Sip Upon “La Dolce Vita”

Everyone could benefit from a little taste of “la dolce vita” (a.k.a. the sweet life) from time to time. Gisella’s in Aspen offers a tasting of the sweet life through their wine list that holds the longest list of Italian reds, whites, and sparkling wines you will find anywhere on the western slope.

First, start your evening off as the Italians do, with a lively, sparkling Prosecco that will reawaken your senses that are still under a work haze. Next, travel up to Tuscany, the land of such prized favorites as Chianti Classico and the Super Tuscan. With wine in hand, imagine the terroir of these wines, with its rolling hills and medieval hill-top towns. Finish it all with a wine from Sicily, the land of the Godfather. You will taste this land’s bold, colored past with a taste of the rich and juicy Nero d’Avolo that speaks of the rich, black, fertile soil of this land of Roman gods and goddesses.

As you travel along on Gisella’s Italian wine journey, be sure to get a taste of their authentic Italian cuisine. With menu items all in Italian, you will surely feel a thrill in speaking some Italian as you order. The bar menu is full of “cozze e vongole” and “crespelle di polenta” that will further entice you into staying just a little longer in order to truly enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing, just as Italians do.

Gisella is located  at 415 East Main Street Aspen, Colorado, Tel: 970-925-8222. Hours are nightly at 5:30 pm.

Justin Bresler from Visit Denver joins Culinary Connectors LIVE! host Becky Creighton to discuss the upcoming Restaurant Week. Denver’s Restaurant Week, February 23-March 8, is the largest one in the United States and is in its 9th year. Restuarant week is a celebration of Denver’s culinary scene and happens all over the city! Justin and Becky give away gift certificates to participating restaurants!

“I’m having a relationship with my pizza!”

Most of us have heard these words spoken by Julia Roberts in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” but have you ever felt these words arrive at your lips.  Have you ever felt like you were actually in love with your pizza?  If the answer is no, then I suggest you call up a friend, husband, or if you are really desperate, just grab any stranger off the street to join you on a pizza eating date at the Wazee Supper Club in Denver’s historic Lower Downtown.

Voted the best pizza in Denver by 5280, Westword, and Zagat, Wazee touts their pizza to be “legendary.”  Order their Margherita, Bianca, Vegetarian, Meat, or the cream of the crop Supreme pizza.  Of course, you can always dream up your own lover-I mean pizza, just the way you like him-or it.

All of the pizza dough is made fresh daily so that the crust comes out oh so perfect every time. The toppings are of the highest quality, coming from local farmers and producers whenever possible.  You can order your pizza in small, large, or even gluten free, for those who don’t get along with wheat.

The only catch is that as Julia Roberts states, “It is your moral imperative to eat and finish that pizza!”  It is part of the commitment in this relationship with your pizza!

1600 15th Ave & Wazee Denver CO, Tel: 303-623-9518

Scott Parker and Aaron Forman of Table 6 and Ian Kleinman of The Inventing Room join Culinary Connectors LIVE! host Becky Creighton to discusses pork and donuts! Ian’s food philosophy is that food should be fun and creative and in this mindset he has created some truly unique donuts that are offered at donut “pop ups” with partnering Denver Restaurants. Ian and Scott attended culinary school together and discuss partnering up and winning a culinary competition. Finally Scott and Aaron discusses what makes Table 6 unique and some of the exciting changes happening in the restaurant!  Becky also discussed the upcoming Art of Winter event, January 25-February 10th and gives away tickets to one lucky caller!

The Kitchen at BB’s is put to full use since almost everything at BB’s is house made.  Oh so cinnamon-y Monkey Bread (a Mario Batali favorite), frosted cinnamon rolls served with sweet cream butter, and english muffins are swept in and out of BB’s stone oven each day.

Handcrafted dishes such as their “Toad in the Hole French Toast” transforms the classic French Toast into a sweet and savory interplay by combining challah bread, fried eggs, bacon, and that all-American treasure, Vermont Maple Syrup.  Their Belgian Waffle comes with much more than butter and syrup, adding in a macadamia nut crunch and a generous drizzle of salted caramel.

If that is not indulgent enough, slide that spoon into a scoop of their house made caramel, chocolate, or cinnamon ice cream.  For a savory indulgence, scoop up some french onion soup topped with their toasted bread and gruyere cheese.  Add additional comfort with a side of their Mac n’cheese that is house made, of course.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, BB’s Kitchen will make you feel at home with their house made ingredients that span through every meal.

525 East Cooper Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611  (970) 429-8284

Listen in as Culinary Connectors LIVE! host Becky Creighton interviews Ryan Leinonen and Parker Ramey from Trillium, located on Larimer Street. Ryan discusses how his Scandinavian heritage inspired Trillium, an urban bistro rooted in American and Scandinavian cuisine. Trillium strives to bring traditional Scandinavian atmosphere to Denver, providing a lounge area and traditional Scandinavian fair. Parker discusses the spirits and beers served at Trillium, and how the tie in with the Scandinavian concept.

Ryan Leinonen