Tastes of Ireland with a Local Spin

The primeval fields and fells of Ireland are thousands of miles away, but in Niwot, Colorado, you can be transported to the lively streets of Dublin. Cruagh, a food truck owned and operated by the husband-and-wife duo of Darragh Byrne and Margaret Stewart-Byrne, features Irish cuisine with a sustainability spin.

Margaret, the American, met Darragh while attending college in Ireland. They met while both working at a farmer’s market, bonding over their shared passion for sustainability and food. In 2021, they relocated to Boulder to be closer to family after having their daughter. Darragh, a native of Dublin, was inspired after working at several high-end restaurants, including The Flagstaff House, to bring authentic Irish cuisine to Boulder County.

In 2023, they began a catering business. Building their following with unique dining experiences. In 2024, an opportunity to purchase a food truck came up, and they jumped on it, spending the majority of their time outside of The Wheel House in Niwot, but traveling up to two hours for events. Their menu is one you would expect to see at a cozy pub, rich foods to soak up alcohol; burgers and fries with an option for a salad. It is simple, yet exactly what you want for a rompus night with friends, or while indulging with your family.

The Dublin Burger has a fennel quality, topped with Ballymaloe Relish, Greek aioli, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. The Dubliner cheese has a richer taste, elevating the burger without adding too much weight. The summer menu also offers an American smashburger, a kid’s burger – without all of the extra spices, salad, and Irish-style fries -or chips, made with either cheese or red curry. “The curry is almost a Japanese-style,” says Margaret, “it is the classic ‘after-a-night-out Irish staple.” Craugh also changes their menu for special occasions, having a bacon bar-b-que burger for the Fourth of July and a brie and Palisade peach burger for the summer kick-off.

In the fall and winter, the menu will shift to something a little bit more hearty, comfort food from the Emerald Isle. Stews, shepherd’s pie, and curry will be featured on the menu. “Last year,” recalls Margaret, “we had some people coming to us three times a week for a shepherd’s pie.” She explains that they really try to listen to what people want, and will adjust the menu based on request or popular items.

The flavors are refreshing, yet familiar, which, for Margaret and Stewart, was the point. “We want to make food approachable,” says Margaret. “He [Darragh] really wants to make it friendly, we both worked in a lot of restaurants: upscale, French, slow foods, cafes, and we love that style.” But, they realized that it is not realistic for a large percentage of patrons. Says Margaret, “[We] felt that when we became parents three years ago, that like suddenly our access and our ability to get these things was really limited and we couldn’t afford to go to the farmers market every weekend and buy the nicest groceries anymore. So we want to make the food at a more affordable price for really good food that’s going to fill you up.”

The philosophy has also inspired their connection with local farms and creating a farm-to-table experience. Throughout the summer, Craugh has partnered with Ollin Farms to host a monthly Farm Dinner, combining farm-fresh food with Irish fare. “These meals are plated,” says Margaret, “so while there is still a casual feel, we can elevate the meals a little bit.” The meals are eaten at communal tables,  putting guests in groups of sixteen with the intention to build community while gathered around specially-made local food. Reservations are required for these meals, and if you choose to pair with wine, you must bring and pour your own.

The taste of Ireland may not be a total substitute for wanderlust, but it can transport you to feeling like you are at a pub across the pond. Take some time to enjoy an artfully crafted burger while savoring a crisp drink, whether alcoholic or not, and make the most of the remaining days of your summer.

The post Foodie: Cruagh Food Truck appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Food has been drawing communities together for centuries, weaving a tapestry of cultural identity, laughter and connection. Often described as a sort of “social lubricant,” food isn’t just nourishment, it’s a way of life. This reality is one of the many driving factors behind the kitchen walls of El Rincón.

The traditional Argentinian-style restaurant specializes in empanadas, offering everything from the classic steak, onion, and bell pepper option to a parmesan cheese empanada. Guy Fierialso visited the location last year, and popularized a favorite dish of owner and founder Christian Saber’s: La Milanesa Napolitana. The thinly sliced steak comes breaded, and topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella while paying homage to a Buenos Aires classic. Although the dish’s name seems to indicate that it might have roots in Italy, it was invented in Argentina in the 1940s, and it sustains the perfect combination of crunch, seasoning, and gooey cheese.

Saber was born in the same place as the Milanesa Napolitana, but his curiosity brought him to Colorado‘s mountains, where he eventually met his wife, Colorado-local, Karly.

Saber tells Yellow Scene,  “On Sundays I cook for the whole family and friends. During the week I cook for people in Boulder and people who decide to come to our restaurant. I cook breakfast for our kids. At night we get together at the table and we are around food.” Food is the connective tissue in most of Saber’s social circles. Now he’s the father of three boys and the mastermind behind El Rincón.

And he gets just as much satisfaction out of creating community in Boulder as he does at home “I love to see the happy faces coming out of the restaurant. That’s one of the most important things,” says Saber. He added that many of his staff members have also been with him since the day the restaurant opened, 13 years ago.

One quality that sets El Rincón apart from other restaurants is its traditional take on food. The Argentinian diet is meat-heavy. In fact, Argentinians eat more beef than any other country in the world. As a result, classic dishes like asado (a barbeque-style slab of meat that’s often served at large gatherings), la milanesa, and empanadas can be found in El Rincón.

Saber explains, “The supplies we have here are very similar to the ones we have in Argentina,” which makes it fairly easy for him to curate the most authentic dishes. What’s more is that he emphasizes quality ingredients, “We do use, for example, natural ingredients. No hormones. Organic. I don’t put a sign that says that but I care about cooking with good ingredients. It’s not for marketing, it’s just for a way of life,” he adds.

After 13 years of living and breathing all things restaurant related, it’d be easy to assume that Saber might grow tired of the same dishes, but such an assumption would be wrong, “I eat at the restaurant all the time. It’s been 13 years. I still love empanadas. I love all of them. I don’t get tired. They make me feel great. It’s a healthy dish. I could eat this every day.”. 

Although Saber spent many of his early years laboring in the kitchen, his duties have since become more complicated, “I’m not in the kitchen all the time,” he says. “More than anything I’ll develop recipes and work with the quality of our recipes and the quality of our ingredients.”

As for he and his family, they don’t have any immediate plans to return to Argentina, but they hope to continue to bring a piece of Argentina to Boulder — an endeavor that’s evident from the decor and color that can be found within the restaurant, “Inside here, there’s Argentina music, food, smells, and soccer.” He points at a picture of a colorful string of buildings on the wall and added that the style of the restaurant mimics that of La Boca — a port town that’s full of immigrants in Argentina. He explained that immigrants would paint their houses the color of whichever paint they could find. This resulted in one of the most colorful streets in Argentina, and El Rincón mimics this character on its interior.

Another thing that sets El Rincón apart from other restaurants is the environment, “Everyone feels comfortable and welcome here,” says Saber. “It doesn’t matter if you’re dressed in a certain way or talking in a certain language. I think that they feel very welcome. I’ve been hearing this for years.”

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The post Off Menu with El Rincón Argentino appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.