Recent closures put damper on restaurant scene but there is hope

by John Lehndorf

Cafés come and bistros go, but when Dolan’s Restaurant went belly-up in January, it spooked restaurateurs and diners alike. I know because they started sending me emails with too many exclamation points.

February 2010 Issue

A sip down memory lane

by Lacy Boggs

The art of pairing liquids with solids is no small genius.

February 2010 Issue

A look at the culinary crazes of 2010

by John Lehndorff

As a lifelong food geek, I jumped at the opportunity to work on Eat In Eat Out, a new report focused on U.S. food and beverage trends. Thus, some predictions—and how they are manifesting locally.

February 2010 Issue

We’ve eaten, nibbled, sipped and gobbled. Here are our favorites.

by Lacy Boggs, Andra Coberly and John Lehndorff

Over the last 12 months, the restaurants of the North Metro area have taken us on a culinary thrill ride of epic proportions. We’ve produced a Top Chef and a Gayot Top 40 restaurant. We’ve seen national acclaim—with the Wall Street Journal calling Boulder the best small city for food in the country and Louisville’s “best place to live” ranking putting the spotlight on eateries like Waterloo and Empire. Restaurants throughout the community have continued to wow us with seasonality, locally grown produce and locally nourished protein; with flavor-focused, well-balanced dishes; and with continued style and swagger, even in disconcerting economic times.

While the dishes to follow are 25 of our favorites, they by no means embody all the amazing meals we’ve experienced in the last 12 months. It’s truly been a good year to be a foodie.

February 2010 Issue

Craveable Foodie Gifts for all

by John Lehndorff

After checking our list, I’ve determined that some of you have been naughty, and that’s not nice. You’ve dawdled or agonized, until the last minute to find presents, hostess gifts and stocking stuffers.

January 2010 Issue

Pinocchio’s has the recipe for a warm winter meal

by Lacy Boggs / photo by Andrea Burrola

When you work in downtown Erie, you’re always on the lookout for good places to eat within a (relatively) short distance. We give props to our neighboring restaurants on Briggs Street, but variety is the spice of life—and one needs the spice of variety.

January 2010 Issue

Boulder’s top Vietnamese restaurant makes the most of a crabby reputation

by Lacy Boggs / photo by Julie Levy

Vietnamese food hasn’t made its way into the collective consciousness of America in the same way that Chinese and even Japanese cuisines have, but it is slowly making inroads. Popular dishes like bánh mi and pho can be found on the menus of many Asian fusion restaurants.

January 2010 Issue

by Lacy Boggs

Everyone knows that great things can come in small packages, and when it comes to the nuanced perfection of a really good piece of chocolate, the old adage couldn’t be more apt.

January 2010 Issue

by John Lehndorff

The holiday sights matter, the lights and trees, as does the sound of carols and the aroma of pine, but it’s the traditional goodies that make the season sweet. Taste takes us back to our childhood and that early seasonal wonder. A slice of fruitcake on Christmas morning can trigger memories of the old country—even if you grew up in Texas.

December 2009 Issue

Continuing bright spot in Broomfield

by Lacy Boggs / photo by Jessica Grenier

When Bloom first came to Broomfield almost 10 years ago, it stood out as one of the first fine dining establishments in the area to take on the burgeoning “new American” style of cuisine. Now, new American is being replaced with monikers like “gastro pub” but the concept remains solid, and Bloom’s interpretations of it are just as palate- and eye-pleasing as ever.

November 2009 Issue