Restaurants

Overall EC

Winner: Sugarbeet

Sugarbeet is so damn good, we consider it the quintessential perfect restaurant. Billed as Modern American cuisine, every meal we’ve had there has been a ten. The service makes you feel like the only customer in the room, and the setting is cozy, intimate, and quietly exceptional.

Runner Up: Piripi

Overall Bldr

Winner: Salt

The culinary team here works under a three-pronged mantra: healthy, delicious, and sustainable. And they do that in an amazing location built in 1898 in downtown Boulder, filled with an electrical ambiance. After a great meal, you’ll walk out into the night and realize how lucky you were to be there.

Runner Up: Boulder Cork

Contemporary EC

Winner: 24 Carrot

Seasonal, innovative, and a touch of quirky. Repeat winner 24 Carrot embodies contemporary, fresh farm-to-table cuisine into crave-worthy dishes and clever cocktails, all served in a historic building that feels part speakeasy, part cozy neighborhood bistro.

Runner Up: Hickory & Ash

Contemporary B

Winner: Oak on 14th

Seasonal, innovative, and a touch of quirky. Repeat winner 24 Carrot embodies contemporary, fresh farm-to-table cuisine into crave-worthy dishes and clever cocktails, all served in a historic building that feels part speakeasy, part cozy neighborhood bistro.

Runner Up: River & Woods

Newcommer EC

Winner: Longmonter

Comfort food with purpose wins hearts fast. The Longmonter burst onto Main Street with crave-worthy mac and cheese, gourmet nostalgia, and playful charm, then added board games and seating, encouraging locals to linger after the last bite.

Runner Up: Red Cedar

Newcommer B

Winner: Cozobi Fonda Fina

Cozobi Fonda Fina feels like a place that’s just always been here. Everything about it (menu, service, decor, and especially the dishes) are polished, professional, and pack a flavor-filled punch. If they are this good already, other restaurants better step up their game.

Runner Up: Stella’s Cucina

Cheap Eats EC

Winner: Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos

Marco’s serves bacon-wrapped hot dogs piled like a ballpark feast and street-style tacos that hit every craving. Locals line up like it’s opening day because when the flavor’s this good, everyone wants a seat.

Runner Up: Eats and Sweets

Cheap Eats B

Winner: Cosmo’s Pizza

Cosmo’s Pizza started as a funky pizzeria on the Hill in Boulder known for its oversized slices and calzones. Since its beginnings in 2001, it has grown to six locations across Boulder, Denver, Lafayette, and Fort Collins. Known for late-night hours and New York–style pies, locals keep coming back for a cheap, satisfying bite.

Runner Up: Village Coffee Shop

Bread EC & B

Winner: Moxie Bread Co

Is it the crunch of the crust or the soft inside bursting with flavor? Maybe it’s their use of heirloom grains and fresh, unprocessed ingredients. It could be the stunning, southwestern-infused locale with a staff that couldn’t be more authentic. The real reason people come to Moxie is probably a little of it all.

Runner Up Bread EC: Babette’s

Runner Up Bread B: Dry Storage

Bakery EC

Winner: Button Rock Bakery

Button Rock Bakery is where you take your sweet tooth on a date. A repeat Best of the West winner, it’s famous for show-stopping cakes, playful details, and pastries so good they turn an ordinary day into a celebration.

Runner Up: Babette’s/Stacy’s Kitchen

Bakery B

Winner: Boulder Baked

You’ve had a chocolate chip cookie before, but you’ve never had one like this. The sweet treats offered by the culinary artisans here are of the “back in line” variety because as soon as you have one, you’ll be heading back in line for more.

Runner Up: Spruce Confections

Bagel EC & B

Winner: Moe’s Broadway Bagel

Moe’s Broadway Bagel doesn’t just win Best of the West, it owns it. Twenty years on, locals skip the debate and know the routine: chewy bagels, quick orders, and the quiet confidence of a place that never has to try too hard.

Runner Up: Big Daddy Bagels

BBQ EC

Winner: C’s BBQ

C’s BBQ isn’t just food, it’s a smoky spectacle. Tender ribs, brisket, and punchy house rubs turn Lafayette weekends into a pop-up block party your taste buds will RSVP to. Party deets: with Cherry’s Cheesecakes on Saturdays at the Lumberyards at Lafayette.

Runner Up: Wayne’s Smoke Shack

BBQ B

Winner: Big Daddy Food Truck

Big Daddy’s Texas BBQ has become Boulder’s go-to food truck for slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, and Southern sides served with big portions and big flavor. With loyal followers who line up before it sells out and a vibe that feels more neighborhood pit stop than roadside stand, it’s BBQ done Boulder-style.

Runner Up: KT’s BBQ

Breakfast EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Morning Glory Café proves breakfast deserves applause. Legendary fried rice bowls, blueberry pancakes, and scratch-made goodness from local farms turn sleepy mornings into flavor-packed performances you’ll happily line up for.

Runner Up: Tangerine

Breakfast B

Winner: Tangerine

Remember the excitement of sliding into the kitchen and sitting down for breakfast when you were seven? There was an anticipation you wouldn’t have for any other meal. The adult-equivalent of that is heading into Tangerine for breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, beans — you’re about to be seven all over again.

Runner Up: Village Coffee Shop

Breakfast Burrito EC

Winner: Santiago’s

If you say you like breakfast burritos but you’ve never had one from Santiago’s, then you might not know what you’re talking about. That’s because their fresh, made from scratch burritos can redefine your morning. It’s why they’ve been named “Best of the West” for 25 years.

Runner Up: Santa Fe 2.0

Breakfast Burrito B

Winner: Santiago’s

It’s no wonder Santiago’s has swept this category every year. At just around $4 for the daily special, Santiago’s breakfast burritos are a morning fiesta: eggs, potatoes, award-winning green chile, a daily rotating meat, and gobs of cheese. Locals grab one… then five more to stock the fridge.

Runner Up: Blackbelly

Brunch EC

Winner: 24 Carrot

With so many choices for brunch, listen to the locals on this repeat multi-category winner. 24 Carrot turns brunch into a full-on celebration. Sweet potato benedicts, melt-in-your-mouth brisket hash, lemon-curd beignets, and cocktails that sparkle make every bite, sip, and moment feel like a sunny, flavor-packed party.

Runner Up: Morning Glory

Brunch B

Winner: Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

Brunch is a bit of a magical meal and there’s really no one who does it any better. A good brunch offering hits the right harmony between griddle and grill. Jill’s offers a taste balance to give you a delightful and delicious start to the day or a mid-day meal surge.

Runner Up: Greenbriar Inn

Burger EC

Winner: Longs Peak Pub

Longs Peak Pub is a Boulder County original: no loud TVs, no frills, just legendary burgers, cold beer, and a bar where strangers become regulars. It’s old-school, no-nonsense, and exactly why locals keep coming back.

Runner Up: 99 Saloon

Burger B

Winner: The Sink

There’s a reason The Sink on the Hill is celebrating more than a century as a Boulder icon. Beyond the stories of Robert Redford, Anthony Bourdain, and Obama passing through, they put as much care into how they operate as what they serve. One hundred percent solar powered, composting, and paying fair wages only complement the legendary grass-fed burgers they’ve been serving for generations.

Runner Up: Mountain Sun

Greek EC & B

Winner: Kalita Grill

After becoming a favorite in Boulder, Kalita Grill expanded into Lafayette, where it was quickly embraced. Owner Armen Madoyan personally selects every ingredient, along with a thoughtfully curated wine selection. From hand-rolled dolma to house-made dishes, the food feels intentional, generous, and deeply personal.

Runner Up Greek EC: Pita Grill

Runner Up Greek B: Falafel King

Chinese EC

Winner: China Gourmet (Longmont)

China Gourmet is Longmont comfort food royalty. Massive menus, generous portions, and classic American Chinese favorites keep locals loyal. And those perfectly packed takeout boxes? Like little edible treasures you’ll fight over in the car.

Runner Up: Colorado Dumplings

Chinese B

Winner: Zoe Ma Ma

They don’t just have the best restaurant name in Boulder, Zoe Ma Ma also has an amazing “Oh maybe I want that” menu. From the braised beef soup noodle to their popular potstickers to the CPR dish, every menu item will make you reconsider your order because the next item on the list looks so good.

Runner Up: Ginger Pig

Coffee House EC

Winner: East Simpson Coffee Shop

East Simpson Coffee House is Lafayette’s living room. Coffee flows, pastries vanish, and strangers suddenly turn into your brunch BFFs. It’s the kind of place where lingering feels mandatory and deliciously justified.

Runner Up: Fox.Dog / Meco’s

Coffee House B

Winner: Boxcar Coffee

It’s not so much a coffee shop as it is a hub of the community. A place where people stop in the mornings so they can start their day with an authentic smile or run in to recharge in the middle of a chaotic Tuesday afternoon. And the fresh roasted coffee can’t be beat.

Runner Up: January Coffee

Gluten-Free EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Morning Glory Café proves gluten-free can be anything but boring. From hearty breakfast hashes to indulgent blueberry pancakes, celiac diners (and everyone else) eat worry-free, enjoying scratch-made dishes that feel like a treat, not a compromise.

Runner Up: TeoCali

Gluten-Free B

Winner: Zeal

Imagine you get to hang out in the kitchen of the coolest people you know, who just happen to be amazing cooks. Their locally-sourced, health-conscious, gluten-free meal options are crafted with inspiring flavors in a Boulder-centric style.

Runner Up: Sweet Sisters Bakery

Dessert EC

Winner: Button Rock Bakery

Button Rock Bakery turns dessert into a deliciously binding contract. Lavish cakes, outrageous pastries, and sweet creations so tempting make “just a bite” a hilarious lie and you’ll happily sign on for seconds, thirds, and then some.

Runner Up: Cherry’s Cheesecakes

Dessert B

Winner: Frasca

It’s not just locals who recognize how special the desserts at Frasca are, the restaurant has received multiple national awards. It’s not a “let’s go there tonight” stop, it’s a full experience that must be planned out, and when you do get there, the dessert will exceed your expectations.

Runner Up: Blackbelly

Colorado-Based Chain EC

Winner: Snarf’s Sandwiches

Since 1996, Snarf’s has grown from one Boulder shop to nearly 50 locations. Its oven-toasted sandwiches inspire serious loyalty like the sailor who landed at DIA, saw the logo, and made his ride wait, because Snarf’s comes first.

Runner Up: Santiago’s

Colorado-Based Chain B

Winner: Illegal Pete’s

When you have friends in from out of town and you want them to experience the vibe and people of Boulder, this is where you take them. And when they come back to town you bring them here again. And again because they have 90 million burrito combinations.

Runner Up: Snooze an AM Eatery

Green Chile EC

Winner: Santiago’s

Santiago’s green chile is the stuff of local legend: smoky, spicy, and unstoppable. Spoon it on breakfast burritos, fries, or straight from the bowl. Locals swear by it, and it’s been winning hearts and awards for over 25 years.

Runner Up: La Mariposa

Green Chile B

Winner: Efrain’s Boulder

This is a great place to get a great scratch-made meal and connect with neighbors. Running into a new friend here, you’ll want to see how they have been, but most of the conversation will settle around the green chiles, which is understandable.

Runner Up: Santo

Indian EC

Winner: Taj Mahal 3

For more than two decades, Taj Mahal 3 has been Louisville’s go-to for a proper Indian lunch buffet and reliably bold dinner plates. Family-owned and steady as ever, it’s where regulars load up on saag, tandoori, and biryani, dialing the heat exactly how they like it.

Runner Up: Flavor of India

Indian B

Winner: Jaipur

Jaipur is unique. With chefs earning world-class recognition and a late-night menu serving curry, masala, and naan until 3 a.m. They specialize in catering for any kind of event and offer a dining experience that earned this year’s Top Nod of Excellence. They are currently moving locations, but you can always stop at their sister restaurant, Taj Mahal 3 in Louisville.

Runner Up: Tiffins

Italian EC

Winner: Parma Trattoria

Parma is where handcrafted pasta twirls, wood-fired pizzas bubble, and sauces taste like your Nonna stayed up all night. It’s cozy, soulful, and so good you’ll consider skipping dinner tomorrow so you can enjoy seconds tonight.

Runner Up: Gondolier Italian Eatery

Italian B

Winner: Bacco Trattoria & Mozarella Bara

This place is more than its mozzarella bar (although, that’s pretty good too). Bacco Trattoria is a notable authentic Italian restaurant that is worth the trip across town to North Boulder. Come for the mozzarella bar and stay for the fresh herb butter, and the bolognese, and the lasagna, and the wine selection…

Runner Up: Pasta Jay’s

Mexican EC

Winner: TeoCalli

Teocalli Cocina makes you rethink tacos. Locals line up for carne asada that’s basically addictive; tempura-fried avocado; and salsas that hit all the right notes. It’s proof that fresh, bold Mexican cuisine always steals the show.

Runner Up: La Mariposa

Mexican B

Winner: Efrain’s Mexican of Boulder

A Boulder institution since 1998, Efrain’s is rooted in founder Efrain Gomez’s family recipes and bold Northern Chihuahua–style cuisine. After years in its original, funky space, the move into a modern dining room proved something rare: when the food is already perfect, the only thing to improve is the room it’s served in.

Runner Up: Santo’s

Patio EC

Winner: Stem Cider at Acreage

If Colorado had a backyard, it would be Acreage by Stem Ciders. Mountain views, sprawling lawns, kid-friendly wandering space, and house-made cider set the scene for family hangs that start with lunch and stretch through the golden hour.

Runner Up: Pumphouse

Patio B

Winner: Chautauqua Dining Hall

Since 1898, the Chautauqua has been a landmark favorite in Boulder County. The Dining Hall is managed by Three Leaf Catering, known for using ingredients from their own farm. You can get a full view of the Flatirons from the wraparound porch making it a perfect spot to have lunch or dinner after a hike on the local trails.

Runner Up: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Lunch EC

Winner: Stacy’s Kitchen

In just a couple of years, Stacy’s Kitchen has become beloved in Old Town Erie. Owner Stacy Gustafson opened the shop on her birthday in 2023, bringing hearty made-to-order sandwiches, fresh baked pies, and sweet treats rooted in lifelong love of food. Simple, affordable, and welcoming, it’s become the place locals go again and again.

Runner Up: Jeannot Patisserie

Lunch B

Winner: Avanti Food Hall

It’s one part European market and one part food truck park with seven rotating restaurants that specialize in food from around the world. It’s certainly no surprise that so many people call this their favorite. For the cherry on top, Avanti’s rooftop captures a picturesque view of the Flatirons.

Runner Up: Boulder Social

Sandwich EC & B

Winner: Snarf’s Sandwiches

Snarf’s Sandwiches reigns supreme, a consistent Best of the West winner since we began 25 years ago. Founder Jimmy Seidel remains the sole proprietor, building each shop with his own hands and his own money, even when funds were scarce. That dedication to the perfect sandwich has grown Snarf’s from a single Boulder shop into a multi-state favorite.

Runner Up Sandwich EC: Stacy’s Kitchen

Runner Up Sandwich B: Le Frigio

Seafood EC

Winner: Big Mac & Little Lu’s

Big Mac & Little Lu’s makes landlocked seafood dreams come true. With wild-caught fish, buttery lobster rolls, fresh oysters, and crave-worthy bisque, this spot delivers salty-air flavor without the airfare.

Runner Up Sandwich EC: 740 Front St.

Seafood B

Winner: Jax Fishhouse

Jax doesn’t care that Colorado is a land-locked state. They make sure that we get a taste of their famous crackjack oysters that’s only found on their menu. Since 1999, Jax Fish House has been prioritizing finding sustainable, responsibly sourced seafood in an effort to protect our oceans and bring the coast to the coast-less. Whether it’s the cioppino on Sundays, grilled swordfish, or gochujang cauliflower, Boulder’s top seafood house will satisfy you.

Runner Up: Spruce Farm & Fish

Pizza EC

Winner: Urban Field Pizza

Urban Field Pizza made a name for itself fast. In just a few years, the Longmont spot earned national recognition at the International Pizza Expo. With fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a willingness to push creative boundaries, it’s become a destination for pizza lovers and market wanderers alike.

Runner Up: Rosalee’s Pizzeria

Pizza B

Winner: The Sink

Buckle up. Thick ‘ugly crust’ on a Sinkza is essential to that Old Boulder dinner classic. The Sink on The Hill has been serving CU Boulder students for over 100 years, evident by the low ceilings signed by generations of alumni. Get a chance to sign it yourself on Pizza Tuesdays!

Runner Up: Cosmo’s Pizza

Steak EC

Winner: 740 Front St.

Steak at 740 Front is part of downtown Louisville’s rhythm. Housed in a restored 1904 saloon, it’s where locals go when they want a proper steak, a stiff drink, and a room that still feels rooted in the town’s past. Reliable, unfussy, and exactly what the night calls for.

Runner Up: Piripi

Steak B

Winner: Boulder Cork

As one of Boulder’s oldest restaurants and a repeat winner that can’t be toppled, Boulder Cork is an essential must-visit. Since 1969, the Cork has been serving a rotating menu that ranges from prime rib to their famous mud pie combined with a showcase of local art on brick walls that create an unforgettable experience.

Runner Up: Steakhouse 316

Sushi/Japanese EC

Winner: Sakura

A longtime Best of the West favorite, Sakura Japanese Restaurant has earned its reputation through consistency and craft. Rather than retire, the original owners passed the restaurant to their nephew, trained for years under master sushi chef Kho. From traditional sushi to tatami-style seating where shoes come off, Sakura remains as authentically Japanese as it gets.

Runner Up: Sumo Sushi

Sushi/Japanese B

Winner: Hapa Sushi

From Booty Call Rolls to Magic Mushrooms, Hapa Sushi will be sure to amaze you in their visual design and creative Japanese-Hawaiian cuisine. With DJ sets on the weekend, a full bar, and every day early bird happy hour, Hapa’s expanding menu and social energy produce a must-see location. 

Runner Up: Japango

Thai EC & B

Winner: Busaba

Busaba’s original Louisville location set the standard long before expansion. Bright curries, craveable noodles, and heat levels that actually mean something have built a fiercely loyal following. Scratch-made, vibrant, and unapologetically bold, it’s Thai food locals return to again and again, and a repeat Best Thai favorite since opening.

Runner Up Thai EC: Mana Thai

Runner Up Thai B: Aloy Thai

Vietnamese EC

Winner: Pho Cafe

Pho Café turns Vietnamese classics into a local legend. Rich broth, tender noodles, and banh mi that practically wink at you make every visit feel like a tasty little secret you’re thrilled to spill.

Runner Up: Saigon District One

Vietnamese B

Winner: Chez Thuy

This modest, unexpected, standalone restaurant on 28th is not just Vietnamese, but Thuy cuisine. Drawing locals and regulars alike, this place reveals a history lesson in its menu that combines passion with authenticity. The pho is hot, the Vietnamese coleslaw is tart, and Chez Thuy is expecting you there. 

Runner Up: Lotus Moon

Hot Dog EC

Winner: Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos

This is one of our favorite stops, and every new staff member gets taken to Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos. When the craving hits for Mexican hot dogs wrapped in bacon and topped with beans, mayonnaise, and whatever other goodies you want, we’ll drive across town. It’s a brick taco stand with outdoor seating, and once you’ve had the dogs, the long line makes perfect sense.

Runner Up: Costco

Hot Dog B

Winner: Mustard’s Last Stand

Mustard’s Last Stand is the last hot dog you’ll ever want. This place has been voted the best hot dogs in Denver and is in the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame because of their traditional Chicago-style dog that’s been bringing people to the back for over 45 years. Don’t forget the mustard on the classic! 

Runner Up: Freddie’s Hot Dog Stand

Taco EC

Winner: Taco’s Ay Ay Ay

Tacos Ay Ay Ay lives up to the drama in its name. Overflowing fillings, bold flavors, and a dash of Lafayette magic make every bite a tiny fiesta locals never want to end.

Runner Up: Teocali

Taco B

Winner: T/ACO

T/aco starts their mornings by milling their own corn so that it’s ready for the street tacos that night. Known for their surging hospitality, the staff go above and beyond to make sure every experience meets their high expectations. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find their rotating secret menu too.

Runner Up: McDevitt Taco Supply

Healthy Meal EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Being healthy at Morning Glory Café doesn’t mean sacrifice. Colorful bowls, inventive dishes, and fresh local ingredients make “good for you” taste downright irresistible.

Runner Up: Moxie Bread Co

Healthy Meal B

Winner: Zeal

There is a story in every dish, and Zeal tells a tale of how healthy and good come together.. Their philosophy is sustainable and clean food that actually is kind to you and the planet. No matter if you’re vegetarian, vegan, keto, or just a regular meat-lover, Zeal will have an option for you. 

Runner Up: Leaf

Chef EC

Winner: Hugo Meyer / Piripi

Chef Hugo Meyer doesn’t just run a kitchen, he choreographs it. Globetrotting experience, fearless flavor instincts, and a dash of mischief make Piripi the kind of restaurant you tell everyone about before dessert even arrives.

Runner Up: Sean Gafner / Roose, Jefes, 99 Saloon, Swaylos

Chef B

Winner: Hosea Rosenburg / Blackbelly

Starting with a food truck, a farm, and a catering business, Hosea Rosenberg evolved his aspirations into the Michelin Guide Green Star restaurant: Blackbelly. From New Mexico to CU Boulder to winning season five of Top Chef, Rosenberg opened his own restaurant and, recently, his own butcher shop in order to perfect cured meats. 

Runner Up: Bradford Heap / Salt

Chocolatier EC

Winner: Chocolaterie Stam

Chocolaterie Stam is Lafayette’s sweetest troublemaker. Bonbons, truffles, and hot chocolate so good it should come with a warning turns casual indulgence into a full-blown chocolate obsession.

Runner Up: Robin’s Chocolates

Chocolatier B

Winner: Piece, Love & Chocolate

This is the place you go if you have that craving. Chocolate, tiramisu, brownies, tarts, truffles…this boutique has just about everything. You can even take classes to get a peak into what goes on behind the curtain. 

Runner Up: Lift Chocolates

Drinks

Overall Bar EC

Winner: Erie Social Club

No longer a newcomer, Erie Social Club has become a fixture in town over the past five years. The interior sets the tone, with craft cocktails designed by in-house mixologists and a wine selection carefully curated by owner Nick. It’s a bar that feels intentional in every detail and it shows in the wins.

Runner Up: West Side Tavern

Overall Bar B

Winner: Bitter Bar

The staff’s welcome into this lamp-lit neighborhood nook is just as warm as the lighting feels. They offer your usuals along with unique inventions like “Strawberry Feels Forever.” The Beatle’s-themed cocktail features strawberry boba – the FIRST cocktail with boba we’ve seen – which only adds to the delight of this Boulder staple.

Runner Up: Velvet Elk Lounge

Brewery EC

Winner: Left Hand Brewery

Though it may have started with just Eric Wallace and a homebrew kit in Longmont, Left Hand Brewery has since swept the nation with their iconic nitros. While Left Hand is leaving their handprint across the country, they’re committed to shrinking their footprint, by investing in the most up-to-date energy and water conservation methods. 

Runner Up: Liquid Mechanics

Brewery B

Winner: Avery Brewing

In their list of 2025’s successes, along with being named World Beer Cup Gold Medalist, were the 5,000+ dogs they petted that year. Turns out, these pet enthusiasts are also pretty big nerds for the brewing process, offering tours to teach the public about the science of yeast and to show off their barrel-aging and burgeoning pilot programs. 

Runner Up: Mountain Sun

Bloody Mary EC & B

Winner: Lucile’s Creole Cafe

In a world of sweet breakfasts, Lucile’s dares to be savory. The Creole tradition of using your seafood dinner from the night before for breakfast lives on in dishes like the eggs pontchartrain – a fried trout adorned with poached eggs and sauce bernaise and is perfectly accompanied by their award-winning Bloody Mary (plus a beignet for your sweet tooth).

Runner Up EC: The Post

Runner Up B: The Buff

Happy Hour EC

Winner: Erie Social Club

Erie Social Club actually puts the happy into happy hour. In a space that’s swanky but approachable, hand-crafted cocktails and a curated wine selection come at happy hour prices. It’s become the kind of place locals plan their afternoons around, not something they squeeze in on the way home.

Runner Up: Walter Rhoades American Legion Post 111

Happy Hour B

Winner: The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse is pure Boulder lore. Toys cover the walls, beer flows freely, and owner Scott McCormick’s irreverent spirit still defines the room. CU watch parties and Pony Games are just part of the chaos. With redevelopment looming, locals are savoring every happy hour, hoping this icon isn’t done winning just yet.

Runner Up: Boulder Cork

Margarita EC

Winner: La Mariposa

The people of Longmont love the extensive options on their menu. They’ve got margarita inventions for every occasion,  “The Love a Rita” for Valentines Day, “Spicy Mezcalita” for Dio de los Muertos, and “Booze for Boobies,” a bright pink special that donates $3 with every order during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Runner Up: Teocalli Cocina

Margarita B

Winner: Efrain’s Mexican of Boulder

When you’ve got it, flaunt it, and that’s exactly what Efrain’s does with their titular “Boulder’s Best Margarita.” And if margaritas aren’t your speed, they’ve got green chili queso so good you can drink it with a straw. This family-owned Boulder landmark recently achieved board game status after being added to the Boulder Edition Monopoly. 

Runner Up: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Distillery EC

Dry Land Distillery

The glimmer of their custom-fabricated copper pot stills will draw you in from Longmont’s main drag, but their smokey Cactus spirits and warm atmosphere will keep you coming back for more. Dry Land Distillery’s cocktail program is a love letter to locally sourced ingredients, and the rugged Colorado landscape that makes it possible.

Runner-Up: Spirit Hounds

Distillery B

Vapor Distillery / Boulder Spirits Tasting Room

Boulder Spirits balances craft and presence. From their Longmont distillery, where everything is made on site, to their newer Pearl Street tasting room, the operation reflects a deep commitment to whiskey done right. Founded by Scottish-born Alastair Brogan, their single malts and bourbons honor tradition while firmly earning Boulder’s respect.

Runner-Up: Spirit Hounds

Bartender/Mixologist EC

24 Carrot Bistro – Jennifer Shillington & DJ

At 24 Carrot, the bar is as much a draw as the kitchen. Beverage Director Jennifer Shillington and bartender DJ Reimer have helped make the bistro an Erie icon, crafting cocktails that are thoughtful, seasonal, and perfectly matched to the menu. It’s a drinks program locals trust as much as the food, and what makes them a repeat winning duo.

Runner-Up: West Side Tavern

Bartender/Mixologist B

Bitter Bar

Since opening on Walnut Street in 2011, The Bitter Bar has carved out a Boulder cocktail cult with drinks made with passion, not pretense. Owner-operator James Lee built his following with precise classics and inventive concoctions, eventually buying the bar outright and keeping conversation and craftsmanship at the center of every pour.

Runner-Up: Jungle

Liquor Store EC

Wyatt’s Wet Goods

Italian wine? They’ve got it. French wine? Yep. California and everywhere in between. Wyatt’s Wet Goods stands out for its massive, thoughtfully organized selection of wine, whiskey, and just about anything else for your libatious delights. Curious and need help? The staff is as friendly as they are knowledgeable.

Runner-Up: Atlas Valley Purveyors

Liquor Store B

Hazel’s

Hazel’s feels like Boulder’s social hub for beverage lovers. With massive wine, beer, and spirits selections, friendly staff who actually geek out over your picks, and a vibe that turns shopping into a little adventure, it’s the place locals swing by on the way to dinner, a night in, or just because.

Runner-Up: Pettyjohn’s

Wine Shop EC

Atlas Valley Purveyors

Atlas Valley Purveyors makes wine shopping feel like a choose-your-own-adventure. Thoughtfully curated bottles, surprise gems, and staff who actually get your taste turn “just grabbing a bottle” into a very happy detour.

Runner-Up: Public Wine

Wine Shop B

Boulder Wine Merchant

Boulder Wine Merchant is the kind of place where a quick stop turns into a long, happy conversation. Smart curation, wildly knowledgeable staff, and bottles you won’t find everywhere make this a true Boulder original locals trust and love.

Runner-Up: West End Wine Shop

Winery EC

Taboche Winery

Taboche Winery keeps things refreshingly uncomplicated. Thoughtfully made wines, relaxed tastings, and a welcoming space let the bottles speak for themselves. As a newer presence in the local wine scene, Taboche has quickly built a following by focusing on what’s in the glass and letting people come back on their own terms.

Runner-Up: Snowy Peaks Winery

Winery B

BookCliff Vineyards

BookCliff Vineyards makes wine for people who actually want to talk about what’s in their glass. Bold choices, thoughtful craftsmanship, and bottles with something to say keep Boulder drinkers coming back for another opinionated pour.

Runner-Up: Vinnie Fera Winery

Entertainment

Fair or Festival EC

Lafayette Peach Festival

When the Lafayette Art and Antique Fair incorporated peach sales into its schedule, a new festival spun off. Since then, the organic Palisade orchards have transported thousands upon thousands of pounds of peaches to Lafayette. 2026 marks the 27th annual festival.

Runner-Up: Boulder County Fair

Fair or Festival B

Boulder Pride

Boulder Pride is equal parts celebration, visibility, and unapologetic joy. Thousands gather downtown for a day fueled by queer community, chosen family, live music, food trucks, and nearly 200 vendors all wrapped in color, resistance, and pride. It’s loud, loving, and unmistakably Boulder, and when it returns in 2026, you’ll want to be right in the middle of it.

Runner-Up: Boulder Creek Festival

Live Music Venue EC

Bricks on Main

When Bricks on Main opened in 2020, its flexible retail store accommodated locally-sourced retailers and their products in inconsistent market conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it’s expanded into a multi-purpose venue, with frequent community music events and a full menu and bar. This first-time winner has left a lasting impression on the community.

Runner-Up: Muse Performing Center

Live Music Venue B

Chautauqua

Arrive in this scenic park in the warmer months and you can catch music events in the historic Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1898 as a lofty and open venue. Arrive in the colder months, and you can enjoy more intimate shows in the park’s 1918 Community House. This repeat winner has something for everyone.

Runner-Up: Boulder Theatre

Gallery EC

Firehouse Art Center

One of the classes offered here is “Art of Possibility,” which is really a perfect way to describe what they bring to the community. They don’t just open our eyes to new artists, they make it possible for us to explore our own artistic nature.

Runner-Up: The Collective Community Arts Center

Gallery B

BMOCA

This repeat winner has been honoring the most significant contemporary art from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, among other places, since its founding in 1972. Located in a historic building next to Dushanbe Tea House, this dynamic venue brings the regional, national, and international art scene to Boulder.

Runner-Up: Art + Soul Gallery

This article previously misstated the location of BMoCA as on Pearl Street. It has been updated to reflect the correct location.

Museum EC

Longmont Museum

What better way to learn about local history and culture as a family than through programs, exhibits, performances, films, and activities for all ages in a dynamic building housing sprawling historical collections? That’s the kind of educational experience Longmont Museum has to offer.

Runner-Up: Louisville History Museum

Museum B

Museum of Boulder

The history of Boulder has come a long way since the organization of the Boulder Historical Society in 1944. The Museum of Boulder, developed by the society in 1945, reflects on the city’s roots by recognizing the diverse history of its community and starting conversations to lead the community forward.

Runner-Up: University of Colorado Museum of Natural History

Theater Company EC

Longmont Theatre Company

Housed in one of Main Street’s most elegant historic venues, Longmont Theatre Company has been part of the community since 1957. With renewed energy, the company is expanding its offerings, bringing in comedy, music, and other acts in addition to its award-winning theatrical productions.

Runner-Up: Theater Company of Lafayette

Theater Company B

Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company

Even as a national-award-winning group, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company prioritizes community. Their acronym has embraced multiple meanings over the years, Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, or simply “Betsy” after a member’s first theater teacher, all embracing local impact through theater.

Runner-Up: The Local Theater Company

Stage EC

Nissi’s

Here’s the thing about Nissi’s: it doesn’t matter who’s playing there. That’s because the acts are so expertly curated and the vibe of the venue so genuine, positive, and fun that on any given night, regardless of who’s on stage, you’re going to experience “the best night ever.”

Runner-Up: Steinbaugh Pavilion

Stage B

The Dairy Arts Center

The Dairy Arts Center is Boulder’s creative crossroads. On any given visit you might catch an indie film, stumble into a gallery opening, or end up at a performance you didn’t plan on but stay for anyway. It’s variety with purpose, and a hub the arts community truly uses.

Runner-Up: Bandshell

Arcade EC

Tilt! Pinball

You can hear it, right? The sound of the ball roaring down the chute. The slapping of the paddles. The laughter. The cheers. The stack of quarters toppling over. What you’re listening to are the sounds of a memorable night out at Tilt.

Runner-Up: Quarters

Arcade B

Press Play

Filled with vintage and contemporary games alike, this hole-in-the-wall arcade/bar combo hosts flat-screens and arcade machines, pool tables and pinball, poker tournaments and live DJs. Located on historic Pearl Street, Press Play is perfect for private family events or for casual evening hangouts.

Runner-Up: Gateway Fun Park

Pumpkin Patch EC

Cottonwood Farms

Cottonwood Farms is the kind of place childhood memories are made. Bob Condon’s farm turns fall into an experience — pumpkins, hayrides, animals, and mazes — then keeps the tradition going with Christmas trees come winter. It’s wholesome, hands-on, and deeply loved by local families.

Runner-Up: 7th Generation

Pumpkin Patch B

Munson’s Farms

A Boulder classic since 1976, Munson Farms has grown from a modest corn stand into a beloved family farm with more than 100 acres of produce, pumpkins, and seasonal fun. Each fall, locals and visitors alike wander the pumpkin patch, pick their own pumpkins, and soak up crisp autumn air against the foothills. It’s proof that some traditions only get better with time.

Runner-Up: Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

Local Celebrity EC

FACE – Cody Qualls

Internationally iTunes-charting artist Cody Qualls has found countless ways to charm and captivate his audiences since the age of sixteen. Whether he’s performing original rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B tracks with his group The Brand New Ancients or catchy acapella arrangements with the ensemble FACE, he constantly brings infectious joy to the stage.

Local Celebrity B

Coach Prime

In his days as the player “Prime Time,” he became the only athlete who has ever played in both the World Series and the Super Bowl. Now, in his role as “Coach Prime,” he’s elevated the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes in the college football world, with 15 team appearances on national television in 2025 alone.

Health & Beauty

Day Spa EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Blue Skies feels like a pause button in the middle of Longmont. Owner Emily Bauer brings international training and a hospitality-first mindset into a space that’s calm, modern, and quietly luxurious. Every detail, from the rooms to the treatments, is designed to help you exhale and stay awhile.

Runner-Up: 95th St. Salon

Day Spa B

St. Julien Spa

A repeat Best of the West winner, St. Julien Spa is more than treatment rooms, it’s a full-scale wellness destination tucked into one of Boulder’s most elegant hotels. Spread across 10,000 square feet, the spa offers personalized massages, signature facials, sauna, steam room, and a 50-foot lap pool with mountain views, creating an immersive escape that unfolds at its own unhurried pace.

Runner-Up: Dragontree

Facial EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Relax into the clouds and find your bliss at Blue Skies Massage & Wellness. In addition to customized facials and advanced treatments like microneedling, the studio offers therapeutic massages, body treatments, targeted enhancements, and an infrared sauna designed to support both skin health and overall balance.

Runner-Up: Sustainable Beauty Colorado

Facial B

St. Julien Spa

A facial at St. Julien Spa isn’t something you squeeze in, it’s something you settle into. Treatments are elevated by the surrounding experience: steam, sauna, quiet lounges, and the sense that time has slowed down. It’s skincare wrapped inside a full afternoon of indulgence, which is exactly why readers keep voting it best.

Runner-Up: Dragontree

Salon EC

Golden Ember Salon

Golden Ember Salon doesn’t just cut hair, it upgrades moods. Expert color, sharp cuts, and stylists who actually get you make every visit feel like a mini glow-up.

Runner-Up: Salon Picasso

Salon B

Twig Salon

Established in the Boulder area over 15 years ago, Twig Salon is a staple in Boulder’s cosmetics industry. Beauticians here are known to take time to fully understand your vision before executing it to a “T.” Clients praise the shop for its LGBTQ+-friendly atmosphere, excellent service, and good vibes.

Runner-Up: Voodoo Hair Lounge

Barber EC

Woodward Barbers

Woodward Barbers (Erie) secured Best Barber in East County by a landslide thanks to their meticulous cuts and shaves. Looking for precision and care for a range of services? Look no further. From dry scalp treatment to their “It’s Been a Minute” cut, this classic-style barbershop delivers.

Runner-Up: Deluxe Barbers

Barber B

Hennepin Barbers

Hennepin Barbers cuts no corners in making their customers comfortable, whether it be the welcoming atmosphere, amiable staff, or supple leather chairs lining the shop. This South Boulder salon is known for stark beard trims and sharp haircuts for all ages, tailored to their customers’ every preference.

Runner-Up: Brooklyn Barber Academy

Massage EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Massage at Blue Skies isn’t one-size-fits-all. Led by owner Emily Bauer, the team starts with a thoughtful assessment and tailors each session to how your body actually feels that day. Whether it’s deep tissue, aromatherapy, or restorative work, the focus is relief that lasts beyond the table.

Runner-Up: Almita Massage

Massage B

Moving Mountains Massage

A full-time practitioner for over 20 years, Jesse Locke CMT, has devoted his life to Coloradans’ relaxation. This six-time BOTW winner is known for his calming presence and personalized approach to massage therapy. Find lower blood pressure, faster recovery, and improved emotional well-being with MMM.

Runner-Up: St. Julien Spa

Manicure/Pedicure EC

Salon Picasso

Salon Picasso turns nails into show-stopping statements. Expert techs, a cozy vibe, and a flair for the bold make every mani feel like a tiny celebration.

Runner-Up: Allure Nail Bar

Manicure/Pedicure B

Contempo Nails

The calm, welcoming environment invites you to relax with the knowledge that you will be pampered. Contempo Nails prides itself on staff longevity in an industry with high turnover. Other than its wide range of self-care services, they are kid-friendly, so you can both have an afternoon off.

Runner-Up: J Lounge

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) EC

Valar Aesthetics

Valar Aesthetics blends medical precision with an atmosphere that’s warm, relaxed, and filled with laughter. Under Dr. Bauer’s care, results stay natural and never overdone, a consistency that’s made Valar a repeat Best of the West favorite.

Runner-Up: Sunflower Spa

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) B

Vasu Skin Solutions

Vasu Skin Solutions is where Boulder goes when it wants skin that actually looks amazing. With laser treatments, tailored facials, and a team that remembers your name and your skin goals, clients walk in curious and leave radiant.

Runner-Up: Rinnova

Chiropractor EC

Chiropractic Center of Erie & Longmont

This isn’t the first time Dr. Dave has earned the award for what we call the best hands around. Known for finding “the spot,” his work goes far beyond simple adjustments, pairing deep tissue and muscle work with techniques like dry needling to treat the whole body. It’s this approach that keeps readers voting him best year after year.

Runner-Up: Live Your Life Chiropractic

Chiropractor B

Swan Lake Chiropractic

Swan Lake has been a Boulder staple for over 40 years, reversing spinal compression, correcting posture, and encouraging prenatal health. Owner Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Lawrence has practiced for 30+ years, and after having her own daughter, provides excellent prenatal and pediatric care in addition to many superb spinal services.

Runner-Up: The Joint

Veterinarian EC

Erie Animal Hospital

Dr. Sally Towner opened Erie Animal Hospital in a small farmhouse in 2001 and has grown it into a full-service, AAHA-accredited, Fear Free, cat-friendly practice. Long known for compassionate, individualized care, from acupuncture and rehab to integrative medicine, Dr. Towner’s steady presence and personal touch make this more than a vet clinic; it’s a partner in every pet’s life.

Runner-Up: Longmont Small Animal Hospital

Veterinarian B

Arapahoe Animal Hospital

Serving Boulder since 1954, Arapahoe Animal Hospital has built decades of trust by staying steady while the industry changed around it. Clear communication, long-standing relationships, and independent care keep generations of pet owners coming back. Not because it’s flashy, but because of kind, consistent care.

Runner-Up: Indian Peaks Vet

Medical Center EC

Kerix Health (formerly Nextera)

Under founder Dr. Clint Flanagan, Kerix Health (formerly Nextera) champions a concierge-style approach that prioritizes patient relationships over volume. Board-certified and community-rooted, Flanagan’s model gives people time with their doctor and personalized care, a commitment that’s now expanding into other states.

Runner-Up: Strive Direct Health

Medical Center B

Crossroads Medical Center

Founded in 1998 by 2025’s BOTW Best Doctor Carl Moritz, Crossroads Medical Center is one of only a few remaining independently owned medical clinics in Boulder. CMC doesn’t rush appointments, giving patients the attention and personalized care they need.

Runner-Up: Clinica Family Health

Hospital EC

Good Samaritan Hospital

A past and present winner, Good Samaritan Hospital is a recipient of frequent accolades, including landing in America’s top 5% of hospitals in clinical performance (Healthgrades). From being an official Level II Trauma Center to providing highly acclaimed joint replacement, GSH’s patients are in trusted hands.

Runner-Up: Longmont United

Hospital B

Boulder Community Health

For many Boulder residents, Boulder Community Health isn’t a choice, it’s been the hospital for 100 years. As the city’s independent, nonprofit health system, BCH has spent a century serving the community across multiple campuses, quietly becoming part of nearly every family’s story along the way.

Dentist EC

Keene Smiles

Dr. Greg Keene is known for recommending only what’s needed, easing anxiety, and giving back, including donating dental services to patients born without teeth. With long-tenured staff and a genuinely warm office, this is dentistry grounded in skill, ethics, and care.

Runner-Up: Artistic Smiles

Dentist B

Boulder Dental Center

BDC boasts remarkable convenience by making care accessible with multiple locations across Boulder and accepting major dental insurance plans. Dr. Danny Abboud has been at the helm since 2010, upholding the clinic’s excellent 40-year-old reputation as a one-stop dental care provider for whatever ails the Boulderite.

Runner-Up: Boulder Smiles

Doctor EC

Shawn Otteman – BCH

Dr. Shawn Otteman of Boulder Community Health has 30+ years of experience in his field and exceptional reviews to show for it. A family medicine physician who truly listens, patients say he refuses to rush appointments and genuinely connects, even calling to check in.

Runner-Up: Brad Brown – Strive

Doctor B

Dr. Christa Ambrose – Clinica

Dr. Ambrose is the doctor all medical professionals should strive to emulate. She chose to work with Clinica because it aligns with her medical philosophy: treating underserved people and making healthcare widely accessible. Her holistic approach prioritizes proper care, education, and wellness through constant communication with patients.

Runner-Up: Dr. Dirk Dolbeare – Boulder Orthopedics

Sports

Bike Shop EC

Louisville Cyclery
Louisville Cyclery has been part of Boulder County’s biking life for nearly half a century, and it shows the moment you walk in. Walls layered with race art and memories, lovingly serviced used bikes, a giant wooden bear out front, and lounge chairs that invite you to stay awhile. People linger so much they added a coffee cart — because this isn’t just a shop, it’s where cyclists hang out.
Runner Up: NuLife Cycles

Bike Shop B

Community Cycles
Community Cycles isn’t just about bikes, it’s about keeping them in motion. Since 2005, this nonprofit shop has repaired, reused, and redistributed thousands of bikes, pairing sustainability with real community impact. The mission runs deep, the knowledge is solid, and every bike saved from the landfill gets another life on the road.
Runner Up: Mike’s Bikes

Ski Shop EC

Angles Sports
Tours, new & used equipment, rentals. They started in a garage, and now you can find them on Main Street. Angles Sports owner, Ryan, loves fishing and sliding down the slopes so much he is probably open to doing it with you.
Runner Up: Snow Hut

Ski Shop B

Crystal Ski
Since 1976, Crystal Ski has been Boulder’s pre-powder pilgrimage. Owner Justin grew up in the shop, literally starting in high school before taking the reins. That continuity shows in the fit, the tuning, and the loyal locals who won’t head to the mountain without stopping here first.
Runner Up: Boulder Sports Recycler

Sporting Goods EC

Jax Outdoor
Since 1965, when it began as an 18-year-old’s idea for a military surplus store, Jax has stood strong as a unique and attractive paragon of Colorado at its finest. It is a Northern Colorado classic, which can make a small-town feel significant. YS respects the bona fide GOATs when credit is due.
Runner Up: Play It Again Sports

Sporting Goods B

Play It Again Sports
Committed to reusable gear and strong community loyalty, Play It Again Sports not only offers amazing and affordable deals, it serves as a center for local sports. Partnering with school athletic programs and clubs alike, if you’re a serious athlete, you will feel welcome here and perhaps find your new home, let alone sports hub.
Runner Up: Neptune Mountaineering

Golf Course EC

Indian Peaks Golf Course
Indian Peaks Golf Course has earned its loyal following by doing the fundamentals exceptionally well. A beautifully maintained course, approachable atmosphere, and steady consistency keep golfers coming back year after year. As a landslide repeat Best of the West winner, it’s a place where locals know exactly what they’re getting. And that’s the point.
Runner Up: Fox Hill Club

Golf Course B

Flatirons Golf Course
“Where Everyone Feels at Home” is a fitting slogan for Flatirons Golf Course. The course feels like what the heart of Boulder has to offer at its best: a fun and memorable time with natural greenery and comfortable vibes. On the city’s east side, the family-friendly atmosphere encourages the community to create memories.
Runner Up: Lake Valley Golf

Gym EC

RUF Fitness
RUF Fitness is built around showing up for your workout and for each other. With structured training, a supportive community, and an environment that doesn’t feel performative, it’s a gym where progress feels personal. No hype, no intimidation — just people putting in the work together.
Runner Up: Warrior Challenge Arena

Gym B

Mountain’s Edge
Mountains’ Edge Fitness offers a stress-free, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and motivated to make progress. Bringing warmth to the community without pretense or judgment, the point of this place is to support the goals of the community rather than hinder it. It focuses on what’s really significant with fitness; the thief of joy is comparison.
Runner Up: Movement

Rec Center EC

Bob Burger Rec Center
Bob Burger Rec Center is Lafayette’s all-in-one community hub. From the outdoor water park and aquatics center to youth camps, adult leagues, and senior programs, it’s where multiple generations cross paths every day. Practical, busy, and deeply woven into town life, it’s recreation the way a community actually uses it.
Runner Up: Erie Community Center

Rec Center B

East Boulder Rec Center
East Boulder Rec Center isn’t just a building, it’s where generations of Boulder families learned to swim, picked up a basketball, and logged early-morning laps. The amenities matter, but it’s the community EBRC has built that makes it a true local staple.
Runner Up: North Boulder Rec Center

Ski Resort (Day Trip)

Eldora
Eldora is Boulder’s ski hill. It’s close, familiar, and deeply woven into Front Range winters. Whether you’re sneaking in a few runs before work or introducing someone to their first turns, its proximity and no-frills accessibility make it a longtime local favorite. Fast to get to, easy to love, and rooted in community history, Eldora remains the go-to when you just want to ski and not sit in traffic.
Runner Up: Loveland

Ski Resort (Overnight)

Winter Park Resort
This Colorado classic ski resort is a must-try for anyone interested in skiing. With comfortable and challenging slopes alike, and so much history to explore. They have built an open community and culture that will sustain winter sports for years to come.
Runner Up: Steamboat

Climbing Gym B

Boulder Rock Club
Opened 1991, BRC is one of the trailblazing gyms of the early indoor-climbing movement. Today it is still embossed in Boulder’s climbing culture as a Sendaholic’s haven. Boasting ever-updating routes, a weight room, a Moon Board, and more, this is the spot for rookies and veterans of the sport.
Runner Up: The Spot

Climbing Gym EC

Longmont Climbing Collective
A relative newcomer, Longmont Climbing Collective wasted no time winning over its community. With an inclusive, low-ego vibe and routes that welcome beginners and challenge seasoned climbers, it’s less about conquering walls and more about building confidence, connection, and a place people genuinely want to return to.
Runner Up: The Spot

Martial Arts EC

Bennett’s Karate
With deep roots in the honor and tradition of Japanese karate, this repeat winner brings a global culture to Boulder County. Time and time again they prove their reputation by bringing out the best in martial artists in and out of the Dojo. Spend some time with their community and classes and become the master you are meant to be.
Runner Up: Tran’s Martial Arts

Martial Arts B

Easton Jiu-Jitsu
Easton Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai continue to build a strong martial arts community grounded in self-improvement and mastery. This is why they are a clear, principled winner in Colorado’s culture. This is an excellent home for those looking to add the discipline and inspiration of martial arts tradition. The opportunity can significantly improve your life.
Runner Up: Boulder Karate

Yoga Studio EC

Soul Tree Studio
Soul Tree Yoga Studio offers a beautiful, warm, open space filled with compassion, a strong community, and sense of enlightenment. With a tradition rooted in the Eight Limbs of ethical restraints, the professionals here do an excellent job of guiding students toward a spiritually aware and fulfilling life.
Runner Up: Louisville Community Yoga

Yoga Studio B

Yoga Pearl
Yoga Pearl is a professional, open environment with a strong, enlightening community. Their excellent workshops and training will equip you with the skills to control your mind, filling your life with awareness and peace. This is a natural and enlightened winner.
Runner Up: Boulder Bikram Yoga

Pilates Studio EC

Rocky Mountain Pilates and Yoga
Rocky Mountain Pilates and Yoga provides an exceptional, spacious, and wonderful atmosphere filled with enlightened hearts and a shared journey of health and fitness. This location hosts a supportive community that will help actualize your success. No wonder they have won time and time again.
Runner Up: Pilates 4 Bodies

Pilates Studio B

The Pilates Center
The Pilates Center has built its reputation quietly and carefully over decades. Known for thoughtful instruction and instructors who truly pay attention, this Boulder staple attracts clients who value depth over trends. It’s not flashy, it’s effective, consistent, and rooted in the kind of expertise that keeps people coming back.
Runner Up: Bolder Pilates

Home & Hood

Old Town EC

Erie Old Town
With architecture dating back over a century, Erie’s historic downtown creates a classic atmosphere for Colorado residents and visitors. Truly the heart of Erie, the famous farmer’s market and various businesses are a hub for Erie’s locals and visitors to experience the best of Colorado culture.
Runner Up: Lafayette

Old Town B

Mapleton Hill
The historic Mapleton Hill neighborhood enhances Boulder’s classic, timeless aesthetic. With architecture and vegetation that stand the test of time, YS honors those responsible for Boulder’s most classic vibes.
Runner Up: Niwot

Neighborhood EC

Old Town Louisville
Old Town Louisville isn’t manufactured charm, it’s lived-in. Brick buildings, independent shops, longtime locals, and newer neighbors all share the same sidewalks, patios, and conversations. It’s the kind of downtown where you run into someone you know, linger longer than planned, and remember why small towns still matter.
Runner Up: Old Town Lafayette

Neighborhood B

NOBO Boulder
The North Boulder Arts District is responsible for bringing art and inspiration to North Boulder. With their extensive community engagement, colorful murals, and support for artists of all kinds, they inspire the community through their calling.
Runner Up: Whittier

Furniture EC

Woodley’s Fine Furniture
Woodley’s isn’t just selling furniture — they’re helping people settle in. Family-owned and Colorado-rooted for generations, the Woodleys built a business on listening, guiding, and making sure what you bring home actually fits your life. It’s why customers return decade after decade, not just room after room.
Runner Up: American Furniture Warehouse

Furniture B

Forma Furniture
Forma Furniture offers high-quality furniture with professional customer service and prestigious craftsmanship. This first-place winner earned their position by expertly furnishing Colorado homes with “that’s gorgeous” pieces.
Runner Up: Arhaus

Home Furnishings EC

Danish Furnishings
Known for its European furniture, high-quality showroom, and patient customer service, Danish Furnishings brings a taste of global culture to Colorado. Their breadth of experience and expertise make them a deserving winner. One trip in and you will appreciate what they offer as well.
Runner Up: Hello! Home Furnishings

Home Furnishings B

Boulder Furniture Arts
For over 30 years, Boulder Furniture Arts’ handmade and simplistic designs have responsibly furnished many Colorado homes. Their high-quality local business models call to new and repeat customers while the helpful customer service creates a comfortable experience from start to finish.
Runner Up: Derpy Dragon Woodworking

Home Improvement EC

Jax Ranch
Jax Ranch carries the weight of Colorado history on its shelves. Born from a 1965 surplus store and grown into a Front Range institution, Jax has always served people who work with their hands and live close to the land. It’s not trend-driven retail — it’s generational knowledge, dependable gear, and Colorado know-how passed forward.
Runner Up: Budget Home Supply

Home Improvement B

McGuckin Hardware
Since 1955 McGuckin Hardware has been a prime example of the impact a local business can have. Their expert staff are ready to assist you in finding the right tools to help turn a broken part of the home or new idea into a completed project.
Runner Up: Home Depot

Landscaper EC

Outdoor Craftsman
Outdoor Craftsman looks at a yard and sees possibility. Their team blends design, ecology, and craftsmanship to create outdoor spaces that actually belong in Colorado — native plants, smart irrigation, and landscapes meant to thrive, not fight the climate. The result isn’t just prettier yards, but ones that make sense.
Runner Up: Wild Heritage Gardens and Design

Landscaper B

Native Edge Landscape
Native Edge Landscape is the architect of Boulder’s most fun and restful backyard days. Whether it’s a cozy autumn day by a combo firepit + fireplace on an organically stone-tiled porch or a summer night in a poolside lounge at a hotel, Native Edge builds Boulder’s best residential and commercial sceneries.
Runner Up: Matrix Gardens

Realtor EC

The Fowler Group
The Fowler Group is made up of two sisters who come from a sixty-year long family legacy of realtors serving the Front Range. With their elaborate and cinematic Instagram reels, Brie and Jillian showcase how your home can be the centerpiece of your next story.
Runner Up: Audrey Atkinson

Realtor B

Tom Cohen / Compass
Tom Cohen started selling homes in 1990. He loves working directly with his clients, often reminding them that “Online search is fun. But it won’t text back or high-five you at closing. That’s what I’m here for.”
Runner Up: Arn Rasker / Sotheby’s

Plumber EC & B

Colorado Green Plumbing (landslide)
Colorado Green Plumbing won this year by a landslide (and it certainly wasn’t caused by a faulty sewer line). Homeowners praise president Paul Lingenfelter for his friendliness, trustworthiness, and willingness to educate customers. On top of their award-winning plumbing, they also provide stellar HVAC and boiler services.
Runner Up EC: Around the Clog
Runner Up B: Bernie’s Plumbing

Contractor EC

Silver Contracting
During the 2020 pandemic, contractors everywhere faced a garage door shortage — except Silver Contracting, which handcrafted its own custom doors. Known for adaptive attitude, they also facilitate stress-free building and renovation experiences.
Runner Up: Koeppen Construction

Contractor B

Melton Build & Design
Melton shares its design knowledge freely in workshops, including the annual Sugary Structure Showdown, where the top team donates to a local organization.
Runner Up: Petra Custom Builders

Tree Service EC

Reinholt Tree Services
A small team of arborists keeping trees healthy and residents safe from hazards, with 24-hour emergency tree care.
Runner Up: St Vrain Arbor Care

Tree Service B

Berkelhammer Tree
Berkelhammer Tree has shaped Boulder County’s landscape for decades, prioritizing stewardship over shortcuts. Founder Fred Berkelhammer championed tree care methods that protect pollinators: “saving the trees without killing the bees.”
Boulder Tree Surgeon

Auto Repair EC

Louisville Tire and Auto
Since 1993, Louisville Tire and Auto has provided honest, top-notch service. Technicians sell only what you need and provide flawless service.
Runner Up: Stang Auto

Auto Repair B

Pellman Automotive
Family-owned, transparent, and ASE-certified mechanics, providing updates, photos, and videos throughout the repair process.
Runner Up: Hoshi Motors

Lawyer EC

Lyons-Gaddis
Lyons Gaddis shows up prepared and explains things clearly. For 50+ years, their attorneys have helped navigate complex situations with steadiness and plainspoken guidance.
Runner Up: Gstalder Law Firm

Lawyer B

Hutchinson, Black & Cook
A picture of legal excellence, HBC has been a Boulder standard for over a century, offering small-firm attention with big-firm standards.
Runner Up: Frascona Joiner Goodman & Greenstein

Bank or Credit Union Boulder County

Elevations Credit Union
Founded in 1952, member-owned, community-driven, emphasizing personalized service and financial education.
Runner Up: Premier Members Credit Union

Place to Buy A Car in Boulder County

Fisher Honda
Craig Fisher built a soft-spoken, no-pressure dealership approach locals recognize immediately.
Runner Up: Valley Subaru

NonProfit EC

Sister Carmen
Founded in the 1970s by Sister Carmen Ptacnik, providing goods and support to local families.
Runner Up: Community Food Share

NonProfit B

EFAA
Serving Boulder County for over 100 years, providing food, housing, education, and advocacy.
Runner Up: Rocky Mountain Equality

Politician

Joe Neguse
Congressman for Colorado’s 2nd District since 2018, focused on climate, public lands, and democracy protection.
Runner Up — Former Erie Mayor Justin Brooks

Artist EC

Angie Nordstrom
Boulder-area painter and muralist, combining expressive emotions with upbeat messages inspired by nature.
Runner Up: Kristi Arzola

Artist B

Phil Lewis
Print-driven pieces and clean, modern compositions, with exquisite kaleidoscopic imagery.
Runner Up: Sam Cikauskas

Marijuana Dispensary EC

Herbal Wellness
All-inclusive, tailored dispensary experience with attentive budtenders and loyalty programs.
Runner Up — Igadi

Marijuana Dispensary Boulder

The Farm
Premium yet welcoming dispensary with consistent flower quality and wide selection of concentrates.
Runner Up — Karing Kind

Glass EC

Hillcrest Glass
Since 1969, providing reliable residential and commercial glass services with precision and craftsmanship.

Glass B

Slade Glass Co
Modern sensibility with a long-standing presence in custom glass work since 1961.

Tattoo Shop EC

Inksmith
Friendly, clean, professional setting that makes getting a tattoo approachable for everyone.
Runner: Main Street Tattoo

Tattoo Shop B

Boulder Ink
One of Boulder’s oldest shops, balancing technical skill with personal expression, open daily.
Runner Up: Rising Tide Tattoo

Shopping

Shoe Store EC

Brown’s Shoe Store
How do we tell you Brown’s Shoes is the locals’ favorite when they’ve won all 26 years? That’s how.

Runner Up: Jax

Shoe Store B

Apocalypse
In Boulder, the answer to every “Where did you get those shoes?!” question is Apocalypse. You can complete any fit there with the incredible selection of shoes for a Saturday night along with everyday wear pairs.
Runner Up: Two Sole Sisters

Eyewear EC

The Optical Centre
For more than 50 years on Main Street, The Optical Centre has stayed locally owned, independent, and loved. They pair comprehensive eye care with a curated, timeless eyewear selection, plus the steady expertise of Dr. Jeff Berger. Longmont keeps choosing them, and it’s easy to see why.
Runner Up: Lafayette Eye Associates

Eyewear B

Envision Optical
There’s a special kind of walk you see from people when they leave Envision Optical. It’s confident, strong, almost a strut. It’s that walk you have when you’re feeling your best and looking great.
Runner Up: Tom’s Sportique Eyewear

Jewelry EC

Anspach’s Jewelry
You’re not just buying a necklace or a ring, you’re starting a story. And the jewelers at Anspach’s will make sure it’s one told with heart, thoughtfulness, sincerity, and history.
Runner Up: Eric Olson Master Jewelers

Jewelry B

Hurdles
At Hurdle’s you don’t shop as much as you wander, waiting for that perfect piece to speak to you. Jewelry is more than just an “accessory,” it’s an extension of your personality.
Runner Up: Schapell Jewelers

Fashion Boutique for Women EC

Snow Apparel
Snow Apparel is a cornucopia of timeless style. From showcasing local artisans to international masters, owner Snow White ensures every purchase makes an impact. She uplifts marginalized masterpieces while making customers look and feel triumphant in their new threads.
Runner Up: Ivy Rose

Fashion Boutique for Women B

Apocalypse
Shopping locally isn’t just a slogan; it’s the Apocalypse aesthetic. Madison Moorhead McCabe and Jed Bickford McCabe champion shoppers away from fast fashion, offering a haven to find better ends.
Runner Up: Jacque Michelle

Men’s Clothing EC

Acme Fine Goods
The Internet makes it easy to shop, but Acme Fine Goods makes it fun. Trying something on and falling in love is a tactile experience, leaving you feeling like the world’s best-dressed man.
Runner Up: Jax

Men’s Clothing B

Weekends
For men looking to reset their wardrobe or find a new favorite shirt, Weekends offers unmatched stylist passion and knowledge. You’ll leave not just looking good, but feeling good.
Runner Up: Canoe Club

Consignment Clothing EC

Found Underground
When it’s time for a style-swap, this is the place to go. You get new clothes while helping the environment, and your old favorites may resurface for someone else.
Runner Up — Fabulous Finds

Consignment Clothing B

Apocalypse
Beyond gently used women’s clothing, Apocalypse is the go-to for finding pieces that express “This is who I am.”
Runner Up: Rags Consignment

Shopping District/Center EC

Downtown Longmont
Restaurants, shops, art, and event venues abound, but the most important element: the people. Seeing neighbors and community members enjoying it all builds real community.
Runner Up: Downtown Lafayette

Shopping District/Center B

Pearl Street Mall
Shop for gifts, records, food, and tattoos — Pearl Street is Boulder as it’s meant to be.
Runner Up: 29th Street Mall

Bookstore EC

Read Queen
A revolutionary literary hub, offering book clubs, workshops, and discerning curation. Miss it at your own risk.
Runner Up: Barbed Wire Books

Bookstore B

Boulder Bookstore
The agora for late-night thinkers, with a library of awards since 1987.
Runner Up:Trident Booksellers

Florist EC

Lafayette Florist
For 75 years, Lafayette Florist has crafted flowers as personal messages, from welcoming neighbors to marking life milestones.
Runner Up: Longmont Florist

Florist B

Boulder Blooms
Kim Thielke’s studio-style approach ensures every arrangement feels personal, seasonal, and distinctly Boulder.
Runner Up: Sturtz & Copeland

Kid’s Store EC

Longmont Museum
A time machine with 17,000+ objects, creating cerebral and emotional connections with history.
Runner Up: Adorn Kids

Kid’s Store B

Grandrabbits
Almost 50 years of expanding kids’ imaginations with personal, fun shopping experiences.
Runner Up: Pitter Patter

Gift Shop EC

Vintrey
Vintage, handmade, and fair-trade gifts curated inside a 1900s home for a “hidden treasures” shopping feel.
Runner Up: Bricks on Main

Gift Shop B

Cedar and Hyde
Gifts that elicit “Oh Wow!” moments — housewarming, birthdays, or a treat for yourself.
Runner Up:Bliss

Natural Goods EC & B

Natural Grocers
Beyond healthy food, they provide wellness classes and a dedicated nutrition center, committed to community wellness.
Runner Up EC: Little Herbal Apothecary
Runner Up B: Nude Foods

Grocer EC

Sprouts
A shopper’s delight, filled with tasty and nutritious items. Be prepared for a bigger cart.
Runner Up: Natural Grocers

Grocer B

Lucky’s Market
Independently owned, locally sourced, and organic, offering the best of Boulder on its shelves.
Runner Up: Trader Joe’s

Pet Supply EC

Gigi & Co
Intentional selection of health-forward essentials and local brands, plus force-free training expertise.
Runner Up: Happy Beast

Pet Supply B

PCs Pantry
From a small house to a 30th Street facility, P.C.’s Pantry combines personal shopping with nearly 25 years of excellence.
Runner Up: Only Natural Pet Supplies

Consignment & ReUse Furniture EC

Fabulous Finds
Walk-in, drop-off, and mobile consignment options with a warm, local environment supporting organizations like The Inn Between and Habitat for Humanity.
Runner Up: Furn Consignment

Consignment & ReUse Furniture B

Goodwill
Colorado’s 45-location network, with the Boulder store winning readers’ hearts and providing convenient donation drop-offs.
Runner Up: Pig & Pearl

Record Store B

Paradise Found Records
When you buy a record in Boulder, you buy it at Paradise Found Records; which has curated one of the most extensive catalogs of vinyl in Boulder County. With 26 years of winning Best of the West Awards, Paradise Found Records remains unmatched for botomless crate digging. 
Runner Up: Beat Book Shop

Record Store EC

Absolute Vinyl
Epicenter of Boulder County’s analogue revival, with local music archives and audiophile gems.
Runner Up: Little Horse Louisville

Musical Instruments EC

Guitar Hut
Honest repairs and innovative instruments, avoiding pretentious vibes while offering tried-and-true gear.
Runner Up: Monkton Guitar

Musical Instruments B

HB Woodsongs
Founded in 1971, Boulder’s longest-running music store offers instruments, lessons, rentals, tuneups, and an online shop.
Runner Up: Boulder Drum Shop

Quilting/Sewing EC

The Presser Foot
A BERNINA dealer with 500+ years combined experience, crafting quality work and guiding customers to the right machine.
Runner Up: The Quilt Store

Quilting/Sewing B

Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics
Since 1974, offering distinctive textiles and guidance that keep generations of makers returning.
Runner Up: Sew-Bo

Education/Kids

Place to Play with the Kids EC

WOW! Children’s Museum
Since 1996, WOW! Children’s Museum has become a cornerstone for young ones under 12. Through their Play for All program and inclusive mission, WOW! ensures every child has a safe place to have fun. Who wouldn’t want to play in a restored fire-station?
Runner Up: Coal Creek Park

Place to Play with the Kids B

ABC Kids Climbing
For kids who don’t stay still, ABC Kids Climbing offers endless opportunities. Toddlers can learn in safe spaces while elite climbers train, and parents can join in at open gym sessions!
Runner Up: Gateway Park Fun Center

Private School EC

Dawson School
Founded in 1970, Dawson School pairs strong academics with real choice. With 80 electives and 16 AP courses, students build a path unique to them. College prep is intentional, personal, and student-centered.
Runner Up: Saint John the Baptist

Private School B

Boulder Country Day
Teachers at Boulder Country Day truly know their students. Serving preschool through 8th grade, BCD combines strong academics with hands-on learning in a close-knit community, helping students grow confident and articulate.
Runner Up: Boulder Valley Waldorf School

Public School EC

Centaurus High School
Centaurus High pairs academic opportunity with a supportive culture. From standout arts programs to CU Boulder-aligned college pathways, students are encouraged to shape their future in a community that shows up for them.
Runner Up: Niwot High School

Public School B

Fairview High School
Fairview High emphasizes challenge, engagement, and meaning. The honors program and dedicated faculty cultivate a positive learning experience, producing frequent National Merit Finalists.
Runner Up: Horizons K-8

Summer Camp EC

Colorado Mountain Ranch
With roots reaching back to 1925, Colorado Mountain Ranch encourages kids to get outdoors and connect with nature — something better than wifi.
Runner Up: YMCA Northern Colorado

Summer Camp B

Renaissance Adventures
Renaissance Adventures brings imagination to life through creative role-playing, castle-building, and playground adventures.
Runner Up: Square State Skate

Music School EC

School of Rock
Performance-based music education helps students conquer stage fright and build confidence before adulthood — all while having a rockstar experience.
Runner Up: Center for Musical Arts

Music School B

HB Woodsongs Teaching Studios
From beginners to professionals, HB Woodsongs fosters creativity through deep listening, guided exploration, and improvisation, creating a complete music ecosystem in Boulder.
Runner Up:Harmony Music House

The post Best of the West 2026 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Ah, brunch. The glorious time of day when we throw out all the rules and dive headfirst into eggs, pancakes, and maybe — even better — cocktails before noon. With so many tempting brunch spots close by, making a decision could call for a little help from a Magic 8 Ball.

The Buff Restaurant: Where pancakes flirt and $1 mimosas flow
Boulder

When Boulder locals talk brunch, one name always bubbles to the top: The Buff. Cozy as your favorite hoodie and twice as satisfying, this neighborhood staple has been slinging eggs, green chili, and good vibes for over 30 years.

Family-run from the start, The Buff feels like home the moment you walk through the door. General manager Dru Libby is known for greeting regulars with a warm hug and a smile as sunny as your eggs.

The crown jewel of the menu? The Olé Skillet — chorizo, green chilies, onions, jalapeños, potatoes, and cheddar smothered with their famous pork green chili, which might just be the reason Boulder gets out of bed on weekends. Feeling like a kid? Try the White Buffalo Cakes with crispy edges and pillowy softness accented with white chocolate and strawberries. The star? Chicken & French Toast, a perfectly-paired sandwich topped with bacon — because why not? (Already planning my return visit for that dish.)

White Buffalo

And the drinks? Let’s just say they’ve got legendary status. The Buff’s $1 on tap cocktails — yes, one dollar — draw brunch lovers like bees to honey. From classic mimosas to the garnish-loaded Tatanka Bloody Mary, your cup (and Instagram feed) will be full.

Non-drinkers, fear not: The White Buffalo (white chocolate espresso mocha) piled with whipped cream and Dirty Sherpa Chai will give you all the cozy, caffeinated feels you need. Here, brunch is more than a meal — it’s a ritual. Come hungry, leave hugged.

Suggested Pairing: Olé Skillet + $1 Mimosa
Pro Tip: No time to brunch? Grab a White Buffalo to go.
Vibe: Cheerful, friendly, always buzzing

Blueberry Pancakes

Morning Glory Café: Mother Earth’s brunch spot
Lafayette

Morning Glory Café isn’t your run-of-the-mill brunch joint. The secret sauce? Sustainability and local ingredients. Owner Lilly Lieb sources nearly 80% of her ingredients from local farms and strives to get organic whenever possible. From organic, cage-free eggs to fresh, wild-caught salmon, everything at Morning Glory is scratch made and straight from the heart.

Lieb’s commitment to high standards goes beyond just sourcing — it’s in the very DNA of the place. Whether it’s the homemade pesto or her iconic mom Jules’ blueberry dressing (made with agave to keep it vegan), every bite is crafted with care and intention.

The menu is so packed with options that the best choice might just be to ask your server to choose for you. Lieb brought out the Mango Salmon Salad topped with goat cheese, avocado, and blueberries and a stack of Blueberry Pancakes that pleased both my inner kid and gluten-free diet. Morning Glory Café takes dietary restrictions extremely seriously and has a cult following in the gluten-free crowd. For a breakfast entrée, try the Niwot Omelet packed with feta, tomatoes, and spinach topped with a vibrant pesto.

Lieb’s cocktail game is just as impressive as her food. Her Bloody Mary? Vegan and made in-house with balsamic vinegar for a unique kick. The Mimosas come in pint glasses and the coffee? It’s single-origin Costa Rican beans sourced directly from an employee’s family farm for a cup of goodness with a side of authenticity.

Lieb isn’t just serving up great brunches; she’s building a community. With liveable wages and a staff that sticks around for years (shoutout to Adolfo, who started as a dishwasher and now runs the show), the restaurant exudes a warmth that mirrors Lieb’s values. It’s not just about feeding people — it’s about caring for them, whether it’s through the food, the atmosphere, or the heartfelt connection with every guest.

Suggested Pairing: Niwot Omelet + House Bloody Mary
Pro Tip: Feeling spunky? Ask your server to surprise you with some Jackalope.
Vibe: Relaxed, eco-conscious, neighborly.

Salmon Caper Benedict

Tangerine: Classic breakfast with a modern twist
Longmont, Lafayette, Boulder

Tangerine is like your favorite breakfast diner, but imagine if it put on a pair of sleek, modern shoes and went to art school. Chef-owner Alec Schuler crafted a menu designed to hit that sweet spot between comforting and unexpected. Sure, you’ll find the classics — eggs Benedict, pancakes, and omelets — but Tangerine encourages a little culinary wanderlust with a breadth of creative options and a constant rotation of specials.

Schuler’s dedication to quality ingredients means that almost everything on your plate is locally sourced. Colorado-grown potatoes, hangar steak, and cage-free eggs ensure your brunch dollars support small farms and ranchers across the state.

“We’re a scratch kitchen,” said chef Jonathon Derreberry, who creates the specials for the Longmont location. “Everything is made from recipes. We hired skilled chefs. Culinary skill is at the heart of everything we do.” And it shows — whether it’s the house-cured Salmon Caper Benedict or the vibrant Strawberry French Toast, every dish feels like it was crafted with care and a lot of heart. The star of the menu is The Vegan — this isn’t your typical tofu scramble. No, this dish features tempeh, avocado, fresh greens, caramelized onions, carrots, pinto beans, romesco, and pesto, all beautifully plated in a way that could make even the most dedicated carnivore pause and say, “Yes, please.”

Let’s not forget about the drink menu. If you’re thinking about pairing your brunch with a little something special, Tangerine’s cocktails won’t disappoint. The Strawberry Matcha Latte? It’s like a blankie in a cup. If you’re in the mood for something with a little more kick, try the house-made bloody mary (yes, it’s vegan, and yes, it’s amazing). And their seasonal drink specials, like the Lavender Lemon Drop martini, are always on point.

Tangerine is a hopping spot. Call ahead on weekdays and get there early on the weekends for your best chance at getting a table when you arrive. With the generous portions, plan on loosening your pants on the ride home.

Suggested Pairing: The Vegan + Strawberry Matcha Latte
Pro Tip: The specials change often — follow your cravings off-menu.
Vibe: Bright, modern, effortlessly hip

Shrimp and Grits

Lucile’s: Brunch with a side of jazz hands
Erie, Boulder, Longmont

Lucile’s Creole Cafe has been a Boulder County brunch icon since 1980, and it only takes one bite to understand why. The Erie location is right on Briggs Street in a cheery yellow building transporting diners from Old Town Erie straight to New Orleans, complete with zydeco tunes playing softly in the background and powdered sugar floating in the air like confetti.

Lucile’s brunch is loud, lively, and unapologetically joyful. “We want it to feel like a party,” said general manager Michael Micek. “If you call on a Saturday and ask about the wait, I’ll tell you, ‘Come on in anyway — it’s a hoot!’” And he means it.

Eggs Sardou

The menu? Oh, it slaps. The inspiration came from a chef trained at New Orleans’ legendary Commander’s Palace, and the flavors still run deep. Everything’s made from scratch — from the house ketchup and jams to the light-as-air biscuits (Don’t even try to recreate them, the recipe’s top secret.).

Lucile’s elevates the basics like the Eggs Eisenhower (creamy scrambled eggs cooked low and slow with clarified butter) and Pain Perdu (pure French toast perfection with house-made pecan syrup). Teleport straight to the 504 with Eggs Pontchartrain. Regular patron Jack Feuerbach sat at the bar enjoying his mountain trout, with a side of the best jalapeño cheesy grits in Colorado. Dine like the royals with Eggs Sardou — lightly spiced and decadently creamed spinach, juicy Gulf shrimp, expertly poached eggs, and house-made hollandaise.

As for the bar, Lucile’s well-garnished Cajun Mary has won Yellow Scene Magazine’s Best of the West contest for 25 years straight. So that’s a no brainer. For a warm treat, do not miss the Café au Lait with chicory coffee and a side of beignets piled with a mountain of powdered sugar that your kids will remember for a lifetime.

Lucile’s isn’t just where you eat brunch. It’s where you experience it — Creole-style.

Suggested Pairing: Beignets + Cafe au Lait with chicory coffee
Pro Tip: Ask for the Farmer’s Eggs—an off-menu gem
Vibe: Lively, jazzy, powdered-sugar paradise

Carrot Brisket Hash

24 Carrot Bistro: The kind of brunch Gatsby would have hosted
Erie

Just a block away from Lucile’s, tucked inside a gorgeous historic building with exposed brick, rich wood tones, and a bar that would make even Gatsby jealous, this spot serves up brunch with both flair and soul. Brunch at this charming, brick-house beauty isn’t just about eating — it’s about being wrapped up in good vibes and life-altering food. Amy and Elaina greet regulars with the kind of familiar, beaming smiles that make you feel like family — even if it’s your first visit.

Carrot Farmers Benedict

The food? Oh, honey. Owner Bianca Retzloff’s menu is equal parts comforting and creative. As a starter, 24 Carrot has transformed the classic French Beignets and laid them on a layer of lemon curd that is lick-the-plate worthy. The Farmer’s Benedict is a crispy sweet potato cake crowned with a perfectly poached egg and a bright, herby house-made pesto that tastes like sunshine and garden-fresh magic. The Beef Brisket Hash is pure comfort, with melt-in-your-mouth brisket, tender potatoes, and poached eggs, the dish is a true chef’s kiss. And the French Toast? Served with Chantilly cream, fresh strawberries, and a sprinkle of fresh basil, this dish will make you rethink every brunch decision you’ve ever made. Just ask diner Scott Schneider, who paused mid-bite to ask, “Excuse me, what did you do to French toast?”

Behind the bar, Manny shakes up cocktail magic like the Hans Shot First — gin, lemon, Prosecco, and lavender, served in an antique silver chalice — and the Oh You Pretty Thing, a muddled blackberry-mint-lemon masterpiece.

Brunch here isn’t just a meal —it’s an affair, equal parts cozy, classy, and totally crave-worthy.

Suggested Pairing: Farmer’s Benedict + Bitter Sweet Symphony
Pro Tip: Save room for the lemon curd-accented beignets — they’re pure gold.
Vibe: Vintage elegance meets small-town charm

The Brunch Houses Hot Chocolate

The Brunch House: High school sweethearts serving up breakfast goals
Westminster

Some brunch spots have a line out the door. Others have a waitlist a mile long. But The Brunch House? It’s got something even better — regulars who stroll in like it’s their own kitchen, call the servers by name, and settle into the kind of warm, unhurried atmosphere that makes you forget you’re technically dining in a strip mall behind a Sonic Drive-In.

The Brunch House is the passion project of Karen Ibarra and her husband Victor Aguilar, high school sweethearts turned business partners, who took a leap on their dream after years of working in family restaurants together. When they peeked through the windows of this spot on Thanksgiving 2023, they knew they’d found “the one.” April 22 was their first anniversary, and business is booming.

The Chile Rellenos Skillet is a brunch hero in a cast-iron disguise: a golden fried tortilla stuffed with jalapeños, melted cheese, refried beans, eggs, hash browns, and then smothered (with affection, I’m convinced) in their house-made green chile — a family recipe passed down from Victor’s father. It’s spicy, hearty, comforting, and impossible to finish without leaning back in your chair with a satisfied grin.

If you’re leaning sweet, the Tres Leches French Toast is the kind of dish your childhood self would’ve ordered every single Sunday, had your parents let you. Thick slices of French toast get drenched in sweetened condensed milk and caramel, topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and fresh coconut flakes.

The bar menu leans fun and unfussy, offering brunch classics like mimosas and micheladas, as well as playful house specials like the Colorado Sunrise — a twist on the tequila sunrise that somehow tastes like both brunch and vacation at once.

The prices are the icing on the (tres leches) cake: soul satisfying dishes without the bill to match. Pancakes for $11, a Benedict under $13, and a delicious medium roast coffee that won’t break the bank at $3.50. A robust kids menu means your kids are prioritized too.

Suggested Pairing: Chile Rellenos Skillet + Colorado Sunrise
Pro Tip: Bring the whole crew — the kids menu is no afterthought.
Vibe: Homey, welcoming, and strip-mall humble, but five-star flavor

Veggie Omelet

The Greenbriar Inn: Where brunch is an elegant affair
Boulder

Step inside, and you’ll be wrapped in the warm glow of old-world Bavarian charm, where sumptuous leather booths and white linens whisper luxury, but the vibe stays as welcoming as your favorite neighborhood diner. Phil Armstrong, who’s been part of the Greenbriar team for over four decades, took the ultimate leap from chef to owner 31 years ago — and the passion still shows on every plate. He’ll stop by your table to check in on you, as any good host would in their home.

French Toast

First up: the pastries. Light, flaky, buttery, and just the right hint of sweetness — these are no off-the-truck danishes. Everything but the croissants (which fly first class from France) is made in-house, and it shows in every bite. It’s the kind of pastry basket that could easily distract you from the rest of the menu — if the rest weren’t just as stellar.

Much of what lands on your plate starts right out back, taking farm-to-table to the extreme, thanks to Greenbriar’s three on-site gardens. Whether it’s fresh herbs, veggies, pickled goodies, or house-made jams, the kitchen works seasonal magic year-round. Greenbriar even cures its own bacon, smokes its meats, and handcrafts sausages like it’s the only way to do things — because here, it kind of is.

The menu is expansive. From Deviled Eggs to Oysters Rockefeller, expect classics executed to perfection. The Traditional Benedict’s eggs arrive with yolks that practically glow, balanced on English muffins with a generous serving of house-cured ham that tastes like Easter morning. The Vegetable Omelet? Fluffy, soft, and filled with fresh seasonal veggies, like asparagus prepared so well it makes the whole plate sing. And don’t skip the Vanilla Custard French Toast — golden on the outside, tender inside, and topped with fresh blueberry and mint compote and whipped cream.

The drinks are just as thoughtfully crafted. If you’re a bloody mary fan, brace yourself: The Greenbriar Spicy Bloody Mary stars garden-grown horseradish-infused vodka dressing up a house mix, rimmed with celery salt, and garnished like it’s dressed for a party. The Passionfruit Mimosa leans bright, fruity, and just the right amount of fancy — like brunch in a glass. Oh, and if you’re the type who takes brunch with a side of wine, you’re covered. With 670 bottles in the cellar, there’s a pour here for every plate, every taste, and every excuse.

Greenbriar Inn Cocktails

At its heart, The Greenbriar Inn is more than just brunch — it’s a Boulder tradition served with genuine hospitality, garden-fresh flavor, and the kind of attention to detail only a family of food lovers could deliver. So go ahead, dress up a little for the occasion (my suggestion — not theirs) and make the drive. Brunch this good deserves a little extra effort.

No two brunches are ever the same, and that’s the magic of it. Each of these local gems serves up more than just a plate of eggs and pancakes. They offer up personality, heart, and the kind of experience that lingers long after the last sip of coffee. Morning Glory Café wraps you up in fresh, local ingredients that feel tailor-made for an Earth Day celebration, while Lucile’s is a powdered-sugar-dusted party you’ll want an invite to every weekend. 24 Carrot Bistro charms you with its unassuming elegance, the kind of place where comfort and creativity hold hands. The Brunch House reminds us that incredible food and genuine hospitality don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. The Greenbriar Inn is your go-to for those milestone moments that deserve a little extra sparkle. The Buff blends laid-back Boulder vibes with the kind of star power that might have you brunching beside a celebrity. And Tangerine? Well, it’s the rare unicorn that welcomes both stroller-pushers and flannel-wearing foodies with open arms.

Suggested Pairing: Vanilla Custard French Toast + Passionfruit Mimosa
Pro Tip: Make a reservation — especially for special occasions.
Vibe: Elegant, timeless, tranquil

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The post Bruuuunch, Please! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Producing Best of the West is no easy feat — it takes an incredible amount of human hours. Our standards are high: every winner’s blurb must be personalized and, most importantly, interesting to read. Cookie-cutter and boring don’t fly at Yellow Scene Magazine.

As a hyper-local, independent publication, we often operate on fumes. Journalism isn’t where the big dollars are, which is why sustaining support from the community is critical. In today’s climate, producing unbought and unbossed journalism matters more than ever. After 25 years, we refuse to sell out to the highest bidder. That said, being independent also means we’re “scrappy” (a polite way to say we’re working by the seat of our pants).

Despite the challenges, Best of the West is one of the most joyous issues to produce. It’s labor-intensive, but we get to call people with genuinely good news — how great is that?

These wins are truly honorable. YS’s ballot is write-in only — no pay-to-play, no multiple-choice. Just Best (Category) Blank. Readers decide who’s the best, not us.

Our first seven years of archives aren’t online yet (they’re still sitting on discs in the office), and even those need formatting TLC. Some categories are newer, and Boulder joined Best of the West in 2008. But we have hard copies and a living history of Boulder County.

Here are some of the most notable winners, each with over 10 years of wins. Want to create real change? Stop giving your money to billionaires and support these amazing local businesses instead!

Special Nods

Piripi (13 wins in 5 years)

615 Briggs St Suite C, Erie

www.piripirestaurant.com

10+ years

24 Carrot

578 Briggs St, Erie

www.24carrotbistro.com

Anderson Farms

6728 County Rd 3 1/4, Erie

andersonfarms.com

Avery Brewing

4910 Nautilus Ct N, Boulder

www.averybrewing.com

Berkelhammer Tree

28th St, Boulder, CO

berkelhammer.com

Bitter Bar

835 Walnut St, Boulder, CO

www.thebitterbar.com

Blackbelly/Hosea Rosenburg

Boulder, Denver

www.blackbelly.com

Button Rock Bakery

400 W South Boulder Rd, Lafayette

www.buttonrockbakery.com

Cosmo’s Pizza

Boulder, Lafayette, Denver, Fort collins,

cosmospizza.com

Crystal Ski Shop

1933 28th St #101, Boulder

www.crystalskishop.com

Dairy Arts Center

2590 Walnut St, Boulder

www.thedairy.org

Dragontree Spa

2405 Broadway, Boulder

www.thedrangontree.com

Eats & Sweets

401 S Public Rd, Lafayette

www.eatsandsweets.net

Elevations Credit Union

Multiple Locations

www.elevationscu.com

Firehouse Art Center

667 4th Ave, Longmont,

www.firehouseart.org

Flatirons Golf Course

5710 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder

www.bouldercolorado.gov/locations/flatirons-golf-course

Foolish Craig’s Cafe

1611 Pearl St, Boulder

www.foolishcraigs.com

Full Cycle 

2355 30th St, Boulder

www.fullcyclesbikes.com

Georgia Boys

Longmont, Frederick, Greeley

www.georgiaboys.com

Greenbriar Inn

8735 N Foothills Hwy, Boulder,

www.greenbriarinn.com

Hoshi Motors

2907 55th St Unit 1, Boulder

www.hoshimotors.net

Lulu’s BBQ

701 Main St, Louisville

www.lulusbbq.net

Marco’s Hot Dogs & Taco’s

1647 Kimbark St, Longmont

www.marcoshotdogsandtacos.com

Morning Glory

1377 Forest Park Cir #101, Lafayette

www.morningglorylafayette.com

Mountain Sun/Southern Sun/Longs Peak

627 S Broadway #E, Boulder

www.mountainsunpub.com

Moving Mountains Massage

1800 30th St #220N, Boulder

movingmountainsmassage.com

Moxie Bread

641 Main St, Louisville

moxiebreadco.com

North & East Boulder Rec Centers

E: 5660 Sioux Dr, Boulder N: 3170 Broadway, Boulder

bouldercolorado.gov/locations/north-boulder-recreation-center

Organic Sandwich Co.

1500 Pearl St #F, Boulder

www.organicsandwichco.com

Ozo Coffee

Longmont, Boulder, Arapahoe

www.ozocoffee.com

Pellman’s Automotive

2560 49th St., Boulder

www.pellmansauto.com

Piece, Love & Chocolate

805 Pearl St., Boulder

www.pieceloveandchocolate.com

Salon Picasso

489 US-287 #120, Lafayette

www.salonpicassohairstudio.com

SALT

1047 Pearl St., Boulder

www.saltboulder.com

Tangerine

Longmont, Lafayette, Boulder

www.tangerineeats.com

Taj Mahal 3

1075 E South Boulder Rd. #145, Louisville

www.tajmahal3.com

Tilt! Pinball

640 Main St. #B, Louisville

www.tiltcolorado.com

Village Coffee Shop

1605 Folsom St., Boulder

www.villagecoffeeshopboulder.com

15+ years

Atlas Valley Purveyors

2770 Arapahoe Rd #100, Lafayette

avpurveyors.com

Boulder Wine Merchant

2690 Broadway, Boulder

boulderwine.com

Bookcliff Vineyards

1501 Lee Hill Dr. #17, Boulder

www.bookcliffvineyards.com

Big Daddy Bagels

Longmont, Boulder, Lafayette

www.bigdaddybagels.com

The Boulder Cork

3295 30th St., Boulder

www.bouldercork.com

Busaba Thai Restaurant

East Boulder, Central Boulder

www.busabaco.com

Jax Outdoor Gear + Farm & Ranch

Lafayette, Broomfield

www.jaxgoods.com

Nissis

1455 Coal Creek Dr. #T, Lafayette

www.nissis.com

Pumphouse Brewery

540 Main St., Longmont

www.pumphousebrewery.com

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

1101 Walnut St., Boulder

www.riograndemexican.com

Stan’s Automotive

1950 W South Boulder Rd., Lafayette

www.stansautomotive.com

St Julien Hotel & Spa, Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

900 Walnut St., Boulder

www.stjulien.com

Sushi Zanmai

1221 Spruce St., Boulder

www.izakayaamu.com

Waterloo Louisville

817 Main St., Louisville

www.waterloolouisville.com

West End Tavern

926 Pearl St., Boulder

www.thewestendtavern.com

20+ years

Boulder Creek Festival

1236 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302

www.bouldercreekfest.com

Carelli’s Italian Restaurant

645 30th St, Boulder, CO 80303

www.carellis.com

Chez Thuy Fine Vietnamese Cuisine

2655 28th St, Boulder, CO 80301

www.chezthuy.com

Chiropractic Center of Erie & Longmont

698 Briggs St, Erie, CO 80516

www.eriechiro.com

Eldora Ski Resort

2861 Eldora Ski Rd, Nederland, CO 80466

www.eldora.com

Fox Theatre

1135 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302

www.z2ent.com/fox-theatre-venue

Hapa Sushi

Boulder, Denver

hapasushi.com

Lafayette Peach Festival

Public Road, Lafayette, CO 80026

www.lafayettecolorado.com/peach-festival

Louisville Cyclery

889 E South Boulder Rd, Louisville, CO 80027

www.louisvillecyclery.com

Sakura Japanese Restaurant

600 S Airport Rd, Longmont, CO 80503

www.sakuralongmont.com

Sugarbeet

101 Pratt St, Longmont, CO 80501

www.sugarbeetrestaurant.com

All 25 years

Bob Burger Rec Center

111 W Baseline Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026

www.lafayetteco.gov/2574/Bob-L-Burger-Recreation-Center

Boulder Theatre

2032 14th St, Boulder, CO 80302

www.z2ent.com/boulder-theater-venue

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant 

2480 Canyon Blvd m1, Boulder, CO 80302

www.efrainsofboulder.com

Indian Peaks Golf Course

2300 Indian Peaks Trail, Lafayette, CO 80026

www.indianpeaksgolf.com

Jax Seafood

Multiple locations

www.jaxfishhouse.com

Luciles Creole Cafe

Multiple locations

www.luciles.com

Moe’s Broadway Bagels

Multiple locations

www.moesbagel.com

Santiagos 

Multiple locations

www.eatatsantiagos.com

The Sink

1165 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302

www.thesink.com

Snarf’s Sandwiches

Multiple locations

www.eatsnarfs.com

Shop Local—it’s more than a slogan. It’s a Revolution.

The post The Ones We Love Most appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Delicious dishes that accommodate dietary restrictions so everyone can enjoy a seat at the table

At Yellow Scene, our holiday food tradition is taking a deep dive with a handful of our favorite area chefs and talking to them about what they love to cook at home for celebratory meals. These aren’t always the things you’ll see on their menus. It’s what you get when they hang up the towel in their restaurant kitchen and dial up the knobs on their stove at home. It’s what they cook when they entertain friends, families, and in one case, others from the area’s hospitality industry.

This year, they’re generously sharing their home recipes with us and using their culinary expertise to show how these dishes can be altered for those with dietary restrictions. With just a few changes and some knowledge, everybody can be included at the table. These chefs will show you what to do.

Lucile’s Chef Michael Micek. Photo: Judi Morell

Unexpected Holiday Side Dishes
Chef Michael Micek, Lucile’s Creole Cafe

This past year, Erie’s Old Town was lucky enough to score a brand new Lucile’s Creole Cafe, the beloved area chain known for Cajun breakfast and lunch with red beans and collard greens, benedicts you can linger over, chicory coffee, and beignets. Since Day One, lines have been out the door.

We connected with Chef Michael Micek, who has brought Lucile’s favorites to the new location. He began cooking for the themed set of eateries in 2005 when he opened the outpost at South Logan St. and Alameda Ave. in Denver. He studied under Chef Mickey Samuels who worked with the chain from the late 1980s for more than 30 years and upheld its quality standard. Micek is one of two staff members who had worked with Samuels and learned about making Cajun cuisine, becoming executive chef after he left.

Micek told us that he typically cooks two holiday meals at his home each year. The first one is at Thanksgiving and features a deconstructed turkey. It includes a turkey leg confit, cured with salt and seasonings overnight and then submerged in duck fat for 12 hours. On Thanksgiving Day, he crisps the legs in the oven and serves them on a platter. Next, he filets the turkey breasts, rolls them back in the skin and cooks them in a sous vide bag before browning them. He then crisps them in the oven before serving.

“Guests I have at my house have told me that they’ve never had a turkey any better than what I cook,” he said.

On Christmas Eve, Micek, who is Polish, makes kapusniak, a sauerkraut and sausage soup. The preparation starts just after Thanksgiving, when he makes the sauerkraut and allows it the weeks needed to ferment. Then it is added to a savory beefy tomato broth and becomes the centerpiece. “It has an incredible flavor. Absolutely stunning,” he said.

When asked to describe his gatherings, he said they’re fairly traditional, with about 25 friends and family at Thanksgiving and 15 on Christmas Eve. He hosts a casual, self-service affair where his kitchen island is filled with delectable dishes and people eat when they’re hungry.

If there was one item from Lucile’s he would add to his holiday cooking, Micek said it would probably be collard greens. He said they’re very popular in the South, and they’re often on the table at Thanksgiving. “It’s one of my favorite things. We included smoked, cured ham hocks, and we also use Marmite. Marmite can add the same, smoky flavor to it without having to add the meat if someone is interested in a vegetarian version.”

When we asked him about cooking for people with dietary restrictions, he quickly talked about his vegetarian friend for whom he makes veggie broth, veggie stuffing, and a gravy with the vegetable stock.

RECIPE: Vegetable Stock (suitable for gravy, soups, and stuffing)

As we see with most made from scratch stocks, Micek wasn’t specific about ingredient amounts. He did share that the components of his stock include dried shiitake mushrooms and a variety of carrots, onions, fresh mushrooms, and possibly tomatoes. He said it makes a huge difference if you roast these items first.

Once your water is at a rolling boil, add the mushrooms and vegetables along with bay leaf. Boil it for hours until the stock reduces significantly and the flavors are concentrated. To finish it, he adds a dash of Worcestershire, parsley, and peppercorns to taste. He also noted that since Worcestershire contains anchovies, that would not be suitable for vegan guests, so soy sauce or Mirin could be used instead. Once it has been cooked down, strain the hard items out and use the stock as needed.

West Side Tavern’s Chef Andy Kaufman and Owner Wes Isbutt. Photo: Judi Morell

Holiday Meals for Other Chefs, Servers in Longmont
Chef Andy Kaufman, West Side Tavern

For our holiday prep research, we talked to West Side Tavern’s Chef Andy Kaufman and Owner Wes Isbutt. Both men spoke about what it’s like to be Jewish during the holidays. “Liquor stores, gas stations, and grocers close on Christmas. It feels different when you aren’t celebrating,” said Isbutt. “But at least the Asian restaurants are open. Last year Sumo, the restaurant at Harvest Junction in Longmont, was open, and they sold a ton of sake.”

Kaufman, who has worked in fine dining after going to culinary school in the Boston area, spent time at kitchens in Boston and Washington state where he fondly recalled time spent at Pike Place Market. He moved to Colorado where he spent time at L’Atelier in Denver and at The Fork in Lyons.

Some of what Kaufman appreciates about cooking in Longmont at West Side Tavern is that it’s smaller. “You have the run of the mill in terms of what you can make and do, as opposed to a larger place where people are telling you what to do. And it’s a friendly place. I’ve made more friends in Longmont than I made in any other place my entire life.”

He told us that, uniquely, a lot of friends in the restaurant industry choose West Side for the holidays, something that Kaufman celebrates, saying, “We’ll bend over backwards for them.”

Kaufman said that he normally doesn’t cook during the holidays, but the menu he described is based on the Christmas Eve dinner he makes for the other restaurant staff. During that time, he typically brings a traditional meal to the restaurant. “We cook off a big prime rib, the Roast Beast, if you will. It’s delicious, and it can serve 15 to 20 people.” He seasons his beef traditionally, slow roasted for about four hours in the oven, and serves it with a horseradish crème fraîche.

Kaufman’s sides are the part of the meal where he ensures his food will work well for people with dietary restrictions. Sides include green beans with onion and garlic and a little vinegar or puréed yams with maple syrup and cinnamon and baby carrots, roasted in the oven with honey and agave. He roasts his vegetables first, laying them out on a sheet pan where they get just the right amount of char.

Overall, these sides and the main dish are just what their guests are looking for during the holidays . It leaves their stomachs full and their spirits satisfied with the friendships and good food they experience at West Side Tavern.

RECIPE: Mock Horseradish Crème Fraîche for Roast Meats

While traditional crème fraîche calls for cream left out overnight, Kaufman knows that this isn’t the safest practice. Instead, he’s developed a recipe for a mock version of the beloved condiment that’s a must-have for roasted beef rib and prime rib.

He shared that it’s a ratio of 2/3 sour cream to 1/3 heavy cream. Start with a dash of horseradish and lemon, add salt and pepper, season to taste.

Casian Seafood’s Chef-owner Dovi Xiong. Photo: Judi Morell

Hmong Holiday Eating
Chef-owner Dovi Xiong, Casian Seafood

We’re fortunate to speak with Chef/Owner and James Beard Award Semifinalist Dovi Xiong of Casian Seafood in Lafayette about the foods inspired by his heritage.

As a second-generation Hmong-American, Xiong, who goes by the name Dovi, said he’s grown more Americanized over the years and that this is reflected in how he celebrates the holidays. But when his family arrived in this country, things were different. His parents didn’t always celebrate the traditions, but that eventually changed. “With their jobs in corporate America, they were offered a free turkey, and they didn’t turn it down. Now it’s part of the holiday, though they’ve added egg rolls, the same ones I make in the restaurant,” Dovi said with a laugh. He added that meals may also have two other soups, khao piak with a chicken base and kapoon, which can be made with either chicken, pork, or fish.

Dovi described the feel of his holiday gatherings: “It’s a very tight-knit inner circle that we really do keep. In our custom, we call everyone aunts and uncles, but at the holidays, we focus on our actual aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents. That’s who we share time and our meal with.”

He said his gatherings have been bigger than what his parents hosted. “Sometimes there are neighbors and co-workers. It’s a huge contrast between what we do now and the way my parents have held their celebrations.”

When we asked him for a holiday memory that stands out, he answered quickly: “Hmong New Year. It’s right around Thanksgiving time ahead of the traditional Chinese New Year. It’s celebrated then because it is more convenient. Households have to host small gatherings to welcome the new year and usher in prosperity. Ceremonies and specific blessings by the head of the household are a key part of the festivities.”

This year, Dovi plans to go to his father’s home. “I still consider him a key part of my family, even though we live in separate houses. It’s the one main holiday tradition that I’ll always remember, and my kids will always know that too.”

Recipe: Traditional Larb

Dovi told us that the standout recipe he prepares at the holidays is larb — a raw beef salad with lots of green — green onions, cilantro, basil, and minced lemongrass. He declined to share exact proportions  but did explain how the thinly sliced raw meat was combined with the greens in proportions that he enjoys and that he knows work for his guests. (Here’s a version we found online to give you some perspective.) Dovi makes a cooked, less spicy version each year for the kids and teenagers.

Snarf’s Owner Jimmy Seidel

Leftovers: Sandwiches that Don’t Hold Back
Owner Jimmy Seidel, Snarf’s Sandwiches

As we work on this article every year, we’ve tried to be sure we don’t leave out some restaurant goers’s favorite part of a holiday meal: leftovers. For this edition, we turned to Jimmy Seidel of Snarf’s Sandwiches, the beloved sandwich shop that started in Boulder and now has more than 30 locations throughout Colorado, Missouri, and Texas.

Before talking to us about his sandwich, Seidel shared how he celebrates. “You better be ready,” he said before describing a lengthy affair that’s two days of work. He personally handles kitchen duty during the holidays and cooking for his family means there’s going to be both a turkey and a prime rib. There’s also all the fixings and fruit pie to finish things off. “It’s a two-day affair but ultimately it means I’m surrounding myself with my friends and really enjoying myself.”

However, one two-day affair isn’t enough for him — each year he typically does two Thanksgivings. The following weekend he invites 40 to 50 friends over for what he lovingly calls a “second giving” with two turkeys and a prime rib. “I need to rest up for that,” he admitted.

With all of this cooking, Jimmy’s got a lot of experience creating leftover sandwiches. “Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite things of the year. I look forward to it all year. I make a big mess of food. But my favorite thing the next day is to make this.”

He gave us some of his tips: “I have a favorite sandwich, and it’s got turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy that I put on my bread. I can put cranberries on it too. The gravy substitutes for an aioli.” He uses their Snarf’s white bread when he makes the sandwich, and he’s also not afraid to mix it up, dipping it in gravy like a French dip for a less messy experience or substituting the prime rib for turkey.

When it comes to making the sandwich for people with dietary restrictions, one of the biggest things he does is use different bread, as the gluten in traditional bread has been known to cause a lot of issues for some individuals. One of the beautiful things about sandwiches is how easily it can be customized. It’s possible to have a vegetarian version of a leftovers sandwich, particularly if a group cooked a turkey alternative the night before.

Seidel also considered alcohol pairings for Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches. He pairs either the formal turkey dinner or a turkey or vegetarian sandwich with a beer or white wine. As a wine drinker opting for turkey, he said he suggests a white burgundy or a Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley. “The acid of the wine cuts through the richness of the gravy and pairs really well,” he explains.

RECIPE: Seidel’s Savory Gravy

Seidel knows that gravy is perfect with a warm sandwich, and everyone who cooks a roast likely has their own technique to make the gravy their own. When Seidel is in front of the stove, he removes much of the liquid and leaves turkey fat and butter in the pan. He then adds flour directly into that and swears that this is how he never has to deal with lumps. Once incorporated, he adds the liquid back in and may add additional chicken stock if it’s needed.

The post Chef-inspired Ideas to Make Holiday Meals More Inclusive appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The Wheel House

How big a deal is brunch? In 2020, on average each person in the U.S. ate 285.5 eggs and consumed 497 metric tons of orange juice. Twenty-five percent of Americans eat pancakes weekly, and the flat, often-fruited carb is the oldest breakfast food identified. Pancakes were found in the stomach of Otzi the iceman whose remains are estimated to be 5,300 years old.

Ok. We’ll stop with the trivia, but – full confession – we could have researched all day. We love that meal. Everything about it. 

Instead, we turned our research to something more useful: Identifying the best breakfast offerings locally. These aren’t all the places to go to, but they’re the places we like. Here’s where we pull up our chairs at the counter or bring a group after a night out.  Keep reading to find out where we go and why.

Tangerine
Biggest Draw: Romesco Benedict or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

If we’re looking for a sweet breakfast, Tangerine gets us. If we’re feeling spicy, they get us too. This is the place we bring friends to because there’s going to be something everyone likes. And then there’s the bar. Fresh-squeezed morning juice cocktails like mimosas or bellinis. If we don’t want alcohol, their lattes – especially the recipes on the custom menu – are what we try.

Eat! Food and Drink
Biggest Draw: (Tie) Family Comfort and Spicy Bacon

This is a place we go with our family. We like the high ceilings, open feeling, and the friendly service. Once we’re at the table, one of us orders the sweet and savory bacon flight that comes with both maple and jalapeño bacon. We think we like the jalapeño bacon better, but we’re honestly not sure. It’s close. 

Village Coffee Shop
Biggest Draw: People Watching

Honestly, we like Village Coffee Shop for the relaxed atmosphere and the people watching. The first time we went there, they were calling out and clapping for Village Coffee Shop virgins. We stayed quiet and tucked into our hashbrowns, eggs, and huge blueberry pancakes. Low maintenance, high carb entrees, and cups full of caffeine. That’s what we wanted, that’s what we got, and that’s why we keep going back. 

Niwot Wheel House
Biggest Draw: Spectacular Pancakes

If Village Coffee Shop is the oldest restaurant on our listing, Niwot Wheel House is the youngest. It opened just under two years ago in conjunction with Wheel Works, the popular bike shop on 2nd Ave., and it’s been a great community gathering spot ever since. Recently, they added food capability with LaMusette and their chef has recently added brunch to their menu. On the day we went, they had cardamom orange butter pancakes with caramel sauce. So good.  

Lucile’s Creole Cafe
Biggest Draw: Beignets

It’s impossible to talk about area brunch restaurants and not include Lucile’s. This Creole cafe has Louisiana staples you’d expect like chicory coffee and Eggs Pontchartrain. The Beignets are always a treat; puffy, sugary, and hot to the table. It’s the best way to start whatever it is you’re going to have for breakfast. 

Foolish Craig’s Cafe
Biggest Draw: Crêpes

Since we moved to the area 15 years ago, plenty of our Pearl Street Saturday

and Sunday mornings have started here. We like the crêpes, and in this case, the savory crêpes work for us. We often order their Duxelles crêpe with portabello mushrooms, onions, and shallots sauteed in butter with swiss cheese and veloute sauce.

24 Carrot Bistro
Biggest Draw: Coconut Chocolate French Toast

There are a lot of things on this menu that we wouldn’t expect to have for brunch but, now that chef Kevin Kidd has thought of it, we want to try. Top of the list is the coconut chocolate French toast made with brioche and a caramel anglaise. Just behind it is Shakshuka, a tomato sofrito with potatoes, poached egg garlic cream, feta cheese and cilantro. If we’re having brunch with something from the bar, then we’re ordering their Marmalade Skies – sparkling wine, orgeat, lemon, and angostura bitters.

The post Worth Getting Out of Bed For: Our Sit Down Brunch Roundup | Foodie appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The terrific talents and fantastic flavors of Boulder have risen to national prominence over the last decade and for good reason. The food here rocks. I mean, it is damn good. If you don’t know that by now, you better get your head – or stomach – in the game. Some Seattleite might know more about your city than you do! (That’s me, I’m the Seattleite who got to know Boulder by nibbling my way across town.) Or maybe you just want to get better acquainted with your favorite Boulder chefs in this expanded Off Menu. No matter your reason, you’re here with me now. Strap in. It’s a fun ride.

Manal Jarrar – Arabesque

Manal greets me with a bright smile and a tall glass of cool, homemade spiced tea. The recipe took her years to perfect, a fact that becomes apparent with my first sip. Its carefully combined alluringly sweet baseline and sharp, fresh spices create a drink of an entirely different species from the diluted syrupy concentrate so familiar to the pallet of the pitifully unaware Starbucks-goer. Get a taste of Manal’s spiced tea, and you find the flavor that Starbucks has tried so hard (and failed) to emulate all these years. You’ll find the same is true for her delectable lemonade—there’s just something about it you’ve never known before, and its taste is one for the gods.

If you ask her how she does it though, she won’t quite tell. She’ll say that one day after months of experimenting, she woke up knowing exactly how to craft this specialty drink with elegance and grace that you can taste. It’s a gift. She knows how to manage and complement flavors just as she knows how to manage and complement components of a ballet.

A former dancer and instructor herself, she brings the same grace and coordination she needs on stage to the kitchen. “You have to be larger than life to see the connection between dancing and food,” she says, but hearing her speak, you get what she’s talking about. She speaks with the same richness and passion that you would expect to sense in a beautifully executed ballet or an expertly crafted dish. I certainly tasted it in her potatoes (which were seriously, honestly, hand-over-heart incredible). She says her secret here is taking time and allowing her food to sit in its own flavors. Like in life, she explains, “let it be.” Don’t force the flavors together, nor make them fight with each other. Let them settle and grow a shared integrity. It more than pays off.

Manal longs for the days to come, when the COVID pandemic is behind us all. She misses the cacophony of forks on plates and laughter rising above the chattering buzz. She misses the people who usually fill her charming little establishment. One of the loveliest things about Arabesque, she eloquently explains, is the feeling we have when we eat together—feeling human together, shoulder to shoulder. Despite her aching heart, she opens Arabesque and cooks take-away and patio orders for those who do still come to enjoy her food and company—not because she’s making much of a profit from it these days, but because she loves it. I am deeply grateful for that because she’s made a loyal customer of me, and I plan to return soon, not just for her mouth-watering food and drink, but for her colorful personality, and the charm she brings to 17th and Pine.

Eric Skokan – Black Cat

It all started at nine thousand feet, at the Gold Lake Mountain Resort in the year 1998. Eric found in the resort a head chef position, amid the beauty of the Rockies, and Jill, having recently moved to Colorado and risen from horse wrangler to general manager at the resort, found (and hird) Eric.

The Rockies, and moreso Jill, kept Eric in fond devotion to the mountain resort for nearly ten years. He and Jill, who had found not just each other, but love there as well, haven’t left one another’s side since. 

Eric jokes that he and Jill are essentially the same person: two heads, four arms, four legs, and facing one direction, with a vision and passion to serve food that supports a healthy lifestyle. Before the pair opened the now famed Black Cat Bistro in 2006, they ran a little ice cream shop together.

A trip to the French Pyrenees changed the game for the couple where they witnessed the transformation of garden veggies to a delicious, simple dinner. The owner walked from their table to her garden, plucked vegetables from the vine, and plopped them into her apron before jogging into the kitchen to create a “magical” meal. So became the inspiration for Black Cat. 

“I put my head down and got to work,” Eric tells me, “and when I lifted my head years later, I had hundreds of acres of land for cultivation.” He and Jill usually use their farm to supply fresh ingredients to Black Cat Bistro as well as offer skills and resources to up-and-coming chefs and new farmers alike, but since the coronavirus hit, the farm has taken on new roles. The family packs its produce into Mabel, their trusty food truck delivering fresh foods to locals looking to avoid grocery stores. They’ve also transformed the farm into a home for custom-made greenhouses, where customers can come to enjoy memorable and safe dining with breathtaking sunsets, fresh dinners delivered to the foot of their table eight feet away, and come October, wood-burning stoves and sheepskin blankets. After fourteen years of doing what he loves at the bistro, seeing familiar looks of wonder on his customers’ faces, and offering care to his community as best he can, his and Jill’s dream is now manifest.

This marvelous milestone for Black Cat comes at a time of struggle and pain for Eric, Jill, and their boys, however, as the family mourns and grapples with the recent loss of their son, Kelsey. Eric is appreciative of his staff, who have taken the burden of the farm and Black Cat upon their shoulders and carried it through the summer. Eric also looks ahead to the future—a future of pumpkins, winter squashes, and eating his body weight in spring peas. There is still much to come for the Skokans and the Black Cat community, and while the pain of loss never gets easier, at least we learn to manage it. I and Yellow Scene alike offer our warmest wishes of healing to Eric, Jill, and their sons.

Shekhar Pokhrel – Busaba

Shekhar’s story is the reason why our role models tell us to chase our dreams: sometimes, we catch them. As a CU graduate in accounting and entrepreneurship and a software developer, Shekhar adored Thai food and dreamt of becoming a chef. In his travels around The States, he would introduce himself to the chefs at his favorite Thai eateries and to try to learn something from them. One of those eateries—his favorite of them—was Busaba. Before buying Busaba about a year ago, Shekhar was a loyal customer, eating there all the time. Shekhar made his culinary start as a dishwasher in a little Thai place at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and now after a year of training at Busaba, the former owners have retired, and he is thrilled to deliver the simple yet delectable flavors of Thai food from kitchen to plate himself.

Growing up under the direction of his culinarily masterful mom in a family farm in Nepal, Shekhar has valued and respected food since he was young. He respects where the food comes from and the impacts of it, and he brings those same values to Busaba. When Shekhar was an admiring customer of Busaba, he could taste the freshness and vibrant flavors. Now, on the other side of the counter, Shekhar says the source of all that culinary goodness is obvious: the freshest ingredients that can be mustered. Busaba brings uncompromising quality and authenticity to its Thai food, which Shekhar explains, you can really taste in the dishes it serves. It’s why customers keep pouring in their love and support, even through this pandemic: Busaba nourishes them with marvelous quality dishes, and they don’t want to see that go.

When you go to Busaba, you might consider the garlic pepper. Shekhar says he loves all of the made-from-scratch dishes at Busaba, but that’s his favorite right now. He also makes notable mention of the house-made coconut ice cream, a tasty dessert of which he admits, chuckling, he never fails to get his fill. Or, try something new. Shekhar encourages us to explore different flavors of the Thai world—there’s a lot more out there beyond the Pad Thai, people. Fortunately, Busaba offers a lot of vegan and vegetarian options too, so there’s no excuse to pass up a new culinary adventure, especially one that tastes so good.

Alec Schular – Tangerine

Last week’s wild weather hit Alec’s culinary baby, Tangerine, hard. During our interview, Alec waves goodbye to one of his team members and sends his thanks. “It was fun,” the guy says. There had been no electricity that morning, and all of the tickets had to be hand-written, but the employees didn’t seem to mind the new challenges—they were happy and ready to pull together to serve people great food.

You can tell what kind of atmosphere Alec creates in this place. He wants Tangerine to be a positive experience for all people. Great service and an upbeat, friendly atmosphere isn’t just important for the customers—he wants his employees to be happy too. And when you walk into Tangerine, you’ll not only notice the socially inviting atmosphere he’s created, but the loveliness of the space as well. Hovering orange globes warm the walls and the conversation in Tangerine’s primary room, and Louise Nevelson-inspired art abounds in the converted joint space of Alec’s past sparkling culinary sensation, Arugula.

Alec has decades of culinary instruction and practice which have colored his food with sophistication and artistic flair. Ask him why he became a chef though, and he’ll give you a refreshingly contrasting and deeply relatable answer: “I love to eat.” Mmmm yes.

He’s an Italian, French, and Spanish food drooler at heart, and you can taste those influences in what he makes. But he opened Tangerine as a healthy American food-focused eatery with a Mediterian twist to complement his much-loved Arugula restaurant. He wanted to offer people an American breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot with whole, quality nutrition crafted with creativity. Nine years later, Tangerine continues to do just that (and now it serves cafe-quality coffee for you caffeine-jittery readers out there too.) Soon, the eatery will expand its space under heated canopies in the hope of safely returning a sense of community to its dining. Come October, keep an eye out for Tangerine’s warm atmosphere as it’s transported into the fresh outdoors, and when you visit, try one of the Benedicts. They’re the chef’s favorite.

Dakota Soifer – Cafe Aion

You wouldn’t know that Dakota won Cutthroat Kitchen back in 2014 by talking to him, and when you’re through with the conversation, you understand why: fast entertainment isn’t his speed. Rather, he speaks fondly of Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, where he cooked five-course meals from a kitchen bus on farms throughout Boulder. He affectionately recalls his first experiences watching chefs at Rumba (now Centra) “throw stuff in a pan,” in the “ripping heat.” He describes epic dumpling-filled dinner parties with his former-Eastern-philosophy-and-religion-professor mother, who would invite visiting professors from China and India over to his house every night. From talking to Datoka, you get the sense that he’s the sort of person who soaks in his experiences and finds richness in being a part of a larger moment. 

Dakota’s passions also very much seem to rest in the bricks of Cafe Aion and the texture of the space there. He describes how he was drawn to the place for the feeling it exudes—it’s not sterile or slick, and it exists in a different world from that which embraces Banana Republic culture. Chasing after a taste of Europe, he bought this historied space for Cafe Aion ten-and-a-half years ago. It’s not as polished as other places, and he revels in that. He finds quality and authenticity in its way of existence and appreciates the funky vibe of The Hill. Sometimes, a visiting professor from China or a Nobel Laureate will sit down to enjoy a paella and a bottle of wine at lunch, and the space fills with the same air of academia that he grew up loving. 

Since the pandemic hit, Dakota has dialed in on what he calls “anti-cheesecake mentality,” working to make the cafe a little more true to its original vision. Cafe Aion has fewer options now. While it’s held onto its identity, serving plenty of paellas from scratch and offering spirits to pair, Cafe Aion has also grown through a period of welcome change as Dakota works to keep it alive and well during our era of coronavirus concerns.

Hugo Meyer – Piripi

Hugo has been to all of these places, mingled with local pallets and fisherman, and opened many a restaurant around the globe. A native Argentinian and German citizen, he calls himself a citizen of the world, and in each place he’s been to, he hopes to bring people together. In fact, that hope is at the heart of the name, “Piripi.” Spanish sailors would play dominos at his bar as they good-naturedly threw the word around. It means tipsy, but not just from a drink too many—from laughter and good times too. That’s what Hugo has created in Piripi: “good vibes only.” He’s really pleased with the restaurant and how it’s come together, but not many people know about it just yet. 

It was Hugo’s intention to see Piripi open to the people of Erie back in March; he built the building, decorated it, formed the menu, and just when it seemed the universe was ready for Piripi at-large, the coronavirus cast its shadow and closed down cooks and chefs across Colorado. 

Pirpi just had its unofficial soft opening last week, and this week, we’ll see its grand opening. Hugo’s Piripi launches with a promise of tasty food and an inviting atmosphere—a good night out. Be one of the first to see it and get a taste of Hugo in action on Briggs Street in Erie.

Rueben Verplank – Mike O’Shay’s

If you’re looking for a fun gastropub around Main Street in Longmont, look no further than the city’s longest-running restaurant, Mike O’Shay’s. When Rueben bought this place almost four years ago now, he knew right away that he loved it. “It’s a great business,” he says. Ranging from the classic fish ‘n’ chips to Rueben’s favorite guilty-pleasure dish, the massive schnitzel, Mike O’Shay’s has quality pub food and fun drinks that make for a great night out with friends or family. As with so many of us, that’s really what Mike misses most right now. He still loves the act of creating a visually appealing dish with complex flavors and tastes, and he loves finding tasty drink pairings to accompany, but it’s just not the same experience when you’re eating and drinking at home. “Restaurants are part of the fabric that hold people together as a community,” he says. 

While Rueben clearly has a great love for the industry and how it used to operate, he’s making the best of these odd times. There’s outdoor patio space on Main Street for a little while longer while the weather permits, and coming up next month, Rueben plans to find some way to celebrate the 40th year of Mike O’Shay’s classic pub ambience on Main Street. He’ll celebrate and raise a glass of German Hefeweissen to the many years of great food, great service, and fun for years to come. 

Lenny Martinelli – Dushanbe

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse couldn’t have been in better hands when it fell into Lenny’s. A student of architecture, Lenny launched his culinary journey as nothing more than a means to an end, that end being designing and building beautiful spaces. But one day, a couple of years into owning his first cafe, he caught a glimpse of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse in Tajikistan—it was a vignette on a flyer asking for bidders who would receive its parts from a Tajik sister city, rebuild it here in Boulder, and make it into a symbol of global fraternity. He called the project committee in charge to no avail, but as fate would have it, a year later, he received a letter in the mail telling him that the project was his. 

Now, twenty-some years after taking part in the very plastering and painting of the teahouse, Lenny has curated a menu and atmosphere that people from across the world journey to experience. He’s designed and built all of his restaurants, in fact. (You can take the man out of the profession, but you can’t take the profession out of the man.) Like in his other restaurants, and particularly in Leaf, Lenny stays true to his passion for vegetarianism. The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is largely vegetarian and has a number of vegan options to boot. He sources it all from his very own farm and works to ensure that he doesn’t waste a single green tomato (of which, there are in fact, very many this season). Of course, that means that when you visit the teahouse, you can expect to find green tomato chutney featured on the menu. Give it a try, and when you’re there, ask Lenny for a cup of tea. At the Dushanbe Teahouse, there’s a type of tea for every time of day.

Brad Heap – SALT The Bistro

Bradford describes his relationship with food and cooking as a lifelong affair. It was a rocky start: he would sit for hours in protest against his plate of Kuner’s lima beans and still recalls in quiet terror the clearly scarring cooking of his mother. But at six, he learned how to turn the bitterness of semi-sweet chocolate into jaw-dropplingly good fudge. And when he started cooking for himself, he fell in love with learning how to make really good food—like his buttery velveeta grilled cheese with tomato soup.

These days though, Brad is more interested in clean eating and nutrient-dense foods. Of course, some things just don’t change: you still won’t find a lima bean within the walls of SALT The Bistro, and he’s still driven by his young amazement for the alchemy of science and its intersection with the pleasure of eating. But now, he also commits to whole, organic, and sustainably sourced foods. Calling the standard American diet (and his old favorite foods) “a curse and a plague,” he hopes to encourage safer, less processed food choices for all people. Simplicity, seasonality, humanity. That’s Brad’s culinary mantra.

You can taste those values in his presently favorite dish, the gnocchi bolognese. He also extols the New Zealand-raised grass-fed wagyu. Brad emphasizes that no matter your culinary proclivity, SALT has something healthy and tasty for you. And for plant-based eaters, he’s currently expanding his menu. (Watch out for mouth-watering no-cheese nachos to come.) Brad also plans to make available quarantine-friendly take-out dishes that you can finish cooking in your oven at home. The concept brings the warmth and smell of SALT into the home, and that aspect of take-out is what really makes to-go meals worth it.

Samuel McCandless – Arcana

Since the COVID-19 outbreak first began effecting closures within the food industry, Samuel has been working hard to mix things up and keep the offerings at Arcana fresh. Back in March, about a year-and-a-half into his new position as head chef, Samuel did a lot of cooking for folks in need, offering high quality, high integrity foods on a sliding scale. Then, Arcana started offering more to-go options. In the midst of constantly-changing and somewhat chaotic conditions, Samuel decided that instead of simply succumbing to change, Arcana would wholly embrace it. These days, Arcana’s menu changes every month. This month is Mexican Cantina-themed, and next month, food will take on a casual Japanese flavor. Then comes Rome. Arcana offers a taste of the world at a time when we thought travel restrictions prevented it. 

Ask him to a list a few of his favorite foods on the menu, and Samuel will describe his halting hamachi ceviche with lamb shank or a flavorful fire-roasted zucchini dish with yellow molé and lavender honey—combinations that peak your curiosity and leave you telling your partner or housemate “We’re going to Arcana” (spoken from a place of experience).  

Ask him what inspires these diamond dishes, and you’ll come to learn about his daughter. She’s there with him during the interview. Samuel likes to tie personal experience into what he does. He explains that of course, he expects professionalism, focus, and cleanliness from his quality curated team, but he also encourages them to tie joys of their personal lives into the food. He says that’s what creates the environment that Arcana’s customers so delight in.

Samuel has been cooking for twenty-three years now. He’s grown to value clean eating and the clean feeling it gives the body. He’s also moved away from putting twenty-some things on a plate, or what he calls, “cooking with your ego.” At Arcana, Samuel offers focused dishes made simply and says you really do get more out of less. It’s an equally if not more challenging task that he now faithfully takes on. “I cook what makes people happy,” Samuel says. And to that, I say, “I want to be happy! Henry, we’re going to Arcana.”

Matthew Jansen – Mateo

Born in Jamaica and raised in a family restaurant in Boulder, Matthew has always worked hard at what he does; he got good grades in school, developed an impressive football game in his later years, and as an adult, takes part in a host of fundraisers in addition to spending time with his kids. He stays busy, but no matter what else he’s doing, he’s also always cooking. Cooking has always been a central part of Matthew’s life. It’s his passion, and it’s where he’s put nineteen years of hard work. 

Those are the minor details that take digging to find. When you meet Matthew, you don’t hear much about them. Rather, the first thing you learn is what a humble guy he is. He has a great depth in knowledge about Provencal foods and food chains—that is, the food culture in Italian-influenced southeastern France—and his restaurant serves well-traveled and learned clientele. If you ask him what sets Mateo apart from other eateries though, he’ll list influences from chefs and restaurants all around Boulder in response. 

Matthew clearly values the togetherness of the culinary community here in Boulder, and he is grateful that he has such a loyal customer base that appreciates Mateo alongside other delicious eateries around Boulder. He also credits local farms near his newest culinary endeavor, Raglin Market, and businesses in the Boulder wine world. This guy just doesn’t quit with the neighborly complements. 

Speaking of wine, it’s clearly a passion of Matthew’s too. It is afterall, the backbone of Mateo, particularly sparkling wine—Matthew’s life love. Matthew feels that the perfect wine-food pairing can transport you to another place, somewhere among the climbing vines and tall stone houses of Europe. Eating at Mateo is about the full dining experience, Matthew explains. That can be challenging during the pandemic, and Mateo looks, arm-in-arm with the rest of us and his culinary comrades, to the future, awaiting warmer times.

Ryan Taylor – Hickory & Ash

When Ryan cooks, he cooks emotional experiences. That was his aim in launching Hickory & Ash a decade ago with his Denver-famous father, Chef Kevin Taylor. The two combined senior practice in fine dining with a younger vision to recreate comfort food and cooked up a steakhouse with a twist—one that gets away from bells and whistles and focuses on providing an approachable, accommodating, and phenomenal experience. They top their twice-baked mac’n’cheese with bacon and cheddar scallions and reinvent the McRib into the fuller and more lively mc2.  While Kevin focuses on making the plates perfect, Ryan ensures that the pair keep the dishes fun.

This was always in the cards for Ryan. His dad encouraged him to get out of the business and avoid its all-consuming demands, so naturally, Ryan did the opposite and fell in love with it all. He’s an art-focused guy and loves food for that reason: “This is the only art form that requires all five senses,” he says, but he also carries with him a deep respect for food and social folds within it. Having cooking instruction from Europe, he developed an appreciation for “eating to dine, and not just eating to eat.” He says that as diners, it’s imperative that we adopt the idea that food is important to us. Farm-to-table eating should be a given, and sustainability and zero food waste policies should be central.

There’s a lot on Ryan’s plate these days, and even more on his horizon. After the Covid scare passes, he hopes to reopen Masa, the traditional Mexican food joint that was open just fifteen months before the pandemic shut it down. Ryan has always loved Mexican culinary tradition, its wide range and diversity, and its incredible propensity to transform simple ingredients into delicious dishes. But after all of his bustling, of creating sophisticated food, what Ryan really loves when is sitting down to a hearty microwaved White Castle burger. He certainly takes the old saying to heart: Don’t bring work home with you. While this rule of thumb holds sway for Ryan, he also lives by another axiom: anyone can feel at home where he works—at Hickory & Ash.

Steve Rezikowski – Oak At 14th

Steve’s motto is effort: “just work harder than everyone else.” That’s how he landed his first major opportunity at NYC’s “It job”, Circ 2000, while working toward a culinary degree. He made the trek for weeks on endg to persuade the owners tohire him, each time receiving a “no” —until they said yes. After two-and-a-half years there, his mentor walked him to John George across the way and told him it was time to move on. Steve had conquered all the positions at Circ 2000, and he was being traded up. So went his career, conquering and learning again.

Both are essential to Steve’s work ethic. He says that to be really good at something, you have to surround yourself with people who are as good or better than you, and one day you’ll be better than them. That’s also why you can still find him staging today. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” he says. All chefs have something they’re great at. Why not learn from them? Plus, “once you get stale, it’s hard to go back.”

Steve’s commitment to learning and conquering aren’t why Oak at 14th is a Boulder favorite though. It’s a “Boulder neighborhood restaurant,” and Steve prides himself on that. In his younger years, Steve designed sexy plates and garnered national accolades. But with time, Oak at 14th has become a different restaurant for Boulderites: it’s one of comfort and familiarity, a staple in the community. Its meatballs and kale are the dishes that fly off the shelves. Speaking of, Steve tells me that the fried pickles and meatballs are coming back after their COVID-19-induced hiatus. You’re welcome. 

Oak is also one of Boulder’s pioneering eateries in wage pay. Seeking to level the playing field for all kitchen staff, Steve and his restaurant partner Bryan have instituted tips included within the check—it’s just another reason why Oak is an excellent establishment.

Stop by and check out their September Asian food specials, or keep a lookout for Steve’s new pizza joint opening in the last week of September. The views will be unmissable, as of course are Steve’s delicious dishes.

Marcy Miller – Organic Sandwich Co

Marcy is the kind of owner and chef who doesn’t hold her secret to good food close to the chest. Tell her you’ve been struggling to find a good vegan cheese, and she’ll give you Organic Sandwich Co.’s delightful recipe for a tasty vegan almond feta. (The evidence is in my inbox.) Her guiding mission throughout Organic Sandwich Co.’s five-and-a-half years and throughout her early voyage through motherhood has been to deliver truly healthy, safe, organic, local, environmentally-conscious, animal-conscious, and all-around wholesome food to as many people as she can. She knows truly healthy food and convenience don’t often go hand-in-hand. Shaking her head at baby food labels at grocery stores, Marcy entered into her first entanglements with serious, thorough commitments to clean eating in her own family when she first pureed her own sweet potatoes for baby food for her sons. Now, she’s brought convenience and health-conscious quality to all of us.

Treating her customers like family, she combined her passion for health with her business savvy and love for community and people in a little place in the Boulder Farmers’ Market food court back in 2014. But that’s not where it stayed. The community’s love for her delicious sandwiches and healthy offerings grew her business into Organic Sandwich Co., which she launched with her culinarily practiced sister just about a year later.

At the first light of the pandemic, she expanded her commitment to providing healthy, whole foods to Boulder by selling and delivering organic vegetable bags so that her customers could skip the trip to the grocery store. Since, her sammie-lovers have flocked back, many of them vegans and vegetarians rapt with the creative offerings at Organic Sandwich Co. and a number of them also clean-eating carnivores with a taste for organic foods. As snows touch down on Boulder for the first time this summer, Organic Sandwich Co. promises warm, flavorful, and hearty dishes for the soup-lovers out there too. I hear the creamy cauliflower chowder is divine. Stop by and give it a taste. I certainly plan to try it—that and of course, the tasty vegan almond feta.

While Marcy’s clean, organic, humane, and nearly zero-waste foods excite Boulderites near and far from Pearl Street, she says it’s her customer service that really keeps people coming back. She knows her customers’ names and stories, not because she’s entered them into a system, but because she’s learned them herself. She says she wants her shop to make people feel good when they walk through the door, and not just because of her quality food (although it does that too.) 

Marcy and I end our delightful conversation with her encouragement of my efforts to make cashew cream, giving me a few tips on flavor combinations. It’s clear to me that what she says is true: her food is so good because it’s so whole and so healthy, but people want to eat it and spend time in her shop because she cares so deeply about her food, her family, and her community. 

Nick Reckinger – Georgia Boys BBQ

When Nick and his old Georgia fraternity brother-turned Boulder housemate Matt first started Georgia Boys BBQ Co., they were struggling to make ends meet during the throws of the 2010 recession. Simultaneously itching for some authentic Georgia-style barbecue that they had left behind, they launched into Boulder’s blackmarket BBQ scene at full throttle. At the time, it was a way to keep enough gas in the tank to use their already-bought season passes. (“That was an epic year for skiing,” Nick tells me.) 

Without a license nor a kitchen, the Georgia Boys would spend their Wednesdays cooking up their OG sauces and coleslaws, fresh-baked buns, and meats, and pack it all in lunch bags before cold-calling places in town until they sold out. The early days were a grind, but soon those blossomed into salad days when Longmont’s Lefthand Brewery let them set up shop in their parking lot. Their time there was cut short by the long-awaited health department crackdown that forced Nick and Matt to commit and double down on their efforts. Moving into their first brick-and-mortar spot beside Robin’s Chocolates, they had the good fortune of renting a friendly space where they could both cook BBQ centrally in Longmont and reap the rewards of Robin’s delicious chocolatey failures—it was the perfect spot. 

They sold out in two-and-a-half hours on opening day, with a line stretching far beyond their expectations. Their landlord even came by to help serve food to meet Longmont’s hungry demand. Today, Nick continues to love BBQ for the same reason he always has: it tastes like home. Like comfort. And it sure requires a lot of love in return. Nick finds joy in the ritual of BBQ creation: trimming, rubbing down every inch, marinating for 24 hours, and smoking for another 16. There’s a lot of pride there. He also praises BBQ for its equalizing character. “Everyone starts at the end of the line,” Nick says. Whether you arrive in a Bentley or a busted up Subaru, you have a place around the table at Georgia Boys’ BBQ Co. 

It’s a little harder to mix and mingle these days—something Nick usually admires about the atmosphere at Georgia Boys’. But he’s found a bright side to COVID restrictions: there’s no better response to the limitations of physical distancing than a food truck. Nick and Matt’s food truck is getting running this month. The BBQ Outpost will serve up the same tasty foods as the Georgia Boys BBQ Co. that you know and love, offering a BBQ sauce for every entree—including jackfruit. Keep a lookout. It’s coming to City Star Brewing on the 19th of this month.

Fletcher Richards – Lucile’s Creole Cafe

Universally loved Boulder-staple creole foods aren’t Fletcher’s only area of expertise, but that’s certainly what you know him for because he’s so damn good at making them. He got his start back in 1980. In ‘81, his family opened a little restaurant in an old Victorian home, and in ‘82, at 32, he really got cookin’. Fletcher is 70 years old now, semi-retired, and still working at that same beloved Boulder restaurant, which he runs alongside his wife, his close team, and his memories built of decades of rich, creole food-focused experiences.

Just before Lucile’s got its start, Paul Prudhomme’s Cajun blackened redfish lit a cultural match that catalyzed an explosion in creole cooking in America. An admirer of creole cooking and the diversity and togetherness of the creole food culture, Fletcher fell out of the logging world and into the creole culinary scene. With a sociology degree in his pocket, he dedicated his time and efforts to learning all that he could about creole food: how it’s made, where it comes from, and its significance. Fletcher has traveled to coffee fields in Martinique, eateries in New Orleans, and classrooms at CU Boulder to teach a course on creole food, music, history, and linguistic evolution. Alongside his globetrotting, Lucile’s has also journeyed to New York for a feature with Al Roker and a place at the top of People Magazine’s list of best breakfasts in Colorado.

How did Lucile’s grow to be so large in the culinary world? Fletcher says everyone has restaurants that they like, but people use the word “love” when they talk about Lucile’s. The customers and staff are central to Fletcher and his team, and that’s not just lip service—it’s genuine. Lucile’s has also kept to its commitment to fresh foods, some of them, including the okra, coming from Fletcher’s own garden. Even as Lucile’s has grown from one little Boulder restaurant to six throughout northern Colorado, and its beignets have risen to national fame, Fletcher works hard to keep Lucile’s true to these values. He keeps his ingredients fresh, his classic house-made recipes authentic, and caring for customers and staff at the top of his priorities list. He hires people who continue the tradition of cooking love into the food.

As I listen to the lore of Lucile’s evening ghosts at the Boulder location and Fletcher’s sparkling description of his favorite guilty pleasure food, the creamy rice pudding porridge with raspberry sauce, I ruminate on what will happen to Lucile’s when Fletcher finally fully retires. He tells me that Lucile’s is fortunate to have younger people at the helm who will continue its warm tradition, and that I ought not worry; Lucile’s will always be here, serving the best creole brunch around to the people of Boulder.

Hemant Bhandari – Flavor of India

Hemant is an up-and-coming talent in Boulder’s Indian cuisine scene. He’s only called Boulder his home for about seven months now, having just left Louisiana for better things, but as soon as he arrived, he took to Flavor of India. He really just fell into it. 

Indian food has a huge range and variety in its flavors and forms, Hemant tells me, and he loves all the learning and discovery that it offers chefs like him. Having worked in five or six different Indian eateries in the last four years, he says that regionally different Indian dishes may look the same, they may be made from the same ingredients, but they can taste completely different. Understanding the complexities of flavor combinations in Indian food have been a joy for him.

The chicken tikka masala is Hemant’s favorite dish at Flavor of India, and it’s a community favorite too. After fifteen years in Longmont, Flavor of India has become a trusted member of the neighborhood, and the unchanging classics like the tikka masala are the reasons why Longmontians love it so. With a great team of kitchen staff, Hemant says Flavor of India consistently puts out good food. It’s a place where people find exactly what they want and expect. 

While Hemant thinks highly of Flavor of India, he knows that in a few short years, he’ll have to permanently resettle back in Nepal with his family there. He’d like to open his own Indian food eatery there, but “who knows?” he says. It may not work out.“The Nepalese like Nepalese food.” At least we have him and his Indian cooking for a little while longer in Boulder County.

Cade Snider – Waterloo

Cade’s knowledge of the food chain stretches all the way back to his upbringing on a farm and ranch in rural Montana. From there, he entered the cooking world. He was lead chef at Walnut Street’s Brasserie Ten Ten for much of his cooking career, but as of three months ago, he’s taken up a new identity: head chef at Waterloo. 

“Love for dairy is in the blood,” Cade explains good-naturedly, but it’s the Colorado Bison burger that really draws people here. Cade cheerily praises all the tasty burger options at the Louisville loved locale and divulges his personal favorite food, fresh pasta with classic marinara or bolognese.

When I ask him about Waterloo’s vegan options, he regales me with a delightful description of the soon-to-be vegan gnocchi just before cheekily adding, “We’re happy to accommodate all. We don’t have an issue with it anymore.” Anymore, hah.

Although Cade clearly has a meat-and-dairy-loving palette, he accepts the more plant-focused folk and has created a pleasant space in Waterloo’s offerings for them. 

He tells me that his secret as a good cook is his passion and love for it—they come from the soul. “If you care, it’ll taste good,” he says and clearly means. 

Waterloo has a following, and it’s not just the live music nights, the Austin record shop-decorated walls, or the epic level good Bison Burger. People keep coming back because it’s the whole package—good food and good vibes all around. That’s big for Cade—it’s why he’s so pleased to take part in and contribute to Waterloo’s vibrant tradition.

Noah Westby – Dagabi Cucina

Okay, so Noah isn’t actually a chef. But, he has owned Dagabi Cucina for eighteen years now—a hell of a long time. Dagabi itself has been a delight for the Boulder community for closer to thirty years, long enough to cement itself as a favorite here. In fact, before Noah bought the eatery during a fortuitous coffee delivery to the former-owner-looking to sell, Noah was a loyal customer of the place.

Dagabi holds a special place deep in Noah Westby’s heart. Why? Because this restaurant belongs to the community. “You don’t see a lot of tourists or a lot of [transient] CU kids,” Noah tells me. “It’s really about the community that we’ve built here over the last eighteen years.” His staff has been with him for over twelve of those years, and his talented head chef, Antonio Rulo, has been a member of the Dagabi family for twenty. It’s a personal space. Even Noah’s own nuclear family is weaved into the Dagabi tribe, with his wife managing take-out and cooking award-winning chili and his sons preparing food in the kitchen. His youngest at age six cuts (and tastes) the pizza every night.

Noah remembers his first night as owner. He adored the sauvignon-drenched chocolate torte as a customer, and it dawned on him that he could have as much of it as he wanted after buying the joint. He sat down to a full torta de chocolate and revelled in his new home.

Since then, Noah has moved Dagabi Cucina to focus on the authentic Spanish flavors that he learned to create growing up with his grandma. Noah tells me that those flavors are unmissable—you just have to try them (alongside the torte, of course). And while the descriptions of a couple dishes may give some customers pause (the tripe stew or the morcilla, a traditional blood sauce dish), Noah encourages us to step out of our zone of familiarity and give them a go—they are all truly delicious and beautiful dishes.

Bob Sargent – Savory Cuisines

Bob Sargent has been the owner and head chef at Boulder’s favorite catering service, Savory Cuisines, for 18 years now. But at the sunrise of Bob’s career, when he worked to develop menus and catering options for Boulder’s restaurants, not a soul supported his dream of becoming a head chef. “You’re too friendly!” his bosses would tell him. And he is. Bob’s a charismatic guy. Fun. Amiable. The kind of person who makes an hour of conversation fly by. Ask him about his foods, and you’ll hear the passion behind his voice as he tells you about the mad fusions and wacky culinary experiments he’s made and conducted. He might tell you about his curried phyllo roll flop or the chemistry lesson he gleaned from a pineapple marinated chicken concoction. No matter what he says, you’ll get the impression that this is what he loves doing.

A world traveler, Bob uses flavors and knowledge he’s gleaned from locals and Michelin star restaurants across the globe. From Europe to Mexico, Bhutan, and Argentina, he’s seen it all. (And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of his twenty-five-year-long list of travels.) 

Despite his self-identified “pretty outrageous” and delicious dishes and despite his charm, COVID-19 has hit his catering business hard. Of course, he still serves his tasty international cuisines to small wedding parties during the summer (so if you’re getting married, you better get in touch with Bob!), but after the wedding season ends, he plans to bring his BBQ french dips and sriracha aioli-smeared bright bahn mis on vibrant turmeric focaccia to a flavor-filled food truck. It’s a new era of lunchbox packaging for him. And a new era of entrees wrapped up as sandwiches. Check out his eclectic collection of delectables this October at his food truck, probably parked somewhere around Table Mesa and Broadway. Or just get his attention on the ole IG: @savorycuisinescatoring.

The post The Dish on Boulder’s Sharpest Chefs appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Face it: Mittens, snowshoes and frozen noses just aren’t sexy, even after the good ol’ whiskey warm-up. Skip the frustration and frostbite—but not the whiskey—and celebrate Colorado with a little outdoor lovin’ in Longmont.

Start with late-brunch beignets or eggs Pontchartrain and chicory coffee at Lucile’s Creole Cafe, or scarf chicken and waffles or honey vanilla waffles smothered in blackberries (and other brilliant breakfast specials) at Two Dog Diner.

After the succulence settles and the caffeine kicks in, head for the hills—but not literally and not in the winter. In the summer, the 8-mile hike to Chasm Lake offers up beautiful photography of the lake, Columbine Falls and Longs Peak. However, come the first heavy snowfall, the St. Vrain Greenway boasts all of the sunset sparkle and none of the avalanche risks, which makes it the perfect winter picnic setup. The walk averages four miles round trip, but nothing dictates that anyone circle every pond or even go all of the way out. Bring a camera for the sparkly sunset shots.

Find the perfect icy-lake view and lay out the little-used picnic blanket. We love the uber-gourmet baskets from Cured in Boulder and the simple-but-savory baskets by Lafayette Florist. Incite the appropriate oohs, ahs and mmms with a thermos of hot cider and Stranahan’s, or experiment with Leopold Bros Rocky Mountain blackberry or peach whiskies in a hot toddy. (Hey, we never said you wouldn’t want whiskey.)

As the sun winds down, pack up, hike out and use ice skating at Roosevelt Park as an excuse to hold hands and snuggle in public. The rest…well, that’s on you.

Lucile’s Creole Cafe: 518 Kimbark St., 303.774.9814

7am-2pm Monday through Friday; 8am-2pm Saturday and Sunday

Two Dog Diner: 645 Tenacity Dr. A, 303.772.2364

7am–3pm Monday; 7am–9pm Tuesday through Saturday; 8am–3pm Sunday

Longmont Ice Pavilion at Roosevelt Park: 700 Longs Peak Ave., 303.774.4827

Hours vary by day/month.

Longmont Area Visitor’s Association: 630 Coffman St., 303.776.9011

The post Five Great Dates: Outdoorsy Date appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo by Gray Box Studios

This year, we’re giving our Best of the West winners the red carpet treatment: The readers have spoken, the critics have made their picks and several local celebrities have added their two cents.

The envelope please…

Overall Restaurant

Colterra : East County

This Niwot hideaway was Chef Bradford Heap’s first shining star, and it continues to be a gem of East County dining with seasonal dishes inspired by the cuisines of southern France and northern Italy.

The Mediterranean : Boulder

The Med (officially, The Mediterranean) does a little bit of a lot of things with great aplomb. The menu combines Italian, Spanish, French and Greek cuisine in an array of tapas, salads, seafood, paella, grilled meats, pizzas and house-made baked goods and desserts. No wonder it’s a perennial favorite.

Contemporary American

Terroir : East County

As its name might suggest, Terroir takes seasonality and locale very seriously. Its menu draws inspiration from the Colorado land and landscape, offering modern American cuisine doused with the flavors of the Mediterranean.

Salt : Boulder

It was a bold move to take over the venerable Tom’s Tavern space, but with Salt’s farm-to-table menu and innovative cocktail program, it’s living up to the reputation long established at its historic locale.

Cheap Eats

Martino’s Pizzeria : East County

Since it opened, Martino’s has quickly become a YS staff lunch favorite, with tasty traditional thin-crust pies, unusual flavors and a gluten-free option that everyone from sales to graphics can enjoy—whether we’re normally gluten-free or not.

Snarf’s Sub Shop : Boulder

Whether you’re hankering for a classic Italian, a cheese and mushroom or a prime rib and provolone, you can’t beat Snarf’s for a tasty, toasty sandwich every time, served up in a colorful sub shop, quick as you please. And with six locations, you’re never far from satisfying a craving.

Bakery

Indulge Bakery : East County

In the foodie faith, heaven is often described as a pastry shop, with gleaming glass cases brimming with gourmet treats as beautiful to behold as they are delicious to taste. Should you find yourself in need of a soul-stirring baked good, worship at the altar of Indulge and try a taste of heaven.

Tee & Cakes : Boulder

We recently discovered Tee & Cakes also sells really excellent Novo coffee, making that daily cupcake run just that much more legitimate. It’s a lot more socially acceptable to say you’re going to grab a cup of coffee than going to grab a cupcake…and maybe a whoopie pie…and some cookies…

Bagel

Big Daddy Bagels : East County

You may or may not be aware Big Daddy Bagels not only sells, well, really fine bagels, but they also toast them and put all sorts of fabulous things in the middle of them, creating bagel sandwiches that are some of the finest in the land. And their chocolate chip cookies aren’t half bad, either.

Moe’s Broadway Bagel : Boulder

Moe’s bagels are legit on two fronts: New York-style bagels served up in an atmosphere that couldn’t be anywhere but Boulder. Swoop in for a fix that’s Big Apple and People’s Republic all at once.

BBQ

KT’s Real Good BBQ : EC and B

With nearly 20 years and four locations under their belt, Kirk and Tricia Jamison (the eponymous KT) know a bit about barbecue. Their smoky trail took them from Seattle to Memphis to Boulder with a passion for great barbecue leading the way.

Breakfast & Brunch

The Huckleberry : East County

Sitting in pride of place on a prominent corner in Louisville, stepping into Huckleberry feels a bit like stepping back in time for the kind of country breakfast you thought went the way of phone booth. It really doesn’t matter what you order. As the kids say, “it’s all good.”

Lucile’s Creole Cafe : Boulder

Biscuits, gravy, red beans and grits. Need we say more? OK, then how about chicory coffee and beignets. Yeah. Thought so.

Breakfast Burrito

Santiago’s : EC and B

On the Santiago’s website, there is a little ticker showing customer-submitted answers to the phrase, “You know you’re addicted to Santiago’s when…” Someone apparently submitted “…the burritos work faster than Viagra.” We don’t know about that, but now we’ll know a happy customer when we see one.

Burger

SmashBurger : East County

It’s all about the crispy bits. Smash that meat against the griddle and the edges get deliciously crispy and carbonized while the middle stays moist and juicy. Add to that the fact that you can get it built any way you like with a side of fried potato goodness and this becomes the fast-food burger joint that puts all the others
to shame.

Larkburger : Boulder

Oh, trendy hamburger paradise. Why must you be in Boulder while we languish 20 or 30 minutes away in East County? Please bring your black Angus burgers, your truffle fries and your real ice cream milk shakes out our way. We’ll love you better. Promise.

Chinese

Spice China : East County

You wouldn’t think a restaurant with a 20-page menu would need to add anything, but when Spice China added a sushi bar last year, it only made it better. Bring your reading glasses and dig in; everything’s good, Chinese, Japanese and beyond.

China Gourmet : Boulder

Don’t be shy; step up to the counter and order the best Chinese food in Boulder. Sure, the atmosphere may leave a little to be desired, but the food more than makes up for it. Lunch specials here are a great deal.

Coffee shop

Brewing Market Coffee : EC and B

Start with a great bean and you get a good brew. Add baristas who are never too busy to add a heart or leaf pattern to your latte and who never blink when you order something weird like decaf. Top with the genius of burritos heated on a panini press, and it’s pretty clear why Brewing Market leads the coffee chains around here.

Restaurant for a date

Magnolia : East County

Steak and sushi are sexy, but you can order anything off the menu at Magnolia and feel the romantic vibes. Allow us to recommend the blue crab macaroni and cheese, mon petit chou. A swank dining room and patio won’t hurt your cause either.

Frasca Food and Wine : Boulder

If your date knows anything about food or the restaurant scene in Colorado, just mentioning you’ve booked a table for two at Frasca will set her heart aflutter. Forgot the reservation? If the fates are with you, there might be room for two at the salumi table. Tell her you requested it specially. We won’t say anything.

Dessert

Indulge Bakery : East County

There’s a reason this place is called Indulge. It’s because you’re already thinking about dessert at 9 am on a Thursday. It’s because you plan ahead to swing by and pick up a “little something” for that special dinner at home. It’s because you’d rather go here than order off of a dessert menu anywhere else.

Tee & Cakes : Boulder

Cupcakes are the perfect dessert: they’re decadent without being overwhelming (no great wall of cake here); they’re individually sized so you don’t have to share; and they come in as many flavors as there are moods. Who cares what’s on the dessert list? Let’s just have cupcakes.

For Families

Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro : East County

Unlike most “family-friendly” pizza places, there are no scary animatronic creatures at Zamparelli’s. You will not be forced to listen to the ruckus of screaming children playing noisy midway games. Instead, you and the kids will experience real food from a real menu in a real restaurant. And bonus: They can make you a martini.

Turley’s : Boulder

Please don’t take this the wrong way Turley’s, but to us, you’re like an upscale Denny’s, made for families hungry for real food instead of corporate dreck. You’re the sort of place where parents can feel good about feeding their kids, and kids feel really good about the food on their plates. It’s a compliment; trust us.

Green Chile

Santiago’s : East County

Santiago’s now ships its chile all over the state and beyond. If that’s not a vote of confidence, we don’t know what is.

Efrain’s II : Boulder

The chile at Efrain’s reminds us of John Mellencamp crooning that it “hurts so good.” No greasy gravy here; just straight up authentic heat. Come on, baby. Make it hurt so good.

Indian

Taj Mahal : East County

Hiding in a nondescript strip mall is a jewel of India. Ornately decorated with food as exotic and rich as the décor. The lunch buffet is a steal, and the take away a great way to bring India home.

Bombay Bistro : Boulder

Fresh ingredients from local farms mix with modern and traditional Indian flavors in this hip, hot spot. Try the boneless beef short ribs for a taste of everything Indian cuisine can be. A new cocktail menu rounds out the experience with fresh flavors to compliment your meal.

Italian

Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro : East County

Zamparelli’s is so much more than pizza. Their risotto balls are transcendent. Their pastas hit the mark every time. Their salads go beyond just lettuce. If you can manage not to order one of their fantastic pizzas, you’ll realize they have fantastic everything else as well.

Laudisio : Boulder

Laudisio was farm-to-table before it was cool. For 20 years they’ve served up the very best in local products with a true Italian flare. Their wood-fired pizzas (and mobile oven) were ahead of the trend. In fact, Laudisio seems to be ahead of the curve in pretty much every department.

Mexican

Efrain’s : EC and B

Personally, I could eat the chile verde bowl (with a side of guacamole) at least once a week. It’s my favorite. But the mondongo bowl also has a crave-worthy allure, as does the mystique of the Efrain’s burrito. No matter what, you get something delicious, something that will soon become your favorite.

Patio

Martini’s Bistro : East County

Martini’s is always a nice spot for dinner or lunch. But come spring, the beautiful Victorian with charm unto itself opens its lovely patio for diners. It’s like a normal restaurant patio but with all the perks of a hip lounge—cozy chairs, fireplaces, perfect lighting, excellent people watching and cocktails, of course.

The Mediterranean : Boulder

The Med’s patio is coveted. If it’s not raining or snowing or doing one of Colorado’s odd climatic freakshows, you want a spot on the patio. You want it because, maybe, just maybe, the slight breeze, sunshine and fresh air will make you feel as though you are sitting seaside on the coast of Spain, eating mussels and paella.

Lunch

Sun Rose Cafe : East County

There’s no want for deliciousness at Sun Rose—it’s all yummy. But there is a special you get from a cup of homemade soup (it changes daily) and a smoked turkey and bacon panini with slices of avocado, sweet basil vinaigrette, sun dried tomatoes and Dijon mayo. It exemplifies the Longmont eatery’s balance between hearty, familiar flavors and homemade inventiveness.

The Mediterranean : Boulder

Power lunches are for getting work done (or at least looking like you’re getting work done). But ya’ll gotta eat too. The Med has long been a destination for East County and Boulder power-lunchers and casual-lunchers alike, serving up all sorts of amazing tapas and entrees. Kind of makes being productive a lot more appetizing.

Salad

Zamparelli’s : East County

There are salads and then there are Zamp’s salads. Never overwrought or overcrowded, these are light and scrumptious. The Caesar is a tangy spin on a classic (with buttery croutons), the arugula salad is doused in Parmigiano-Reggiano with a tangy balsamic, and the pear and gorgonzola has tremendous balance with fruit and cheese, walnuts and greens. It’s a whole new world of salads.

Mad Greens : Boulder

It happens all the time. You have 30 minutes for lunch, and your choices are a handful of fast food or fast casual eateries. But all you want is a spinach salad with grilled portobello, blue cheese, artichoke hearts, almonds and maybe shallot tarragon vinaigrette. McDonald’s definitely isn’t gonna do it. But Mad Greens really does do it your way.

Sandwich

Martino’s Pizzeria : East County

When you want your sandwich to be a little more like pizza—melted mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce and Italian sausage—you would be remiss to overlook the Italian grinder at Martino’s. It’s overflowing, rich and gratifying, this sandwich leaves you stuffed.

Snarf’s Sub Shop : Boulder

If you can stand its loud music and a little wait for the food: Snarf’s kitchen crew and amazing food make it totally worthwhile. These famous sandwiches are served on hot, fresh bread, and each ingredient is sure to have you’re taste buds tingling through to the very last bite.

Seafood

Tortuga’s : East County

Tortuga’s is consistently referred to as the “hidden gem” of Longmont. Set in a pretty little historic home, they serve up amazing Caribbean- and Southern-inspired fare with flavors that you can’t find anywhere else in the area. If you know what’s good for you, discover this gem.

Jax Fish House : Boulder

Jax garnered national fame when its chef Hosea Rosenberg won Top Chef a few years back. But way before Rosenberg wowed Bravo obsessees, Jax was making locals drool over stellar seafood. Jax consistently does inspired plates of beautiful fish and shellfish, paying homage to the natural flavors of the ocean and rivers while showing their innovative muscles.

Pizza

Martino’s Pizzeria : East County

In this day and age, it’s tough to find a place where all people with all dietary restrictions can gather and enjoy a meal together. But Martino’s has gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options. It’s always a crowd pleaser—no matter how picky your crowd is. Martino’s unites us all!

Abo’s : Boulder

Abo’s serves up a straight-forward pizza that pleases both college students and wayward office workers searching for mid-day sustenance, especially when that’s a big, thin-crust slice of pepperoni pizza. Whether you’re on a country road in Erie or in the heart of Boulder, Abo’s has a slice waiting for you.

Steakhouse

Magnolia : East County

Magnolia is the James Franco of restaurants (it’s good at a lot of things). But steak? Their steaks are swagger and savoir fair, like their grilled Angus sirloin with roasted garlic demi, which is served with buttermilk onion rings. Delicious and sexy…like the time James Franco guest stared on General Hospital.

The Boulder Chophouse : Boulder

The Boulder Chophouse brings a bit of upscale romance to the traditional steakhouse concept. There are no peanuts on the floor, but there is meat—crazy good slabs of perfectly grilled, well-seasoned steak.

Sushi

Sushi Mara (Magnolia) : East County

Lafayette’s Magnolia has different personalities: At one moment it’s a steakhouse, the next you’re being served a beautiful salad and leg of lamb. Then you’re getting an annihilator roll and two orders of unagi. And that’s a good thing, because we know that no matter our mood, we’re covered.

Sushi Zanmai : Boulder

You leave Sushi Zanmai with a smile on your face. It’s the sake. Then, of course, you’ve just had more raw fish than a binging shark, and you stayed late to catch surprisingly tolerable karaoke. Just try not to smile.

Thai

Thai Kitchen : East County

Thai Kitchen is legit. Which is our way of saying the Longmont restaurant may be the easiest way to connect with Thai culture while staying in town. The dishes—like the larb, pad prig and Thai curries—are traditional, full of exotic flavors, spices and heat.

Chy Thai Cuisine : Boulder

I judge Thai food restaurants by their tom kha soup. It’s not as ubiquitous as pad thai or curries, and when you take a sip of a truly delicious tom kha, you know you’ve found something special. Chy Thai’s is spicy but sweet, filled with meaty mushrooms and a subtle perfume of lemongrass. From there, keep eating.

Vegetarian

Flavor of India Inc. : East County

This happens every year: Flavor of India, by no means a “vegetarian restaurant,” is voted best vegetarian restaurant. But we feel for the non-meat eaters, and we’re happy they’ve found solace in their veggie samosas, aloo gobi and sag paneer.

Leaf : Boulder

We have a couple of vegetarians on staff, and they are a vocal, passionate few (they’ve even muscled the meat-eaters into Meatless Mondays). Boulder’s Leaf is a celebration of them: a restaurant that honors the vegetarian, preparing truly delicious food sans animal.

Bar

Waterloo : East County

Waterloo is the little black dress of bars. Seriously, hear me out: it’s classic yet trendy, it’s sexy and cool, and your mom would totally approve. With exposed brick, local beers on tap and a band usually playing your song, no matter your mood, it’s just the right fit.

The Bitter Bar/Happy : Boulder

The Bitter Bar is an adventure. It can be a pick-your-own-adventure. Or you can stow away on one of their mixologist’s expeditions. Order off of the menu (the Aviation is a dream or try the Green Tea Pimm’s) or simply tell the bad-ass staff what you like. Either way, prepare for a journey.

Dive Bar

Dillinger’s Food & Spirits : East County

Discover your inner delinquent at this bar with wide-set bar stools and pool tables to break away from the usual crowd. Stop by to get real bar grub with a nice bottled beer.

The Dark Horse : Boulder

Make your way into the belly of the beast with this untamed bar. Much like its name signifies, you’ll dive into a darkened, tight-quartered tavern and relish the flea market décor galore. With food like peanut-butter cheeseburgers and flowing beer on tap, I challenge you to giddy up.

Pub/Tavern

Waterloo : East County

Pub must-haves: beer and food. Waterloo doesn’t just have food. It has a list of burgers (the potato burger will seduce you), barbecue and some killer jalapeno poppers that go perfectly with a glass of local beer. Done and done.

Conor O’Neill’s : Boulder

I have a confession: I’m a former Conor O’Neill’s regular. The reason for the “former” has less to do with Conor O’Neill’s and more to do with me no longer being a barfly (that happens when you age). But as I think about having a boxty and a pint of Strongbow, there are still temptations.

Brewery

Oskar Blues : East County

If breweries were periods of ancient civilization, Oskar Blues would be the Roman Empire. It seems, these days, the funky Lyons brewpub has exploded with multiple locations—a restaurant and a tasting room—and a true national brand. We’re just the beneficiaries of their reign.

Boulder Beer Company : Boulder

The creations of Boulder Beer are crowd pleasers: drinkable but inventive, bold and flavorful. It’s no wonder our readers drink Boulder Beer’s beers by…well…the pint.

Happy Hour

Magnolia : East County

Happy hour is supposed to be happy, so when you finally get there, all you want are friends, a discounted cocktail and snacks. Magnolia has two of those—with a menu of bites and bits, including tempura avocado, in the casual cocktail lounge or the patio. Just bring friends.

The Mediterranean : Boulder

The best thing about The Med’s happy hour is the selection. They don’t just hand you a tiny list of happy hour restrictions. There are mussels, hummus and tapas to share or to hoard. And fear not, they serve up quality, not just quantity.

Margaritas

Efrain’s II : East County

The Efrain’s margarita comes in a jar—an unintimidating glass of golden liquid. It’s a bit sweet with flecks of salt and a soft hint of tequila shining through. It’s a summer day in one sip.

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant : Boulder

The Rio marg is the stuff of legends. It’s toppled grown men and crushed many a 21-year-old. Slightly sweet and full of tang, these are not the type of cocktails served in fishbowls or downed by the gallon. There’s a limit of three, but trust us—three Rio margs could be your downfall.

Wine List

Zucca Italian Ristorante : East County

We love wine lists that have range. Zucca, Louisville’s new Italian stallion, has a well-curated list that spans Italy’s best wine regions. Have a little glass of Piedmont or a glass of Tuscany. That’s the kind of range we can drink in.

Frasca Food and Wine : Boulder

James Beard knows his stuff, and when he talks, we listen. The James Beard Foundation has repeatedly honored Bobby Stuckey, the co-owner of Frasca and master sommelier, for his mad skills as the wine director at Boulder’s Friulian gem. Their wine list has breadth and depth, it’s world-class but locally inspired.

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The post Best of the West: Readers’ Choice Food & Drink appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

You think that the green food movement is new. You think it’s a progression forward. You think you can only see it at farmers markets and Whole Foods.

Think again.

While recently re-popularized, “slow” and “locavore” were how our forefathers and foremothers survived. Whether that meant buying and trading food and services with neighbors or producing all the food a single family needed, people consumed locally and, prior to the industrial revolution, they ate mostly organically. The farm-to-table, locavore, organic mentality is actually a regression, shunning technological advancements like genetic modification and chemical fertilization in favor of a cleaner, simpler method of farming.

Yes, the chefs at Boulder’s Black Cat and Denver’s Fruition are indeed kicking it old school.
In recent years, there has obviously been a general increase in sensibility about food consumption and production. And we’ve seen the result in grocery stores, farmer’s markets and restaurants from Oregon to North Carolina.

It’s especially true locally. Many Boulder County chefs are working hard to develop their vision based on responsible ingredients and practices. Here are some of the many restaurants that support a conscious, green agenda:

Black Cat
Black Cat Bistro in Boulder is one of the most impressive examples of the development of the farm-to-table trend. Chef Eric Skokan has created an organic farm to supply his restaurant with locally grown ingredients (he recently featured a Salad of Lettuces that Survived the Frost on the menu). Considering that he and a team of organic gardeners harvest a daily lot of produce for the restaurant, it is clear that he is extraordinarily committed to producing and serving conscious, high quality food. Even more revealing of his dedication to the ingredients is the fact that he participates in the Boulder Farmers’ Market and community supported agriculture shares, selling the produce that the Black Cat Farm produces.

Lucile’s Creole Cafe
Lucile’s Creole Cafe, with its four locations, has recently jumped on the green food wagon by buying its own farm as well. The Lucile’s farm, which goes by the name Rich Organics Farm, appears as a part of their continued investment in the quality and consciousness of their food and the environment. When in season, potatoes, spinach, jalapeños and much more will find their way to your plate.

Terroir
Terroir Restaurant in Longmont has also illustrated its green agenda by using a number of local, organic farms and dairies to provide the produce for their restaurant. While this is a large part of the vision of the restaurant, they have expanded the concept to more than just the conscious sourcing of their food. The restaurant composts all suitable waste to Second Start Community Garden, recycles all fryer oil into biodiesel and recycles all glass, plastic, and paper products.

Many people believe that the reduction of carbon emissions is relegated to the realm of using public transport and energy production, but it is clear that the food world can aid in this reduction. And chefs have caught on to this idea. More and more restaurants are shifting to local and organic options when possible. Some even go so far as to start their own farms so as to maintain ultimate control over the methods used to produce the foods that they ultimately serve to awaiting customers.

It is clear that Colorado has been blessed with a number of tremendously conscious, green outlets for the aware eater. However, these three restaurants are but three of hundreds of restaurants throughout Colorado making an effort to be greener. Within Boulder County, there is the Eat Local Guide online at eatlocalguide.com/bouldercounty; it is a great resource that provides a guide and directory to eating consciously both in the home and outside.

The post Eating Your Greens appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Best For When You Want The Best
Frasca, Boulder
Here, dinner is a symphony that at times feels light and airy and then hits you like a wave of heart-pounding percussion. Frasca’s ever-changing menu includes plates of perfectly sliced prosciutto, the famed Frico Caldo, ethereal soups, white bowls of delicate pastas and impeccably prepared Colorado produce and protein. It’s music to our ears.

Best 3rd-Date Restaurant
Sugarbeet, Longmont
The third date is special; it means there’s potential. And it means it’s time for Sugarbeet, Longmont’s warmest, most intimate eatery. It will impress, romance and seduce your date better than you ever can. Order the duck confit or the braised short rib, and you will surely make it to date No. 4.

Best Overhaul of an Icon
Salt, Boulder
There is a lot to say about Bradford Heap’s new Boulder creation. But the best compliment we can give is that with Salt, Heap has done justice to the location, the former spot of Tom’s Tavern. Chic, contemporary and flavorful, Salt has filled the void in a serious way. With focused yet playful dishes like the rosemary rotisserie chicken with sage butter squash and oyster mushroom bread pudding, Heap has begun a new era for the building.

Best cool, casual oasis in Longmont
Tortuga’s, Longmont
Sitting on the patio of Tortuga’s on a spring or summer or fall afternoon is like hanging out in your own backyard. Except here, there is magic in the air and a kitchen that serves up amazing Caribbean-inspired fare: Mahi mahi with sauces like jerk or mojo, jambalaya, craw-fish étoufée and much more.

Best Restaurant For After Work Drinks & Chow
Empire, Louisville
When you step in this downtown mainstay after a long week, order a happy hour cocktail—cucumber gin and tonic or Empire Lemonade—and dive into a round of mozzarella toast and deviled eggs. There is no doubt that Empire is the relaxed but modish stop for post-work imbibing, dishing and dining.

Best Boulder-style Bistro
The Kitchen, Boulder
The Kitchen is a near perfect representation of the Boulder culinary scene. It has a refined but casual bistro style; a focus on local produce; and balanced, well flavored dishes. And they do it with an adept simplicity, unpretentious sophistication, the feel of family dining, the seductiveness of a low-lit space and a perfectly poached egg, which make it the king of bistros.

Best Place To Catch A Game, Any Game, & Have A Beer
Pumphouse, Longmont
At Pumphouse and the Red Zone, you sit shoulder to shoulder with professionals, families, double dates and entire softball teams all looking for a break from the real world…and for the score of the game.

Best Concept Restaurant
Mod Market, Boulder
Mod Market is the future. And the future tastes great. With a clean, über modern interior and a wholesome, changing menu of classics (salads, flatbread pizzas and soup), Mod Market has introduced Boulder to a different way of dining: affordable, fast and soooo cool.

Best Tikka Masala
Flavor of India, Longmont
OK, OK. You get it. We like Flavor of India’s tikka masala. We probably brag more about this dish than we do about our own children. What can we say? We’re mesmerized. The tikka masala at this establishment is rich, creamy, intricate and truly divine. We will keep bragging. We don’t care what you say.

Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Cheese Importers, Longmont
First, we start in the giant chilled cheese room, eyeing the miraculous tiers of fromage. Then we peruse the market for pasta and chocolate, and then we gleefully walk to the counter and order something warm and gooey: any one of the buttery, creamy grilled cheese sandwiches.

Best Place To Fall In Love With A New Cocktail
Bitter Bar, Boulder
I gush over the Bitter Bar as if it were my own cocktail-making offspring. The drinks here are layered and complex, never too sweet, as aromatic as they are romantic. Try the Kiss the Sky, the Happy Pair or the Crazy 88 and vow to never drink a Seven and Seven again.

Best American-Asian Amalgam
Happy, Boulder
The national noodle craze has been embodied locally by Big Red F’s newest venture: Happy, aka Happy Noodle House. It’s a fitting name, because as you dig into chewy pork buns with sriracha mayo, savory pillows of gyoza, and the giant melting pot that is the hot and happy soup, you will know true happiness.

Best Use of Meat
The Rib House, Longmont & Boulder
After its expansion into Boulder and being named some of the West’s best barbecue, The Rib House is no longer just the little barbecue joint bringing smoke and swagger to Prospect. But just because our baby is growing up, it doesn’t mean its goods are any less spectacular. Take your pick: ribs, spicy smoked sausage, smoked ham and more.

Best Sushi Bar Experience
Sushi Zanmai, Boulder
Sushi Zanmai is a one-of-a-kind experience: a prime gathering place that’s part Japanese fiesta, complete with the best karaoke in town and part relaxed sushi mecca that lures an eclectic crowd of locals. When the sushi craving calls, Zanmai answers. Don’t forget the Z#9 roll, our favorite.

Best Anytime & Everytime Restaurant
Zamparelli’s, Lafayette
Every week or so, someone in the office asks the same stupid question: “Where should we eat?” No matter the time of day or day of year, the answer is most likely Zamparelli’s, the Italian stallion of 95th and Arapahoe. Whether it’s thin-crust pizzas to feed an army or a cup of garlic soup and fried risotto balls for one, Zamps is always our go-to spot for…everything.

Best Ceviche Outside of Mexico
La Botana, Thornton
La Botana’s ceviche is an uncomplicated bowl of pure Mexican sunshine. The flavors are lively, fresh, toothsome and addictive: the seafood bathing in the juices of lemon, tomato, onion and cilantro.

Quintessential Boulder Experience
Boulder Farmer’s Market
There is no better place—no brighter, more vivid, more beautiful place—to be a Boulderite. Crowds flock to the Boulder Farmer’s Market for local fruits and veggies, breads and pastas, kombucha, tamales and dumplings. The goods are always tasty, the vibe is boisterous, the people-watching is prime.

Best Burger, Fries & Shake
Larkburger, Boulder
The burgers here are big, juicy, packed with fixings and full of beefy flavor. The fries are thin-cut and dancing with grated Parmesan, Italian parsley and truffle oil. Add a strawberry shake, and you’ll see what the classic diner looks like in the 21st century.

Best Reason to Go To Prospect
Two Dog Diner, Longmont
It doesn’t matter whether Prospect is miles from where you live or right down the street: Two Dog makes it worth the drive. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, their classic diner fare with a twist is the perfect reason to visit Prospect.

Best Locally Owned East County Coffee Shop
Cannonmine, Lafayette
Cozy, eclectic and cool, Cannonmine has a warmth that starts with the super friendly staff and radiates a local’s feel throughout the café. Plus, the drinks are always tasty.

Best place to soak in Boulder
Trident, Boulder
The Trident is the type of place where writers and thinkers sip Americanos on the sidewalk. Inside, college students literally rub shoulders with tattoo-covered couples and the NPR crowd. While the espresso is stellar, we go to get lost in the earthy, academic Boulder culture.

Best locally owned coffee empire
Brewing Market, everywhere
Brewing Market is the working man’s café. It’s fast, easy and unpretentious. There’s WiFi (though, it’s a two-hour limit) and sustenance in the form of snacks and all the espresso and coffee you could ever want. And lucky for us, we can find one almost anywhere we go in the North Metro area.

Best Liberal Haven in Longmont
Café Luna, Longmont
Someone recently told us that “cleanliness is next to Godliness and Longmont is next to Hygiene.” True, Longmont is a conservative bastion in Boulder County’s progressive tsunami, but there are a few spots to bump into like-minded liberals. Café Luna, followed closely by Java Stop, has more donkeys than a Grand Canyon tourist trap.

Best Baguettes
Breadworks, Boulder
If “artisan” means doing the basics well, then Breadworks is the Rembrandt of bakeries. And their consistent quality is no where more evident than in the baguettes they produce. Crisp, perfectly browned crust; light, but not chewy, interior; and a classic flavor reminiscent of the best boulangeries Paris has to offer.

Best Cajun Breakfast
Lucile’s, Longmont & Boulder
Lucile’s is best in the mid-morning, when it’s packed and bustling. True, the wait sucks, but the fast pace and delayed satisfaction make this traditionally untraditional Cajun meal even more enviable. Sample the thick, flavorful Carlin County?or the pain perdu. Or follow our lead and order the special.

Best Place to Enjoy Sunday Brunch at the Foot of the Flatirons
Chautauqua Dining hall, Boulder
Nobody can match the views; but the food is pretty great, too. A long buffet bar filled to the brim with terrific breakfast standards and special tidbits like smoked salmon and tasty desserts tempt vacationers, locals and hikers fueling up for the day.

Best Boulder-esque Country Breakfast
Huckleberry, Louisville
In this purple-painted historic storefront on Main Street, the eggs benedict, crepes and potato latkes are served up with a healthy dose of country and a little bit of Boulder-flavored rock and roll. Go country with the classic Country Breakfast, or spice it up with a crab cake benedict.

Best Place to Enjoy a Meal with Your Local Live Music
Waterloo, Louisville
Let’s set aside for a moment the legendary potato burgers and killer happy hour drinks and focus on the stage at the back of Waterloo where the best local acts set up nearly nightly. The owners wanted to replicate the feel of their famous Austin record store with a restaurant and venue, and it seems they brought the music scene with them.

Best (and Biggest) Chinese Menu
Spice China, Louisville
The menu at Spice China can be a little daunting; clocking in at around 20 pages, you can spend a good cocktail hour perusing your options. You can’t go wrong with the classic favorites up front, or be a little more adventurous and order something from the more authentic Shanghai menu at back. It’s truly not your typical Chinese eatery.

Best Place to Enjoy a Slice of Heaven
Indulge Bakery, Lafayette
It honestly does not matter what you order at Indulge: It will be fantastic. Nibble a cookie or a tartlet for a treat, nosh on a stuffed croissant or scone for breakfast, or order a full cake for a special occasion—
like Tuesday.

Best Use of Local Produce
Terroir, Longmont
Because their menu is so focused on using local, seasonal produce, what you can and should order here varies from week to week—if not day to day. Go with your gut or ask your server’s advice; either way, it’s delicious.

Best Taste of the Southwest
Richard’s On Third, Longmont
There’s a quirkiness to New Mexico that is perfectly captured by this hidden gem: in the atmosphere, the attitude and the food. Go for the green chile; stay for the giant and delicious margaritas.

Best High-End Restaurant to Enjoy Family, Friends and Food
Colterra, Niwot
Colterra is that certain type of high-end restaurant that doesn’t flaunt itself. The food is impeccable, the wine world-class and the atmosphere comfortable enough for a family dinner or a fête with friends. Sit back and let Colterra take care of you.

Best Locally Owned Grocery
Niwot Market, niwot
Certainly one of the perks of living in Niwot it the Niwot Market. Besides the fact that is saves residents a trip into the city for staples, it’s also home to a great deli, a sushi bar, a fantastic bakery and even a florist, not to mention featuring locally grown produce. It’s enough to make those of us who don’t live in Niwot a little bit jealous.

Best Place to Grab a Steak and a Beer
Colorado Coal Company, Erie
We had to give a shout out to our favorite neighbor—because, in a town that continues to struggle to keep its eateries, CCC is still serving up great Texas-style steak and potatoes. It’s worth the trip, even if you’re not right next door.

Best Lunch To Go
Hanna’s, Lafayette
Plenty of places claim to be gourmet-to-go; Hanna’s actually is. House-roasted beef and turkey for the sandwiches, homemade salads, fantastic lasagna and chicken cutlets all bring a little taste of New York’s gourmet lunch counters to Lafayette.

Best New York Fare with a New York Attitude
Brooklyn Deli, Longmont
There just aren’t many places in Colorado where you can order an egg cream, a knish and a pastrami on rye without the kid behind the counter giving you a blank stare. Belly up to the counter at Brooklyn Deli and don’t expect to get your hand held; instead, inspect an authentic New York deli experience with food to match.

Best High-End Surf and Turf
Magnolia restaurant & sushi bar, lafayette
We’re not talking about a boring traditional steak and lobster tail here, we’re talking about a peppered NY steak in a red wine reduction or a grilled angus sirloin with buttermilk onion rings alongside a classic spicy tuna roll—or even a Surf and Turf roll, with shrimp tempura and Wagyu beef. Kick your surf and turf up a notch.

Best Chain that Doesn’t Feel Like a Chain
Bloom, Broomfield
If you didn’t know, you’d never guess: Bloom is part of a chain. But let’s be honest, this isn’t cookie-cutter dining. When you manage to catch lightning in a bottle and replicate a fine dining experience, we say more power to you.

Best Lunch Spot to See and Be Seen
14th Street Bar and Grill, Boulder
OK, so it might have a little something to do with the wall of windows lining the corner at 14th and Pearl streets, offering prime people watching, but the hip atmosphere (and killer food and drink) make this the sort of place to hang out and wait for the cool crowd to come to you.

Best Place to Feed Your Inner POLE
Cracovia, Westminster
There’s something homey about Polish food, even if you’ve never had it at home. And let’s face it, any cuisine that espouses dumplings filled with cheese and fried crepes is fine with us. Never had Polish food? Fix that. Immediately. Head to Cracovia.

Critics’ Choice: Drink

Best use of Local Honey
Redstone Meadery, Boulder
With the exception of special varieties that come from Arizona, Redstone Meadery gets 75 percent of the honey it uses to make its delicious wines from Madhava Honey in Lyons. Stop by for a tour and give the 2005 Black Raspberry Reserve a try or, if you prefer something dry, the Pinot Pyment.

Best Sake Selection
Hana Matsuri, Westminster
While enjoying the expertly prepared sushi at Hana, take your tongue on a tour of the 14 specialty sakes on the menu. The dry and feather-light Houhoushu is most amazing and the cherry-blossom scented Treasure Ship is divine.

Best local hangout 
Niwot Tavern, Niwot
Five years old and going strong, the Niwot Tavern is the best place to hang. From the friendly wait staff who remember your name and what you drink to the pub fare kicked up a couple notches by Chef David Gray, the NT is as close to your living room as you can get.

Best local distillery
303Vodka, Boulder
Translating the vodka recipe found in the steamer trunk of his grandfather who emigrated from Poland 103 years ago—and using only Colorado potatoes and Indian Peaks spring water—Steve Viezbicke has grown his garage distilling operation into one of the region’s best spirit producers.

Best brewery that doubles as a local’s hangout
Left Hand Brewery, Longmont
On any given Friday, Left Hand is packed full of locals. More than half are regulars; the other half wish they were regulars. It becomes not simply a tasting room but a neighborhood bar (except not in a neighborhood) filled with people who only need one thing: a pint pulled from a Left Hand tap.

Best locally made liqueur
Roundhouse Coretto, Boulder County
Think about the best Kailua you have had. Now, take away the overly sweet taste and syrupy feel. Add depth. And you have Roundhouse’s Corretto, a brilliant local coffee liqueur. No need to add milk or
cream (though, you can), just pour, drink and repeat.

The post Best of the West: Critics’ Choice Food and Drink appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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.


Larkburger, Boulder
Larkburger with cheese, Truffle and Parmesan Fries and Five Dollar Shake
We don’t go to Larkburger because it strives to be green and sustainable, although we applaud that approach. We go because we can’t stay away. The juicy 1/3-pound Black Angus burger, cooked to order, sits on a topnotch bun topped with Tillamook cheddar, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, a slice of red onion and a house-made sauce. The overflowing hand-cut, matchstick-thin Russets tossed with grated Parmesan, Italian parsley and truffle oil sound snooty but are simply the most craveable fries in town. The finale has to be a milkshake, just milk and lots of Breyers ice cream. —JL

Flavor of India, Longmont
Chicken Tikka Masala
Thick and rich, the tikka masala at Flavor of India is a complex melange of tomato, cream and spices. It’s a luscious sweet and spicy blend that feels more like a thick, nicely layered soup than a sauce—with large chunks of wonderfully cooked chicken lapping it up. —AC

Salt Bistro, Boulder
Dark Chocolate Caramel Salt Tart
Someone once told me that elegance is the combination of simplicity and beauty, and that certainly rings true with this dessert. While Bradford Heap’s new digs on Pearl Street are more cool, cozy and chic, the simple beauty of this dessert is pure elegance. A sliver of firm, rich dark chocolate layered with caramel is freckled with sea salt, creating a smart contrast of salty-sweet flavors. Pair it with the coffee cocoa nib ice cream and a swig of Roundhouse Corretto. —AC

Two Dog Diner, Longmont
Grilled Prawn & Pesto Omelet with Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese and Tomatoes
This dish appears on the table looking pretty much like every other omelet you’ve ever seen: a large folded sheet of golden egg paired with hearty fried potatoes. But once you dig inside, diners discover a treasure of pesto, creamy, tangy goat cheese, plump, juicy tomato and, the coup de gras, beautiful grilled prawns. It’s a synergic melding of flavors as you tear into this triumphantly good omelet that bleeds green onto your plate and leaves you feeling like breakfast is surely the most important meal of the day. —AC

Indulge Bakery, Lafayette
Birthday cake
It’s the little things in life, really, and while birthday cake may seem like a little thing to some—a remembrance, a kind gesture, a traditional necessity—when it’s done well, really well, it’s a masterpiece. Frankly, I’m all too happy to be in charge of providing goodies for birthdays at the office, because it’s a great excuse to order a cake from Indulge Bakery. Moist cake with a delicate crumb, just the right amount of luscious butter cream frosting and an abundance of flavors have made cake aficionados out of all of us and have made all our birthdays just that much more special. —LB

Magnolia, Lafayette
Polenta fries
Take a classic favorite; turn it on its head and spin it around. If you’re lucky, you’ll come up with something as delicious and brilliant as the polenta fries served alongside steaks and other dishes at Magnolia in Lafayette. These crispy sticks of fried gold call to mind the most perfect of French fries—crispy on the outside and soft in the center—but with the distinct corn flavor that comes with creamy, sweet polenta. When fusion is this tasty, it will always get our vote. —LB

Frasca, Boulder
Tuna and gorgonzola risotto
Sitting in Frasca, you expect spectacular things. The service is superb, the wine list world-class and the ambience is chic enough to make a Monday night out feel über special. But it’s the continuously changing menu that makes this foodie bastion truly extraordinary—especially the risotto we sampled during a recent Monday night wine dinner. Made with rich gorgonzola cheese and tuna poached in olive oil, it’s an unusual, striking combination, to be sure, but it’s one that simply worked in the most delicious way possible. —LB

Proto’s, multiple locations
Atomica Pizza
It started with a single lunch but soon became a routine. My friend and I would head to Proto’s for lunch and would barely even have to look at the menu before we ordered: a glass of wine for each; a tomato mozzarella salad, eagerly shared; and a medium Atomica Pie. It starts with Proto’s Neapolitan-style crust, hand-tossed thin and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. From there, they add just the right amounts of garlic, oregano, red chili pepper flakes, sliced black olives and Italian sausage. Add in a healthy dose of gossip and before you know it, we’ve unashamedly finished the whole pizza. Repeat as often as possible for best results. —LB

14th St. Bar and Grill, Boulder
Grilled Chicken Breast pizza
I’m not a pizza purist. Some people believe the only true pizza is the thin crust and simple ingredients of Neopolitan-style pizza, or the deep-dish decadence of Chicago-style pizza, or the floppy-oversized slices of New York-style pizza. Me? I like it all. And if you want to go out on a limb and make a wood-fired pizza that features grilled chicken breast, bacon, creamy gorgonzola, little gems of roasted garlic, paper-thin slices of lemon and fresh basil, I say more power to you. And please, keep them coming. —LB

Colterra, Niwot
Olive oil, rosemary poached and grilled Wagyu steak with caramelized onion, porcini and cabernet risotto
There is an art to good food. Certainly cooking is a science, but the artistry comes in knowing which flavors will pair well, which will balance, which will enhance. No one flavor should overpower another. So, know that it’s no hyperbole when I say that Colterra’s Wagyu steak and caramelized onion, porcini and cabernet risotto deserves a place in a museum. The rich earthiness of the steak and porcini balanced beautifully with the sweetness of the caramelized onion and cabernet and the spicy herbal notes of rosemary floated above it all. Paired with an expertly chosen wine, this is the sort of meal that deserves to be savored, if not rhapsodized in verse and song. —LB

Suki Thai Noodle House, Boulder
Steak and Shrimp Noodle Bowl
In the Thai language, “yum” can mean “a salad” or simply “different ingredients thrown together.” In English, “yum” means the wonderful steak and shrimp noodle bowl at Suki Thai. We always start with tom yum broth infused with lemon grass, galangal and lime leaves. Next, we add a small salad’s-worth of fresh veggies including su choy, grape tomatoes and our fave, a slice of corn on the cob. The soup is crowned with rice noodles and the surf-‘n’-turf combo, and served with a red chile-based sauce for dipping tidbits. For extra zest, sprinkle on some Thai basil, blistering Thai chilies and lime from the condiment bar. We spell satisfaction as oodles of tasty, healthy food cooked in about five minutes that costs about $6. —JL

Brasserie Ten Ten, Boulder
Chips comme avant
The term “French nachos,” which is what the staff at Brasserie Ten Ten affectionately call their chips comme avant, seems like an oxymoron. But picture this: a towering mound of glistening, golden house-made potato chips generously smothered in a blue cheese cream sauce and topped with sun-dried tomatoes and green onions. Never in my experience has a mere nacho lived up to the decadence that makes one’s husband seriously consider licking the remaining sauce out of the bowl when the nachos were devoured. —LB

Lucile’s Creole Cafe, Longmont and Boulder
Eggs Jennifer
Floating on pillows of English muffin sit the simplest of flavors: spinach, tomato, avocado, perfectly poached eggs and a blanket of golden hollandaise. Eggs Jennifer has been a mainstay morning meal, but it still piques a genuine groan of delight each time I come face to face with this bountiful plate. A quick jab of knife to yolk sends streams of yellow into the hollandaise, creating a rich bath that soaks into the muffin and the blanched spinach. Of course, potatoes seasoned right accompany the duo, preferably with chicory coffee and a biscuit on the side. —AC

Turley’s, Boulder
Multigrain Sourdough Pancakes
It seems odd, even to me, that pancakes should be one of the dishes that stood out so prominently they deserved a spot on this list. A pancake is a pancake is a pancake, right? Wrong. With your first bite, you know these beauties aren’t your average Bisquick-simple confection. A complex flavor aided by a perfect lightness belied by the multigrain moniker take this ubiquitous breakfast staple a step above the average. Be sure to ask for the pure maple syrup to go with; no corn syrup fakery should sully these breakfast gems. —LB

Chez Thuy, Boulder
Soft shell crab
I had never eaten soft shell crab before my visit to Chez Thuy, and I wasn’t wholly expecting to like it. I’m not generally a fan of eating fish or crustaceans in their whole and unaltered state (I’m from the South, and somehow, the idea of biting off the heads of crawfish never appealed). But this particular delicacy changed my mind. Should you have similar qualms, let me assure you that this gorgeous, deep-fried crab is more akin to eating the finest, sweetest crabmeat that happens to be formed in the shape of a crab. Cast aside your misgivings and dive right in; the crab is fine. —LB

Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace, Boulder
Coconut Fried Bananas with Vanilla Anglais
I like to think of this pretty little dish as a sweet appetizer for your breakfast. When ripe bananas are battered in a coconutty concoction, fried and dipped in a delicate, creamy vanilla sauce, they become the most wonderful way to start the morning. It’s sweet (but not too sweet), memorable and delicious. Both light and rich, exotic and comfortable, this dish has a beautiful blend of flavors and textures that just makes you smile. Plus, during brunch happy hour, Saturday–Sunday, 9:30–11:30, an order of coconut fried bananas is just $2. —AC

Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro, Lafayette
Turkey club
Our art director is a woman who knows what she likes. She has “the usual” at most of the restaurants we frequent, and at Zamparelli’s, nine times out of 10 her usual is the turkey club. A seemingly humble cold sandwich—anywhere else perhaps—but something about the club at Z’s puts all others to shame. Maybe it’s the tender ciabatta bread, the fresh arugula, the flavorful roasted turkey or the Neuske’s bacon. Maybe. But most probably, it’s the basil aioli that’s won us all over. Consider us willing converts to the cold sandwich, at least in this instance. —LB

Tortuga’s, Longmont
Shrimp and Crawfish Etouffee
The good times roll across the taste buds nightly at this Longmont landmark. Chef Pete McLaughlin’s etouffee is just the way we like it, loaded with toothsome crustaceans over long grain rice and awash in a classic sauce built with roux and mirepoix and jacked up with pepper. We guarantee it will leave a lingering warmth, not a fire, on your palate. Tabasco’s available for those who insist. To us, a soul-feeding supper consists of this Creole dish—or the equally good jambalaya—with the complimentary Southern cornbread and butter and a house mojito. —JL

The Med, Boulder
Mussels
The Med is an iconic Boulder restaurant. We all know that. And the large, beautiful bowl of smiling mussels is an establishment within this Republic establishment: happy hour stand-bys that are served gleefully lounging in a white wine broth, smelling of garlic and the ocean, or a spicy, smoky tomato sauce. But each time I sit down in the soft glow of The Med’s dining room or patio, I come face to face with these mussels like it was our first encounter. With bread to soak up the broth, each bite is bright and flavorful, garlic-laced, lovely and oh so very new. —AC

Sugarbeet, Longmont
Braised Beef Short Rib With Poblano Mole And Sweet Potato Gratin
Sugarbeet, a warm little sanctuary serving up refined plates, sits in perfect contrast with its cold and raw surroundings. On my plate is the short rib with poblano mole and sweet potato gratin. The short rib is perfectly charred on the outside, moist and fall-apart good on the inside. The thick, slightly sweet, deep-with-character mole balances out the fattiness of the rib and adds extra depth to the dish. But, truly, the star is the sweet potato gratin: a beautiful tower of sliced thin sweet potato layered with cream and butter and crumbles of cheese on top. The smoky, spicy flavor of chipotle soaks through the delicate, sweet meat of the potato, leaving me totally, 100 percent in awe. —AC

Sister’s Pantry, Planet Bluegrass or Boulder Farmers Market
Dumplings with spicy peanut sauce
It’s sunny and warm, but we find a piece of shade and carefully sit down, working hard at not spilling or dropping our delicious cargo. The grass is cool and pokey. We sit cross-legged, hunching over our little flimsy bowls. Music fills the riparian valley, and people are all around, dancing, lounging and conversing while they sip on organic beer in compostable cups. We take big bites of delicate, chewy dumplings from the Sister’s Pantry stand. The doughy pockets are swollen with veggies, chicken and basil; they are like plump purses, wading in a shallow pool of lime-cilantro vinaigrette and dashed with a spicy peanut sauce. The fresh, exotic, aromatic bowl of food is so satisfying that we forget the music and the people for a few calm moments. —AC

Terroir, Longmont
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
It’s almost unfair to describe this excellent salad here, because likely as not, by the time you read this, it won’t be on Terroir’s menu any more. Their offerings change weekly, allowing flavors to ebb and flow with the seasons. But we chose this dish because it’s indicative of the complex layering of ingredients and flavors that Terroir does so well—whatever the season. The salad is heaping with crisp, young greens lightly dressed in a house-made creamy balsamic vinaigrette. The beautiful foundation of greens is topped with chunks of earthy pumpkin, simply roasted, the piquant bite of blue cheese, and the rich sweetness of caramelized onions blending together to create a masterpiece of tastes. —LB

Empire, Louisville
Crispy Calamari Salad
Calamari’s become ubiquitous on appetizer menus but more often than not it’s forgettable, limp and doughy. Empire’s version is like another species entirely. Hot-from-the-fryer, lightly battered baby squid rings are tossed with fresh greens. The vinaigrette sparked with miso and balsamic vinegar is the ideal tart complement to the seafood. Don’t let Empire’s cool, casual lounge atmosphere fool you. Acclaimed owner/chef Jim Cohen rules the kitchen insisting on only the best ingredients and fine dining flavors. —JL

Cheese Importers, Longmont
Italian Panini
The panini is a marvelous invention. Buttered bread, filled with any number of sweet or savory lovelies and then grilled to hot, crispy, golden perfection on a press. It’s really the sandwich at its best: crispy, warm, dense and gooey with melted cheese. Our newest favorite? The Italian panini from the lovely little counter within the European market and fromage heaven of Cheese Importers. This panini is layered with tallegio ca d’ambros—a soft, ripened cow’s milk cheese—shaved prosciutto and a layer of fig jam that lends a sweetness (but not too sweet) that perfectly balances out the saltiness of the other ingredients. Bellissimo! —LB

Ice Cream Alchemy at Jax Fish House, Boulder
Fleur de Sel Caramel and Chocolate Malted Ice Cream
It may seem odd to choose a desert from a restaurant best known for fish—and believe us, the fish is divine—but we couldn’t help but be impressed by the unusual flavors of ice cream and sorbet on their menu. In particular, the fleur de sel caramel ice cream and the chocolate malted ice cream caught our attention. A little digging brought out the fact that the ice cream is provided by a Boulder company called Ice Cream Alchemy, whose menu of products reads like an ice cream lover’s bucket list. We hope to see flavors like Thai sweet chili, orange chevre, basil chocolate and sweet potato mascarpone gracing more dessert menus in the near future. —LB

The post 25 Dishes We Love appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.