You know that moment when you wake up in the middle of the night and have an epiphany? You even write it down.  That’s what happened to me one night when I came up with the concept for a food and beer tour app.

I’d like to introduce you to Fun Food Tours. Not only is it Denver’s only food and beer tour app it’s the only one in the country.  Matter of fact, if you know of a food tour app in the country, please email me at becky @ culinaryconnectors (dot) com and I will buy you a drink! As of March 16, 2015 we’re still in development but, don’t let that discourage you.  Sign up for our newsletter and we will send you information when it’s ready.

Matter of fact, we’re looking for beta testers, so, if you’re interested in taking a FREE (we did say free) tour, sign up and when we are ready we’ll email you the instructions on how to download the app.  Don’t be selfish, share it with your friends, we want to get at least 50 surveys completed so we can make sure we work out all of those pesky kinks before we launch to the rest of the world…I mean Denver.

Thanks to all of you who have supported our chef and beer geek led tours, we haven’t completely gone away, we just offer those on a private basis now.

Yours in food and beer!

Becky Creighton

President

D Bar, named for drinks, desserts and dining, closed in March of this year for a renovation.  D Bar opened in a new spot in uptown on 19th at the end of November 2014.  Food lovers will appreciate the delicious menu and variety of savory and sweet options.  Like each individual dessert, D Bar is decorated beautifully and with class.

Menage a Apple

Chef Keegan Gerhard and his team elevate traditional comfort food with a unique twist.  They also have a separate section for a pastry case where you can grab coffee drinks and sweets to go or to place special orders.

D Bar offers a happy hour from 3-6pm Monday-Friday and an afternoon tea served every day by reservation only.  (Reservations need to be at least 24 hours advance notice.)

D Bar is located at 494 E 19th St. Denver 80203. 303-861-4710.

Pastry Case Display

Restaurant Hours:

Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm

Friday 11am-midnight

Saturday 10am-midnight

Sunday 10am- 9pm

Retail Hours:

Tuesday-Thursday 6:30am-10pm

Friday 6:30am-midnight

Saturday 8am-midnight

Sunday 8am-9pm

Pizza Salad Sandwich

Chef-owner Jeff Osaka is the genius behind twelve restaurant with the focus on a fresh, unique menu changing every month.  Twelve restaurant has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition for their delicious, well thought out food.  In fact, Osaka was a semi-finalist in 2014 for a James Beard award for Best Chef Southwest.  Twelve restaurant’s prix fixe menu offered Monday-Wednesday is popular deal for many in Denver, and it has landed them on Westword’s Best of Award List as Best Prix Fixe Menu.

Chef Osaka

Earlier this month, Osaka announced he would be closing the doors of twelve restaurant on August 23rd, much to the disappointment of many.  The good news is that Osaka plans to re-open twelve restaurant in the future somewhere else that will accommodate more seating.  The other good news is Osaka is planning to open another restaurant, Osaka Ramen later this year.

Before twelve restaurant shuts its doors, for now, make sure to stop by to experience the pleasure of eating here one last time.

Twelve Restaurant is located at 2233 Larimer St. Denver 80205.  Contact them at 303-293-0287.

twelve restaurant is open every night from 5:30-10pm.

Denver Restaurant Week is fun way to experience a 3 course dinner at some of Denver’s best restaurants at a discounted rate of $30 per person.  Unfortunately, this opportunity is offered twice a year.  However, you don’t have to wait until the next restaurant week (August 23-29) to enjoy the same option at Charcoal Restaurant.  June 23-28 Charcoal is offering their own restaurant week with appetizer, entree and dessert for $31 (excluding tip, tax and beverage).

Charcoal Restaurant features fine dining at affordable prices in an elegant and contemporary atmosphere.  Charcoal Restaurant prides itself on using simple, fresh, high quality ingredients that don’t need to be masked by too much garnish or sauce.  Executive chef Patrick Landberg uses something called a bincho grill.  A bincho grill uses charcoal from only sustainable forrests, no fillers and gives off a smokeless flavor.

Another reason to visit Charcoal Restaurant this weekend is this Sunday, June 29th, back by popular demand dinner will be served again on Sundays from 5-8pm.  Brunch on weekends is also offered Saturday and Sunday from 9am-2pm.

Charcoal Restaurant is located at 43 West Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80224.  Phone # 303-454-0000.

Lunch: Monday-Friday 11am-2pm

Dinner: Monday-Thursday 5-9pm (Bar Lounge until 10pm)

Friday and Saturday 5-11pm, Sunday 5-8pm.

Happy Hour: 4-6pm

Brunch: Saturday and Sunday 9am-2pm.

Brunch:

Twelve Restaurant is owned by chef Jeff Osaka who was formerly the chef in many successful restaurants in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Jackson Hole.  Once he moved to Denver, Osaka ventured opening his own restaurant, Twelve Restaurant.  The name is based off the principle that the menu changes every month, twelve times a year.  Changing the menu twelve times a year is not easy, but Osaka changes menu items with the season and what is available.

Because the menu switches constantly, you will always have a unique experience at Twelve Restaurant.  This month, some entrees include steelhead trout with zucchini, cream cheese, strawberries and basil; pork tenderloin with fennel, baby turnips, pearl onion and tomato jam; beef ribeye, whey poached potato, oyster mushroom, spinach pesto, sherry-onion jam.

burgundy snails, egg-herb butter puree, spring vegetables

Twelve Restaurant has received numerous awards and attention for their delicious, fresh menu.  Chef Osaka was a semi-finalist in 2013 for the James Beard Foundation for the category Best Chef Southwest and has received high praises from Denver Eater, Westword and 5280.

One of their best features is their pre-fixe menu on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $38 plus tax and gratuity.

Twelve Restaurant is located at 2233 Larimer St. Denver 80205.  Phone # 303-293-0287.

Hours: Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5:30-10pm (9pm on Sundays).

Chef Osaka

Ste. Ellie is a sister bar to the wildly popular and successful Colt & Gray.  You have probably heard of the hot drinking spots Colt & Gray and Williams & Graham, but Ste. Ellie is still flying under the radar around Denver.  Ste. Ellie has a similar concept of these 2 establishments: classic and creative cocktails done extremely well paired with a delicious food menu.

One of the reasons Ste. Ellie seems tucked away in Denver is because it actually is.  Ste. Ellie is located in the downstairs of Colt & Gray.  Kevin Burke is the genius behind the bar at Ste. Ellie and the chefs putting out delicious, reasonably priced food at Ste. Ellie are Kyle Foster and Nelson Perkins.

Information about the menu isn’t easy to find, so the best idea is just to head do

http://denver.eater.com/archives/2013/11/15/ste-ellie-sexy-sister-bar-and-eatery-to-colt-gray-starts-pouring-drinks-and-slinging-sausages-tonigh.php

wn to Ste. Ellie and see what the fuss is about yourself.  You won’t be disappointed.  Both the chefs and bar tender make the experience of coming here worth it.

Ste. Ellie is located under Colt & Gray at 1553 Platte St. Denver 80202. 303-477-1447

Hours

Tuesday-Thursday: 6pm-12am

Friday and Saturday: 6pm-1am

Sunday: 6pm-12am

Where can you taste some of the best food and cocktails from Denver’s top restaurants all in one place?  It’s not too good to be true- it’s possible at the chef and bar tender competition Toques and Tails on May 22.  Toques & ‘Tails was created to showcase the chef and bartender talent of Denver in a fun, interactive and fun competition.  Guests will be able to walk around the venue trying the food and drinks from these eight participating restaurants:

-Central Bistro and Bar

-Lower 48

-Old Major

-Session Kitchen

-The Squeaky Bean

-TAG

-The Corner Office

-ACE Eat Serve

Guests will have the chance to cast a vote for the people’s choice for best cocktail, best dish and best dish and cocktail pairing.  There are also two professional judged rounds.  The first round will be judged on bartenders creating a classic recipe and cocktail.  The second round will be judged on food and beverage pairing from each restaurant.  Judges for this event include:

-Anu Apte owner of Rob Roy in Seattle, internationally known cocktail bartender

-Tiffany Derry who appeared on Top Chef and will be on a new 2014 TV show “Hungry Investors”

-Liza Weisstuch an American Contributing Editor to the UK based Whiskey Magazine and a contributor to Whiskey Advocate

-Nico de Soto, decorated bartender and recently named one of New York City’s Top 5 bartenders for 2013

-Clayton Chapman, nominated for numerous James Beard Awards and highlighted by Cooking Light Magazine as one of the top “Trail Blazing Chefs”.

There will be numerous ambassadors from Colorado mingling and eating with guests including Alex Seidel chef/owner of Fruition, Amanda Faison food editor of 5280, Andra Zepplin Editor of Denver Eater and many more.

General admission tickets are $45, and VIP passes are $75.  You can purchase tickets online; make sure to get them before they are gone.  Toques and Tails is on Thursday May 22 from 6-9pm MST.

Venue address: 2620 Walnut St. Denver, CO

The charity that will be donated to for this event is Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry.

For questions about Toques and Tails, call Culinary Connectors at 303-495-5487 or email foodie@culinaryconnectors.com.

Old Major is known for it’s farm to table, nose to tail menu.  They have an in house butchery program, cure in house, use local ingredients when possible and have sustainable seafood.  The building Old Major is in used to be a skating rink, but they have turned it into a beautiful, American style restaurant.

Needless to say Old Major has received much attention and awards locally and nationally, including one of America’s best restaurants by Thrillist, restaurant of the year by Eater Denver and one of 12 hottest brunches across America by Zagat.  Old Major also offers an awesome happy hour menu 7 days a week with $5 cocktails including the Moscow Mule with vodka, lime juice and ginger beer or the Blood Orange Bee’s Knees with gin, lemon juice, honey and sparkling blood orange.  Happy hour also includes $6 wine glasses and $2 off draft beers.

You can taste some creations from Old Major chef Justin Brunson and bar manager Ryan Conklin at the Toques and Tails event on May 22 from 6-9pm. This event involves 8 different restaurants from Denver, and is a friendly judged competition based on food and drink pairings from each participating restaurant.  Guests at the event will be able to try samples from all chefs and bar tenders and have a say on the people’s choice vote for best dish, best cocktail and best dish and cocktail pairing.  Tickets are available now for this event, and the event also raises money for Share our Strength No Kid Hungry program.

Old Major is located at 3316 Tejon St. Denver 80211. Phone number: 720.420.0622

Dinner 7 days a week 5-10pm

Happy hour 7 days a week 3-6pm

Brunch Saturday and Sunday 9:30am-2pm

Central Bistro and Bar is considered a true American restaurant with fine food in a relaxed, home feel environment.  Central Bistro and Bar has a vintage feel to it with a high end menu at affordable prices.  For example, you can enjoy unique American spins like chicken fried chicken oysters, lemon cured foie gras, lobster tail cioppinno, sofrito skirt steak, caramelized Brussels Sprouts or decadent chocolate fraiche cake and nutella waffle.

This week enjoy the beautiful weather during Central’s happy hour Wednesday-Friday from 4:30-6pm.  Enjoy 40% off bottled wines, $5 select wines by the glass, $3 draft beers and $5 specialty cocktails.  If you’re looking for something special, Central offers, in their words, “weird” cocktail concoctions, barrel aged cocktails and whiskey flights.

Central Bistro and Bar is a featured restaurant in Toques and Tails competition on May 22.  This is a fun competition between 8 restaurants in Denver that are judged on 1 dish and 1 beverage.  Chef Mat Selby and bar manager James Menkal will be representing Central Bistro and Bar.  Guests at the event will be able to walk around the venue trying the food and cocktails from each restaurant.  Tickets to Toques and Tails are available now, and the event is on from 6-9pm Thursday May 22.  This event benefits the charity Share Our Strength.

Central Bistro and Bar is located at 1691 Central St. Denver 80211

Lunch: Wednesday-Friday 11am-2pm

Dinner: Tuesday-Thursday 4:30-10pm

Friday-Saturday 4:30-10:30pm

Sunday 4:30-8pm

Sunday brunch: 10am-2pm

Happy Hour: Wednesday-Friday 4:30-6pm

The Corner Office and Martini Bar is located in downtown Denver next to the Denver Center for Performing Arts and offers an outstanding drink menu and delicious global food pairings.  The Corner Office has won numerous awards for their cuisine and drinks, including Open Table’s 2014 Diner’s Choice Award.

The cocktails are hand crafted with house made ingredients, and happy hour includes $5-6 cocktails, $3 Colorado brewed beers and $5 wine glasses.  The cocktails delicately pair unique flavor combinations together like basil, lemon and raw sugar in the Rye me a River or blood orange liqueur, pomegranate, vanilla and lime in the Carousel.  The happy hour menu includes unique bites such as Koren style wings, duck poutine, veggie burger and saffron risotto fritters.

Taste more from The Corner Office at the Toques and Tails culinary event 6-9pm MST on May 22.  Toques and Tails is a friendly competitive competition between some of Denver’s best chefs and bar tenders.  Representing The Corner Office will be executive chef Rich Byers and Bar Manager Ben Anderson.  At the event, guests will have the opportunity to taste the food and drinks the chefs and bar tenders come up with from 8 of Denver’s best restaurants.  To purchase tickets for this event, click here.

The Corner Office is located at 1401 Curtis St. Denver 80202

Breakfast: M-F 6-11am

Lunch: M-F 11-3pm

Happy Hour: Every day 3-6pm; 9-11pm

Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 3pm-10pm

Dinner Friday and Saturday: 3pm-11pm