Denver Food Scene
Just finished my last piece of yummyness here in Denver - and - just in case any of y'all end up here at some point - wanted to give my impressions. Apologies in advance for rampant food-snotty-ness.
Overall, I would have to say Denver food is pretty damn good. Maybe not NY, San Fran or Vegas good - but probably on par with DC or Boston. Really winner was, naturally, the beef - Denver really is a city for carnivores. I didn't have a single piece of beef that disappointed - including random burgers from non-chain burger joints. Some of the highlights:
Mizuna - according to Zaggats the best restaurant in Denver. I had the 7 course tasting menu, and it was very, very good. Probably not as good as Maestro or Inn at Little - but I would say better then 2941, Equinox, Olives or any other place I have eaten in DC. Very high marks for being inventive - with the first course being 4 pre-prepared spoons with different mouthfuls on them. Meal included rabbit, duck, sweet-meats, big, plump scallops, sweet corn, and foie-gras. Really excellent - and a pretty damn good deal when all was said and done ($75/plate for the tasting).
Buckhorn Exchange - what can I say about a place that serves rattlesnake, Rocky Mountain Oysters (i.e. - Bull Testicles), Yak, Elk, and Alligator. Buckhorn has the *very first* liquor license in the state of Colorado and is a land mark. They serve more normal fair as well, including a wide assortment of steak - but not on my recommended list for veggie lovers. Yes, I had the "oysters" - they were not terrible - kind of like scallops only tougher and more chewy (they are served breaded with cocktail sauce and horseradish). Was ok, but not spectacular. I also had the snake, although it was covered in cream cheese and peppers in a dip, so it was barely discernible as an independent entity.
Del Frisco's - the highest rated steakhouse in Denver. It is chain that is also in Vegas, NY, and TX. I honestly expected the best steakhouse in Denver to be, well, better. Was good - I liked it better then Mortons or Ruth's Kris - but they didn't age their steaks like they do at Capital and Sam and Harry's - and I love that taste. It was a great cut of meat though, prime rib eye all happily marbled with fat (YES - I have been working out, oh nags out there).
Those were the best joints, although some other highlights include the burger joint I ate at a few times (Paramount cafe) and the Jet Hotel which served Kobe Beef sliders for the very reasonable price of $5. Pretty much all non-chain food was cheaper there then it would have been back in DC, which was nice.
Kay - hope I made you hungry - particularly with all the talk of Bull-Balls. Much love from the mountains!
Overall, I would have to say Denver food is pretty damn good. Maybe not NY, San Fran or Vegas good - but probably on par with DC or Boston. Really winner was, naturally, the beef - Denver really is a city for carnivores. I didn't have a single piece of beef that disappointed - including random burgers from non-chain burger joints. Some of the highlights:
Mizuna - according to Zaggats the best restaurant in Denver. I had the 7 course tasting menu, and it was very, very good. Probably not as good as Maestro or Inn at Little - but I would say better then 2941, Equinox, Olives or any other place I have eaten in DC. Very high marks for being inventive - with the first course being 4 pre-prepared spoons with different mouthfuls on them. Meal included rabbit, duck, sweet-meats, big, plump scallops, sweet corn, and foie-gras. Really excellent - and a pretty damn good deal when all was said and done ($75/plate for the tasting).
Buckhorn Exchange - what can I say about a place that serves rattlesnake, Rocky Mountain Oysters (i.e. - Bull Testicles), Yak, Elk, and Alligator. Buckhorn has the *very first* liquor license in the state of Colorado and is a land mark. They serve more normal fair as well, including a wide assortment of steak - but not on my recommended list for veggie lovers. Yes, I had the "oysters" - they were not terrible - kind of like scallops only tougher and more chewy (they are served breaded with cocktail sauce and horseradish). Was ok, but not spectacular. I also had the snake, although it was covered in cream cheese and peppers in a dip, so it was barely discernible as an independent entity.
Del Frisco's - the highest rated steakhouse in Denver. It is chain that is also in Vegas, NY, and TX. I honestly expected the best steakhouse in Denver to be, well, better. Was good - I liked it better then Mortons or Ruth's Kris - but they didn't age their steaks like they do at Capital and Sam and Harry's - and I love that taste. It was a great cut of meat though, prime rib eye all happily marbled with fat (YES - I have been working out, oh nags out there).
Those were the best joints, although some other highlights include the burger joint I ate at a few times (Paramount cafe) and the Jet Hotel which served Kobe Beef sliders for the very reasonable price of $5. Pretty much all non-chain food was cheaper there then it would have been back in DC, which was nice.
Kay - hope I made you hungry - particularly with all the talk of Bull-Balls. Much love from the mountains!