Food News

GoodBird Kitchen
GoodBird Kitchen opening shops in Longmont, Stapleton area. Chef/owner Dave Query is bringing a pared down version of his award-winning beer and chicken combo from the Post Brewing Company and GoodBird Kitchen in Lafayette to Longmont later this year and a new venture in Stapleton, set to open in the spring of 2016.

The Big Red F Restaurant
The Big Red F Restaurant Group inked a deal for space in the Stanley Aviation Marketplace, a currently vacant ejection seat manufacturing plant that sits on a 22-acre parcel southeast of East 26th Avenue and Beeler Street, just east of Westerly Creek and the Stapleton neighborhood. GoodBird Kitchen is also set to open a similar “fast-casual” fried chicken shop on Hover Road in Longmont in November.

The Post
The new joints will focus on the Post’s rotisserie and fried chicken, farm fresh sides and beers – including limited edition brews available only at the SAM – from Post Brewmaster/Partner Bryan Selders.

In addition to Selders’ medal-winning, chicken-friendly session beers, there will be a selection of wines and classic cocktails available as well. And if these fast-casual fried chicken shops do as well as Query’s flagship, Post Brewing Company, look for more of these to open up at select locations in the years ahead.

Also, stop by Post Brewing (105 W. Emma St., Lafayette) on Aug. 22 to celebrate the release of its award-winning Howdy Beer and Townie Ale in cans. Get either beer for a dollar as well as other happy hour specials and the beers will be available at area liquor stores as well. Look for Ol’ Zippy Premium American Ale and Meathooks Session Ale to show up in cans in the months ahead.

Heap
Heap opening oyster bar, seafood restaurant in former Juanita’s location
Boulder restaurateur Bradford Heap is set to launch a new, as yet unnamed, oyster bar and seafood restaurant next to his successful Salt bistro at 10th and Pearl streets in Boulder. The opening is slated for mid-August.

Heap is being tight-lipped about the new place, which is taking over the former Juanita’s Mexican restaurant location. He took over the lease from PastaVina, a pricy Italian restaurant that took over the iconic Juanita’s location in early 2011 and closed last fall. It reportedly is going to serve “affordable” seafood (most offerings under $20).
Heap’s wife, business partner and designer, Carol Vilate, has reportedly made the space “gorgeous.” He also owns Colterra Food and Wine in Niwot and was former chef and owner of Full Moon Grill and Chautauqua Dining Hall, both of which he sold his interest in in 2006.
Boulder Passport

Boulder Passport raising money for local non-profits
It’s not too late to get a Boulder Passport ($20; thepassportprogram.com/boulder), take advantage of the buy-one-get-one-free cocktail deal AND help raise money for the Unreasonable Institute, Community Cycles and Growing Gardens. For each passport sold, $1 goes to one of these three organizations (you choose) and at the end of the summer, the non-profit with the most picks gets an additional $1,000.

Passports are good through Labor Day at 42 bars and taprooms in and around Boulder. Present your passport, pay for a cocktail and get the second one free.

Spirit Hound Distillery

Spirit Hound distillery release party Aug. 22

Celebrating its survival and the maturation of its Straight Malt Whisky that was put in oak casks just days prior to the devastating 2013 floods, the Spirit Hound Distillers in Lyons is holding a release party from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 22 at the tasting room, 4196 Ute Highway (Colo. Hwy. 66), about a mile east of downtown Lyons. Head Distiller and co-founder Craig Engelhorn will be on hand to celebrate the release of this bottling. There is a limit of one bottle per person.

Antonio’s
Antonio’s wins 2015 Best of Longmont Award

The Longmont Award Program has named Antonio’s Taste of Mexico the 2015 Best of Longmont in the Mexican Restaurant category. The restaurant, located at 246 Main St., is owned by Antonio and Sarah Matus and is the local version of the successful Antonio’s from Taos, New Mexico. The Longmont Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Longmont area.

Boulder County Farm
Boulder County farm tour Aug. 25

A great way to see firsthand how local farms are run is to go on one of the farm tours hosted by Boulder County Parks and Open Space. The tours cost $5 and you must pre-register. Buses take you to various agricultural lands in the county where farmers talk about the crops and/or livestock they raise, issues they face and other elements of their business. This is the last tour of the season and will feature farms representing field and forage crops, vegetable crops and livestock. The buses for the tour leave from the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont at 5:15 p.m. and return about 8:30 p.m. Visit bouldercounty.org