Eatery News

Openings and Closings

Rinco Argentino opened in Boulder, bringing Argentinian cuisine to The Village on Arapahoe. Harold’s and The Bayonette Room opened on Ken Pratt in Longmont. Press Play, an “arcade bar,” opened in the former Round Midnight space on Pearl Street, combining a bustling bar scene with an old-school arcade. And a sign outside the former Daddy Bruce’s BBQ location on Arapahoe and 20th announces that Flippin Burgers by Snarf’s is coming to the location. The USDA announced it is shutting down Il Mondo Vecchio, 1174 South Cherokee St., Denver, a mecca for pig-loving, salumi-seeking foodies across the Front Range. The company’s final Loading Dock Friday will be on Nov. 30.

News

West End Tavern in Boulder celebrated its 25th birthday in October, and Colterra in Niwot celebrated six years. Tim Payne, owner and chef of Terroir in Longmont, is now offering his services through Sweet Pea Catering and doing farm-to-table dinners with Feast Supper Club. Fodors did a round-up of their favorite places to eat in Boulder, highlighting Oak at Fourteenth, Bitter Bar, Dushanbe Tea House, Jill’s and Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids Restaurant in Longmont. Door to Door Organics won Company of the Year from Naturally Boulder. Café Aion’s Dakota Soifer is writing a cookbook. Dishcrawl (dishcrawl.com) is coming to Boulder with events that are like pub crawls—but for food. Food & Wine included a recipe from The Kitchen in its roundup of apple cocktails. And Sunset magazine called Boulder the “most inspired town in the West,” highlighting Cured; Piece, Love & Chocolate; Boxcar Coffee Roasters; Oak; Bitter Bar; and Bramble and Hare as places not to be missed. And an oyster shucker from Jax in land-locked Boulder won a shucking competition in Maine. Shucks.

Amuse Bouche

West Flanders Brewing on Pearl Street has some serious beer chops—but I leave the discussion of the brews to those more knowledgeable and stick with the food. The fig & sausage pizza is excellent, as are all the other pizzas we sampled. The “one dip & one dipper” appetizer plate is also a nice departure from the ordinary with roasted sweet potato curry and herb bacon dip served with your choice of veggies or chips. The vegetarian Cobb salad was also a refreshing change. Definitely a contender for your next happy hour—with the bonus of some of the best people-watching potential in Boulder.

Events

Tickets are $39 at chewnbrewfestival.com. FORK Social Lab is hosting a Holiday Market on the farm at Red Barn Farm on 95th in Lafayette on Nov. 16 and 17. Tundra Restaurant Supply launched its “What’s Your Dreamstaurant?” contest nationwide; the Grand Prize is a $20,000 restaurant design and product package that will help one lucky restaurateur realize their dream restaurant concept. Learn more at etundra.com/dreamstaurant.