Bistro One is the kind of place you return to over and over again.  Maybe it’s the friendly staff, the knowledgeable bartender, Jeremy Stinson, or the delicious home-style food that is unparalleled by any in the city. Chef/owner Alex Waters has manifested his Southern roots in the menu. Hardly a greasy spoon, Bistro One is a classy, but unpretentious restaurant in Denver’s Platte Park. The fried chicken is a dish you dream about: crunchy, juicy, and lightly spiced, served with whipped cloud-like mashed potatoes.  Another favorite is the Crawfish Mac & Cheese with house-made bacon and Spanish mahone.  It is a small dish with a big personality.  Many of Bistro One’s regulars consider this a can’t-miss item. Jeremy is a wine aficionado with pairings that are spot-on and affordable. Sitting at the bar is an educational experience.  It’s no wonder they were recently named as Westword’s Best Happy Hour.  For all these reasons and more Bistro One is quickly becoming a Denver favorite.

Bistro One

1294 South Broadway

Denver CO 80210

720.974.0602

With Cinco de Mayo coming up next week here are few ideas on where to go in North Denver:

El Camino will have an oyster shooter bar, $5 El Jimador, Antiguo shots and margaritas and a DJ!

Chili Verde is serving authentic Pueblan snacks and will have a premium tequila raffle!

Stop by Rosa Linda’s Mexican Café. Oscar Aguirre and family are sure not to disappoint with Rosa Linda’s traditional Mexican cuisine. Cervezas and margaritas will be flowing!

If you are a homebody, pick up tamales at La Casita and a great bottle of tequila from Mondo Vino.  Instant home fiesta!

Salute!

Chef Bradford Heap of Colterra has once more exceeded all expectations with Salt.  He has proven that local is better and that Colorado farms have much to provide.  Along with the exceptional ingredients, it is obvious that Executive Chef Kevin Kidd has flawless technique and a passion for farm-to-table foods.  The wood fired grill lends a satisfying smokiness to the menu. The open kitchen is a fascinating sight–we recommend sitting at the chef’s counter when possible.  The cocktail program, headed by Evan Faber, is a unique and entertaining way to enjoy cocktails.  You are able to choose the cocktail style, liquor, and flavors you like. The “Bar Chemist” will then design a drink customized to your taste buds!  Afterwards, a “regular” cocktail just won’t cut it. Salt has made itself comfortable in Boulder’s old beloved Tom’s Diner. Tom’s sign still hangs in front, respecting the legacy the former diner had in Boulder.  Salt is off to a great start creating their own legacy.

Salt

1047 Pearl Street

Boulder, Colorado

303.444.SALT

When you need to brighten up your day, get out of the doghouse, need a sugar fix, or you just plain feel like a cupcake, Happy Cakes Bakeshop is the place to go.  Happy Cakes is Denver’s first cupcake shop and certainly got us at Culinary Connectors hooked on the cupcake craze.  In addition to exemplary staples such as vanilla, chocolate and red velvet they also feature four to nine flavors that change daily: Mexican Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Cherry Coke, and French Toast, to name a few. The queen of craft and cuisine, Martha Stewart, even crowned her favorite: the tart and sugared Cosmopolitan.  Happy Cakes is not only sweet to their loyal customers, but is also involved in many local charities, and is an eco-friendly operation as well. Their cupcakes are cheery, delicious, and delightfully addictive! Happy Cakes will gladly take special orders for parties and holidays, including Easter and Passover! They are sure to be the icing on the (cup) cake for any event or just a sweet break in your day.

Happy Cakes Bakeshop

3434 West 32nd Avenue

Denver, CO

303.477.3556

This Sunday the Colorado Convention Center will be hosting over two dozen of Denver’s best chefs as part of a fundraiser to provide low-income families with knowledge of how to prepare healthy meals. The event will begin with wine, local beers, top shelf spirits, a silent auction and live entertainment.  Guests will then enjoy a multi-course plated dinner cooked tableside by one of our city’s finest chefs. Cooking Matters is a reputable organization that has quickly grown from 10 to 21 countries and counting.  The organization has long been a favorite of chefs, gaining notoriety and praise among the industry and the public as well.  This is an entertaining, tasty, and charitable event not to be missed!

Purchase Tickets Here!

Colorado Convention Center

Korbel Ballrooms

700 14th Street Denver, CO

Sunday April 17th 2011

5:30 pm – Reception & Silent Auction

7:00 pm – Dinner & Live Auction

For the past 25 years, Strings has been one of Denver’s best-known restaurants. Before fine dining was trendy, Strings was ahead of the curve, serving Denver foodies upscale American contemporary cuisine that over the years has changed with the times. Unlike many 25-year-old restaurants, Strings menu is updated including truffle foam, tuna pastrami, foraged mushrooms and a list of local purveyors. I visited on Sunday to try their 5280 dinner.  Sunday is Sous Chef Frankie’s night to play.  It is a menu he changes weekly, offering a fabulous four-course dinner for two at $52.80, additional wine pairing is just an extra $12. The highlights of our meal included Buffalo Mozzarella with tomatoes roasted until they were perfectly sweet, finished with a 22 year aged balsamic. The salad was matched perfectly with a citrus toned Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The Farfalle and Cheese was the perfect pasta course, just creamy enough, and finished with buttery breadcrumbs for an amazing texture.  The Grilled Flat Iron Steak was flawlessly cooked and presented beautifully with celeriac frites and smoky bleu cheese paired with a Napa Bennett Family Cabernet Sauvignon. Each dish was artfully presented and delicious. Our server was outstanding, quick, and knowledgeable of both wine and food.  It was an impeccable evening from start to finish.  Chef Noel Cunningham and his team have done a remarkable job keeping Strings current.  After being around for 25 years, they know what Denver diners want: suburb food, excellent service, and a restaurant that you know, like an old friend, will remain consistently good to you.

Strings

1700 Humboldt Street

Denver, CO 80218-1109

(303) 831-7310

Every time I walk into El Camino, I feel instantly cool.  Maybe it’s the chandeliers made from vintage beer cans, the funky artwork, or the hip music. After letting my coolness settle in, Shannon greets me. She is beyond friendly, energetic and knows her cocktails.  She insists I try the grapefruit mojoito instead of the always-perfect house margarita made with the finest agave tequila and fresh squeezed limejuice.  I am not a fruity cocktail kind of girl, but Shannon is never wrong.  The Grapefruit Mojito is a wonderful balance of tart and sweet, without giving me a sugar rush from an overdose of simple syrup.  The perfect compliment to my cheviche, which arrives looking fresh and tasting like I should be on a beach, toes in the sand. After drifting back from my daydream, I decide on the Carnita Tamales. My Tamales come out as though they have plated with care and thought, looking like the ingredients used came straight from the local farms and meat purveyors El Camino supports.  The carnitas are flavorful, not greasy, and sing with a perfect balance of spice.  Although a generous portion, it’s not too heavy.  I clean my plate and I’m stuffed with happiness, knowing I am supporting a fully green restaurant that recycles all bottles, cans and cardboard (not an easy feat in this business), 100% wind powered, and most of the decor made also from recycled products.  Nearly every night El Camino has specials to match any diner’s requirements, $1 street tacos on Tuesdays, 1/2 off bottles of wine on Wednesdays, DJ’s spinning on Thursdays and weekend brunch complete with a flamenco band. I am once again reminded that this place is cool.

El Camino

3628 W 32^nd Avenue

Denver, CO 80211

720. 889. 7946