bring your check, they bring you a piece of a cow shaped piece of dark chocolate on a stick to sweeten the deal
Plate Score: 9
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Bittersweet
Just north of Wash park on Alameda and Pennsylvannia, this former garage space has been transformed into Bittersweet, a small artisanal spot manned by Chef Olav Peterson formally of Bistro one. The space is small with two dining rooms with a little more than a dozen total tables. The plain grey walls and white (ikea like) furniture were uninspiring but then again, i'm not an interior decorator but rather a self proclaimed foodie. Neither of us were very hungry so we skipped the appetizers and ordered the lamb canneloni and monkfish as our entrees. As we waited for our entrees, we nibbled on the fresh and crusty house roll of fennel and kalamata olive. For those of you who know me, i despise olives but i did not taste it at all, probably masked by the distinct flavor fennel seeds. Additionally more places should have complimentary bread.
The lamb canneloni with housemade pasta and ricotta, was dressed with some microgreens and a reduced bacon lamb and mushroom sauce. I found the sauce to be slightly salty but the shredded lamb was tender and not too gamey as it can sometimes be. The two pieces of pan fried monkfish were served with a roasted baby cauliflower and lobster hash and a cauliflower bisque (really more like a sauce). I don't usually encounter monkfish here in denver, but the texture is a cross between lobster and halibut. It was a unique dish with nice chunks of lobster but the flavor profile was a bit flat. I think bittersweet has potential but I don't feel the need to revisit anytime soon.
Plate score: 7
The lamb canneloni with housemade pasta and ricotta, was dressed with some microgreens and a reduced bacon lamb and mushroom sauce. I found the sauce to be slightly salty but the shredded lamb was tender and not too gamey as it can sometimes be. The two pieces of pan fried monkfish were served with a roasted baby cauliflower and lobster hash and a cauliflower bisque (really more like a sauce). I don't usually encounter monkfish here in denver, but the texture is a cross between lobster and halibut. It was a unique dish with nice chunks of lobster but the flavor profile was a bit flat. I think bittersweet has potential but I don't feel the need to revisit anytime soon.
Plate score: 7
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Bones
Bones, an asian fusion noodle shop is located on the same block as Frank Bonnano's two other successful restaurants Mizuna and Luca D'italia. Very popular among denver food blogs and with just a dozen two top tables and a bar overlooking the small open kitchen, it was inevitable that we would be leaving with a new perfume in our clothes again. Perhaps my expectations were too high. We started with the popular steamed buns with suckling pig and pork belly. I was expecting something closer to the fluffy white bun you would find surrounding chinese bbq pork at dim sum. The suckling pig was dry and the bun was chewy and dense, virtually inedible.
We split the ba mee with tofu, corn, leeks in a coconut coconut lemongrass broth and the ramen with slow cooked pork shoulder and a soft poached egg. Both noodle bowls were solid with well developed broths and al dente noodles, however as a true fan of asian fusion, this concept just didn't work for me. When i want ramen again, i will probably go to ototo or hands down the winner of ramen Ippudo in NYC.
Plate score: 5
We split the ba mee with tofu, corn, leeks in a coconut coconut lemongrass broth and the ramen with slow cooked pork shoulder and a soft poached egg. Both noodle bowls were solid with well developed broths and al dente noodles, however as a true fan of asian fusion, this concept just didn't work for me. When i want ramen again, i will probably go to ototo or hands down the winner of ramen Ippudo in NYC.
Plate score: 5
Monday, February 21, 2011
OMG- Casa Bonita
I realize this blog focuses on my culinary adventures, however i'm about to make my very first exception for Casa Bonita. According to an article from Westword, Casa Bonita is described as a "Mexican Disney World on crack", well what do you know, they were right. Located in the corner of a strip mall and spoofed by South Park, this place is unique with an overload of sensory experiences the moment you step inside. We got in a line that snaked around a half dozen corners (like an amusement park ride), perused a paper menu, placed our order (I ordered the chicken taco salad), picked up a tray, picked up our order and were seated at a table near the fountain just in time for the cliff divers. Simply put, this place is a well oiled machine catering to families, elderly couples, and groups who are out for a good time. The mexican food is nothing worthing mentioning but i still ate it as we struggled to hear the different shows (think gun fights or terrorizing gorillas) through the obsolete sound system. Something worth mentioning were the unlimited fresh sopapillas with cinnamon sugar and honey to end the meal. Before we left, we explored the different crevices, gift shops, caves, and awkwardly encountered a former student working the prize station in the arcade. I don't understand how this is one of the country's top 10 roadside destinations and as a result I will most likely not return, but like Justin Bieber says never say never.
Happy President's Day!
Happy President's Day!
Thai
US Thai Cafe is definitely a hole in the wall place where you leave with your clothes infused with the flavors of your meal. Facing Sloan's Lake on Sheridan and 25th, the plastic table cloth and the unusually low ceiling were overshadowed by the delicious pad thai and masmam curry we enjoyed. The 3 levels of heat are mild, medium and hot and according to our server, mild equals no spice because the cooks were getting confused?!?! Why don't they just use something like "none". Our waitress suggested mild plus, which so you know is more like a medium. I should have read my previous blog post on US thai cafe, as mild packs quite a spicy punch and and mild plus was a little too much for me. The pad thai was perfectly sweet from the palm sugar and the salty from the fish sauce and the coconut curry with large chunks of potato, yellow onion, garlic with pork was delicious over the white rice. Both were perfect for sharing.
Plate Score: 8
Plate Score: 8
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Spuntino
What used to be the red trolley (a cafe and gelato shop) a block from work has recently been replaced by Spuntino. And what used to be An's Lemongrass grill next door in that red brick building will soon be a Park Burger (projected to open late february!). In addition to a rotating lineup of gelato flavors like pistachio and chocolate salted caramel they also offer flatbreads, paninis, and salads and housemade tarts (think lemon basil curd) napoleans and tiramisu in their display cases. The price are on the high side ($8-$10) for their little eats so we decided to share one of their flatbreads topped with stracchino, proscuitto and arugula. Upon placing our order, we watched the cook or food artist whatever you call those people pull out a small ball of dough and proceeded to roll it out until it was a quarter of an inch thick before throwing it down on the flat top. He then brought out a 5lb slab of proscuitto and shaved off several slices for the flatbread. I supposed this is what "made to order" looks like! I wonder if they cure their own meats?
The melted stracchino cheese was followed by the proscuitto and generous handfuls of peppery arugula. As we ate it, the warm flatbread was less like a pita or a chewy pizza dough but more like a flakey pastry dough. I felt as though the arugula could been dressed with some acid like red wine vinegar or lemon juice to cut through the richness of the cheese and proscuitto. It was a decent sized portion for "little eats" however for $10, i doubt i'll be running back for a seconds. I wasn't in the mood for dessert either which is a shocker but i will return for the gelato and definitely those gourmet popsicles (think celery lime or blueberry basil) in the warmer months. Despite being open for less than a month, westword has already raved about the popsicles as one of their favorite foods for 2011.
Plate score: 7
The melted stracchino cheese was followed by the proscuitto and generous handfuls of peppery arugula. As we ate it, the warm flatbread was less like a pita or a chewy pizza dough but more like a flakey pastry dough. I felt as though the arugula could been dressed with some acid like red wine vinegar or lemon juice to cut through the richness of the cheese and proscuitto. It was a decent sized portion for "little eats" however for $10, i doubt i'll be running back for a seconds. I wasn't in the mood for dessert either which is a shocker but i will return for the gelato and definitely those gourmet popsicles (think celery lime or blueberry basil) in the warmer months. Despite being open for less than a month, westword has already raved about the popsicles as one of their favorite foods for 2011.
Plate score: 7
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My attempt at sweet potato and black bean tacos
Watercourse tacos: $11.95 for 3.....my creation: $0.75 each...I feel like Food Network's Money Saving Meals with Sandra Lee, the asian version of course.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Squeaky Bean
It has been a while where I left a restaurant here in denver extremely satisfied. 5280 did not make a mistake by naming squeaky bean top 10 best new restaurant of 2010. Located less than a mile from my school, I haphazardly decided on this place with my roommate 5 minutes after swim practice.
Our autumn squash salad featured 2 types of roasted squash. The spaghetti squash was sandwiched between two crispy pistachio crackers. The hollowed out sections of the delicata squash were filled with stracciatella, a mixture of mozzarella and cream that I was unfamiliar with. The sweetness from the squash was a beautiful complement to the creamy and saltiness of the cheese. A small frisee salad with a spicy mustard dressing was the 3rd component of this appetizer.
Our second small plate was roasted suchokes with a braised and crispy pork belly, poached apples, red onions, apple chips, frisee and a medium poached egg. Each individual part was superb, but in combination was truly amazing.
We ordered the kobe beef short ribs entree which they generously split for us. The meat was so tender, i felt so guilty eating it with the ratio of fat being at least 50%. You can probably see it the fat on the ends....The radishes 3 ways were interesting as was the asian style spicy cucumber salad.
Nothing from the dessert menu really striked us so we drove down the street to little man ice cream. I was hoping for mocha chocolate chip but, it was not an available flavor, so i picked the salted oreo ice cream. Delicious dessert for under $2.
Also, they have a $1 pints of ice cream to commemorate sub zero temps until 9pm tonight!
Plate Score: 9.5
thanks brigitte! :)
Our autumn squash salad featured 2 types of roasted squash. The spaghetti squash was sandwiched between two crispy pistachio crackers. The hollowed out sections of the delicata squash were filled with stracciatella, a mixture of mozzarella and cream that I was unfamiliar with. The sweetness from the squash was a beautiful complement to the creamy and saltiness of the cheese. A small frisee salad with a spicy mustard dressing was the 3rd component of this appetizer.
Our second small plate was roasted suchokes with a braised and crispy pork belly, poached apples, red onions, apple chips, frisee and a medium poached egg. Each individual part was superb, but in combination was truly amazing.
We ordered the kobe beef short ribs entree which they generously split for us. The meat was so tender, i felt so guilty eating it with the ratio of fat being at least 50%. You can probably see it the fat on the ends....The radishes 3 ways were interesting as was the asian style spicy cucumber salad.
Nothing from the dessert menu really striked us so we drove down the street to little man ice cream. I was hoping for mocha chocolate chip but, it was not an available flavor, so i picked the salted oreo ice cream. Delicious dessert for under $2.
Also, they have a $1 pints of ice cream to commemorate sub zero temps until 9pm tonight!
Plate Score: 9.5
thanks brigitte! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
