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2007-10-09T12:18:00.001-07:00

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Forbidden City Buffet Shutters Doors

2007-09-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Kevin Taylor's reinvented Palettes (www.ktrg.net, 303-534-1455, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway) in the reinvented Denver Art Museum and also visits Nine75 (975 Lincoln Street, 303-975-0975). ... Sheehan notes the closings of Victory American Bar and Grill (1512 Curtis) and Forbidden City Buffet (1302 South Havana in Aurora) as well as the Sept. 23 opening of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co (1437 California Street, in the Theatre District). westword.com ... 5280 magazine visits the new French 250 (250 Steele St., 303-331-0250, www.french250.com). 5280.com ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two and a half stars to the Uptown eatery Steuben's Food Service, while Kristin Browning-Blas features Tacos Kikin (on East Colfax Avenue and Syracuse Street) and Cheap Eats visits Racines (650 Sherman St., 303-595-0418). denverpost.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' Lori Midson gives a C+ to The Corner Office (1401 Curtis St., Denver, 303-825-6500; thecornerofficedenver.com). rockymountainnews.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton rounds up the good, bad and ugly of Boulder's Twenty Ninth Street's dining options. dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Railyard Restaurant and Saloon (1710 29th St., #1068, Boulder, 303-449-0039). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Dallas-Based Fish City Grill Set for Aurora

2007-09-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: A Dallas restaurant company will expand into Colorado this month with the opening of Fish City Grill in Aurora, the Denver Business Journal reports. The restaurant opens Sept. 24 at Southlands Shopping Center, 6105 S. Main St. denver.bizjournals.com ... 5280 magazine reports The James Beard Foundation's first-ever Taste America national food festival includes Denver as one of 20 U.S. cities to host a regional dinner celebrating the culinary organization's 20th anniversary and James Beard's legacy. The dinner, which takes place at Panzano, is a collaboration of several top toques including Frank Bonanno (chef/owner of Mizuna and Luca d'Italia), Yasmin Lozada-Hissom (pastry chef at Duo), Alex Seidel (chef/owner of Fruition), Elise Wiggins (executive chef of Panzano), and Thomas Salamunovich (chef/owner of Vail's Larkspur and soon-to-open Watermark). Bobby Stuckey (master sommelier at Frasca and a James Beard Award winner) will pair wines with each course, and Tim Love (a James Beard Award nominee and chef/owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Love Shack, and Duce in Fort Worth, Texas) joins the Denver chef line up. A limited number of tickets ($125 per person) are still available. To purchase, call 303-395-2677 or e-mail office@heedum.com. For more information about the event, logon to www.jbftasteamerica.com. 5280.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Korean restaurant Sae Jong Kwan (2680 South Havana Street, Aurora, 303-752-1338) and Korean-Japanese spot Uoki Restaurant (303-837-4380), while Drew Bixby has the burger at Mead Street Station (3625 West 32nd Avenue). ... Sheehan reports that Rebecca Weitzman is leaving as chef at Cafe Star (3201 East Colfax Avenue) to return to New York City, and notes the October opening of Frank Bonanno's new eatery Osteria Marco in the Larimer Square space at 1453 Larimer, former site of the closed Del Mar Crab House. ... He also notes the recent opening of Sorbeteria, the new sorbet spot at 2046 Larimer Street, as well as the closings of the Oregon-based chain Bene Gourmet Pizza's two area locations (2623 East Second Avenue and 8547 East Arapahoe in Greenwood Village) as well as the closing of Harry's Chop House, which had shared space with Milagro in a building at 17th and Vine. westword.com ... The Denver Post's Douglas Brown reviews 8island Hawaiian Barbecue (3050 28th St., Boulder, 303-440-7427). denverpost.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' Lori Midson gives a B+ to taqueria Tacos Y Salsas (910 S. Federal Blvd., 303-922-9400). rockymountainnews.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives three stars to Railyard Restaurant and Saloon (1710 29th St., Boulder, 303-449-0039, www.railyardrestaurantandsaloon.com). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Oskar Blues Cajun Grill & Brewery (303 Main St., Lyons, 303-823-6685). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Victory American Grill Shutters Doors

2007-09-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: The Rocky Mountain News' Lori Midson gives a B+ to Bella Bistro (303-358-7253, 7702 Ralston Road, Arvada, CO 303-358-7253), while John Ledndorff notes the closing of Victory American Grill (1512 Curtis St.) and John Ensslin considers Cora Faye's Cafe (2861 Colorado Blvd., 303-333-5551). rockymountainnews.com ... The Denver Business Journal reports that restaurateur Kevin Taylor will open his seventh restaurant and his second at the Denver Performing Arts Complex: Limelight Supper Club and Lounge will open in the fall and feature classic American food. Taylor is opening the restaurant in partnership with Centerplate, a South Carolina company that provides catering and concessions at various venues. Taylor and Centerplate two years ago opened Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House, which also is at the performing arts complex near downtown Denver. ... The Journal also notes the hoped-for late-September opening of Iron Mountain Winery and restaurant in the former Mel's Bar and Grill spot at 35 Fillmore St. in Cherry Creek North. denver.bizjournals.com ... The Denver Post's Cheap Eats reviews Chef Zorba's (2626 E. 12th Ave.; 303-321-0091; Chefzorbas.com). denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews vegetarian restaurant City, O' City (206 East 13th Avenue, 303-831-6443) and visits Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs. westword.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives two stars to Rush Naturally Enlighten (4593 N. Broadway, Boulder 303-442-7874. www.natural-rush.com. Sister shop at 1207 13th St., Boulder; 303-546-9666). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews The Taj. boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Shells & Sauce Opens on 12th Avenue

2007-09-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: 5280 magazine notes the opening of Shells & Sauce (2600 E. 12th Ave., 303-377-2091). 5280.com ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two and a half stars in reviewing Imperial Chinese Restaurant (431 S. Broadway, 303-698-2800), while Cheap Eats considers Caribbean cafe 8 Rivers Restaurant (3609 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, 303-477-1126, 8riversrestaurant.com). denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Wazee Supper Club (www.wazeesupperclub.com, 1600 15th Street, 303-623-9518) and raves about the double burger at Bud's Bar in Sedalia (303-455-9991). westword.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' Lori Midson gives a B+ grade to Old Blinking Light (9344 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch, 303-346-9797). rockymountainnews.com ... The Oregonian reports that Alfred Peet, founder of Peet's Coffee & Tea, died Aug. 29 at his Ashland, Ore. home at age 87. Peet opened the original Peet's store on the corner of Walnut and Vine in Berkeley, Calif. in 1966, and eventually added shops in Menlo Park, in Oakland and another in Berkeley across from the Claremont Hotel. Although he retired in 1983, Peet never fully gave up his passion in coffee. He continued to consult with coffee companies and was often known to drop by coffee stores and taste samples of coffee beans with its proprietors, his company said in a statement. oregonlive.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives three stars to Laudisio Ristorante (1710 29th St., Suite 1076, Boulder, 303-442-1300 or www.laudisio.com). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Aji Latin American Restaurant (1601 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-3464). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Another Elway's, Puck's Spago Set to Open

2007-08-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Lori Midsen gives a B grade to Thai House (8025 Sheridan Blvd., Arvada, 303-430-8424) for the Rocky Mountain News. ... Critic John Lehndorff rounds up the summer's restaurant openings and closings, including the opening of Oceanaire Seafood Room in the Curtis Hotel (1400 Arapahoe St. in the former Corner Office space) and news that a second Elway's will open soon at Denver's under-construction Ritz-Carlton hotel (1881 Curtis St.) and an outlet of Wolfgang Puck's Spago is coming to Avon's Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. rockymountainnews.com ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw awards two stars in reviewing Taki Sushi (420 E. Bayaud Ave., 303-282-0111), while Cheap Eats visits Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant (2010 16th St., Boulder, 303-442-1485). denverpost.com ... 5280 magazine's newsletter notes the opening of Izakaya Den, a second South Pearl Street offering by Sushi Den owner Toshi Kizaki. (1518 S. Pearl Street, 303-777-0691). 5280.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Cucina Colore (3041 East Third Avenue, 303-393-6917, www.cucinacolore.com) and visits Cafe Jordano (303-988-6863) and Montecito (5970 South Holly Street in Greenwood Village), while Drew Bixby stops by Charlie Brown's Bar & Grill (980 Grant Street). westword.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton reviews barbecue joint The Pit (1301 Broadway, Boulder. 720-565-0540). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Kim's Express (1325 Broadway, Boulder, 303-442-2829). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Maloney's Tavern Sets October Opening

2007-08-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: The Denver Business Journal reports that Maloney's Tavern (1432 Market St.), a neighborhood bar and restaurant, will open in the former Tommy Tsunami space in October. denver.bizjournals.com ... The Denver Post's Zach Fox reports on the struggles of local jazz clubs and quotes Donald Rossa, owner of Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge at 930 Lincoln St., which features jazz. ... Critic Tucker Shaw gives one and a half stars to the Peruvian restaurant Cebiche (2257 W. 32nd Ave., cebiche.biz), while Douglas Brown considers Wok & Roll Teriyaki (4800 Baseline Road, A-104, Baseline and Foothills Parkway Safeway Center, Boulder) and Nick Groke visits Taqueria Patzcuaro (2616 W. 32nd Ave., taqpatz.com) and Pupusas Sabor Hispano (4457 N. Broadway, Boulder). denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Cebiche and reports Dylan Moore of Deluxe (30 South Broadway), one of Denver's best and most focused chefs, will open Delite some time next spring, right next door to Deluxe in a space that's currently a snowboard shop. westword.com ... Beginning a fill-in stint for rehabbing Rocky Mountain News critic John Lehndorff (who gives a medical update), Lori Midson gives a C grade to Prime 121 (121 Clayton Lane, Denver). rockymountainnews.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton awards three and a half stars to Colterra (210 Franklin St., Niwot). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Foolish Craig's Café (1611 Pearl St., Boulder). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

'Bon Appetit' Spotlights Vail's Kelly Liken

2007-08-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Bon Appetit magazine's September 2007 Restaurant issue features three finalists in a list of quintessential versions of six American classics: pizza, steak, tacos, hamburgers, fried chicken, and ribs. Winner will be announced on the Food Network on Aug. 18 (Good Eats with Alton Brown, 6 and 10 pm CDT). The finalists:

PIZZA: Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix; DiFara Pizza, Brooklyn, NY; Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
STEAK: Peter Luger Steak House, Brooklyn; Cut, Los Angeles; Doe's Eat Place, Greenville, Miss.
TACOS: Taco Taco Cafe, San Antonio; Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta; South Beach Bar & Grill, Ocean Beach, Calif.
Hamburgers: Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, NM; Taylor's Automatic Refresher, St. Helena, Calif; The Meers Store and Restaurant, Lawton, Okla.
FRIED CHICKEN: Willie Mae's Scotch House, New Orleans; Price's Chicken Coop, Charlotte, NC; Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tenn.
RIBS: Charles Vergos Rendezvous, Memphis; 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, Ill; Jaspers, Plano, Texas.

The magazine also features favorite restaurant recipes, including: Lucia's in Minneapolis-St. Paul; Eve in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar in Somerville, Mass.; Binkley's Restaurant in Cave Creek, Ariz.; Kelly Liken Restaurant in Vail, Colo; Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles; and Park Kitchen in Portland, Ore. ... And the mag also features 12 small restaurants and their recipes, including: The Little Owl, New York City; The Good Fork, Brooklyn; La Laiterie at Farmstead, Providence, RI; Cremant, Seattle; Bonne Soiree, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Hatfield's, Los Angeles; Canteen, San Francisco; Revolver, Findlay, Ohio; Le Pigeon, Portland, Ore; and Komi, Washington, DC. epicurious.com/bonappetit

IN THE NEWS: The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two stars to Zamparelli's Italian Bistro (2770 Arapahoe Road, Lafayette) and gives talking points on defending Denver cuisine in comparison to Boulder's, beginning with Denver's Frank Bonnano restaurants on Cap Hill, Mizuna (225 E. Seventh Ave.) and Luca D'Italia (711 Grant St.), as well as Potager (1109 Ogden St.). ... Shaw then rounds up some eco-friendly and hyper-local Boulder eateries, including Black Cat (1964 13th St). ... Cheap Eats looks at taquerias Taqueria Patzcuaro (2616 W. 32nd Ave., taqpatz.com) and Pupusas Sabor Hispano (4457 N. Broadway, Boulder). denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace (950 Pearl Street, Boulder, centrolatinkitchen.com) and reports Duy Pham has landed — for now, at least — at Aqua (925 Lincoln Street), where he is currently on the books as chef, general manager and partner with owner Jay Chadrom. westword.com ... Dallas-based Neighborhood Ventures Inc. has announced that Fish City Grill will open at the Southlands Shopping Center, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora, in mid-September, the Denver Business Journal reports. ... The Rocky Mountain News' Mike Pearson reviews Cinema Grill (East Alameda Avenue and Potomac Street, Aurora). rockymountainnews.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Vespa Dipping Grill, Potager Turn 10

2007-08-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Tacos y Salsas (910 South Federal Boulevard) and visits the chain Thai Basil. Sheehan notes the 10th anniversaries of Vespa Dipping Grill (1822 Blake Street) and Potager (1109 Ogden Street) and also previews Izakaya Den, scheduled to open mid-August from Sushi Den owner Toshi Kizaki in a space just across and down the street. The hope is that the additional seats, additional cooks, additional menu and additional everything else at Izakaya will take some of the pressure off Sushi Den during its peak hours. ... Sheehan also reports that superstar chef Kevin Taylor is talking about taking over 1335 Curtis Street, the space that had housed Theatre Cafe, and turning it into the Limelight Supper Club. He says he should have the deal closed in a couple of weeks. ... Jesse Morreale and Sean Yontz, who've got ops running on Colfax (Mezcal and Rockbar at the All-In hotel), out in Belmar (Chama), in the Golden Triangle (Rhumba — where work continues on the patio that's been under construction most of the summer) and in Cherry Creek. That's where their newest baby, Tambien, was to open to the public on August 3 — in the Sketch space that just closed 24 days earlier. westword.com ... Chef Michael Long of Opus Restaurant creates a 25-course opus feast for Denver Post critic Tucker Shaw and a few others, which Shaw describes. ... Cheap Eats considers Chada Thai near Denver's City Park. denverpost.com ...The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives two and a half stars to Conor O'Neill's (1922 13th St., Boulder). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong visits Boulder's L'Atelier. boulderweekly.com ... Denver.metblogs.com stops by Westminster Lodo's Bar and Grill.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

The Oceanaire Seafood Room Opens

2007-07-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: 5280 magazine notes the downtown opening of The Oceanaire Seafood Room (1400 Arapahoe St., www.theoceanaire.com). 5280.com ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw reports that in a food economy reeling from major price increases, Denver-area restaurateurs are worrying more than ever about the bottom line. ... while Cheap Eats visits Pints Pub. denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews The Brown Palace's restaurant The Ship Tavern (321 17th Street, www.brownpalace.com). ... Sheehan notes: "It was less than a month ago that Duy Pham served his last meal at Kyoto Asian Fusion (7301 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton) and handed the figurative keys to new owner Eric Roeder. In what has to be record turnaround time, Roeder transformed the location into Table Mesa, which was already open for business as of last week. ... The day after Sketch closed its doors earlier this month, what should show up in the mail but the restaurant's first Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine." westword.com ... The Boulder Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives two and a half stars to Thai eatery Buddha Cafe (2719 Iris Ave., Boulder). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly looks at teen-age java junkies. boulderweekly.com ... Denver.metblogs.com visits the Boulder vegetarian restaurant Leaf.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Sketch Closes, to be Replaced by Tambien

2007-07-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill (8354 East 49th Avenue, Northfield) and reports the closing of Sketch on July 9, to be replaced by Jesse Morreale and Sean Yontz's Tambien. westword.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives three stars to Centro (950 Pearl St., Boulder, www.centrolatinkitchen.com). ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two stars to GB Fish & Chips (1311 S. Broadway), while Cheap Eats visits the Mexican eatery Lime XS (730 E. Sixth Ave.). denverpost.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Sherpa's Adventurers Restaurant and Bar (825 Walnut St., Boulder). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Mags Feature The Kitchen, Larkburger

2007-07-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

The August 2007 Bon Appetit magazine's Top Tables feature includes: Seattle's Brasa (2107 Third Avenue, brasa.com); Boulder, Co.'s The Kitchen (1039 Pearl St., thekitchencafe.com); Brenham, Texas' The Inn at Dos Brisas (9400 Champion Drive, dosbrisas.com); Kansas City's Bluestem (900 Westport Road, bluestemkc.com); Chicago's Crust (2056 W. Division St.); Atlanta's The Farmhouse (10950 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Palmetto, serenbe.com); and San Francisco's Plumpjack Cafe (3127 Fillmore St., plumpjack.com). epicurious.com/bonappetit

Food & Wine magazine's August 2007 issue features in its Where to Go Next column: Boston's La Verdad (1 Lansdowne St.); New York's Kefi (222 W. 79th St.); Washington, D.C.'s M'Dawg (2418 18th St. NW); Edwards, Colo.'s Larkburger (105 Edwards Village Blvd); and San Francisco's Out the Door (Westfield San Francisco Centre, 845 Market St., No. 80). foodandwine.com

IN THE NEWS: The giant New York-based hedge fund Och-Ziff Capital Management Group has purchased a minority stake in the Bloomfield, Colo.-based Noodles & Company restaurant chain, the Denver Business Journal reports. ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw awards three stars (great) in his review of Bistro Vendôme (1420 Larimer St.), while Michael Booth visits Wingman. denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Cora Faye's Cafe (2861 Colorado Boulevard) and reports that Ethel's House of Soul (2622 Welton Street) is taking a summer vacation until Aug. 3. westword.com ... Get well soon wishes to the Rocky Mountain News' critic John Lehndorff, who writes on July 13, 2007: "Dear Dining Readers: Somewhere between the moment my foot slipped on the wet bathroom floor and the instant I landed on my elbows with a resounding thud, I knew it would be a while before I appraised the nuances of crème brûlée again. It wasn't a pretty sight and I'll spare you the gory details, but this week I got some tendons in my left elbow reattached. Hopefully the right elbow will heal on its own, but in any case, I shall be out of the office for a while. In my absence, I expect you to continue dining, nibbling and arguing about the fare dished by Denver's diverse eateries. I look forward to hearing about it when I return. 'Til we meet and eat again." rockymountainnews.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton gives one and a half stars to Cafe M (1932 14th St., Boulder). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Mumtaz (588 N. Highway 287, Ste. 100, Lafayette), while the paper notes the reopening of Chez Thuy (2655 28th St., Boulder), closed two months because of fire damage. boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

BB's on Pearl, Fagan's Shutter Doors

2007-07-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Chutney's (880 West Happy Canyon Road, Castle Rock, www.chutneysfoodandwine.com) and The Royal Peacock in Boulder and also reports the recent closings of BB's on Pearl (1475 South Pearl Street) and Fagan's (1135 East Evans Avenue). ... Drew Bixby stops by the venerable Ace-Hi Tavern (1216 Washington Avenue). westword.com ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw reviews Royal India (1550 S. Colorado Blvd.) and India Oven (2890 S. Colorado Blvd.), while Cheap Eats visits Schmidt's Bakery & Delicatessen (808 S. 14th St. SW, Loveland). denverpost.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton reviews Zamparelli's Italian Bistro (2770 Arapahoe Road, Suite 101, Lafayette). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Black Cat Bistro Métropolitain (1964 13th St., Boulder). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Gurevich's Limon To Celebrate 1st Birthday

2007-07-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Osaka Sushi (3940 East Exposition Avenue), and reports, "Alex Gurevich called to let me know that Limón, his killer Novoandino/Peruvian restaurant at 1618 East 17th Avenue, is turning one on July 12. He and his guys are throwing a party — live music, drink specials all night, complimentary frittatas, that kind of thing — "just to give something back to the people who supported us," he said. ... Gurevich also plans to open Naked, a raw-foods restaurant, right in the middle of Cherry Creek North." ... Sheehan also reports: Jessie Son and Young Joe Kwon, the former owner/operators of Osaka Sushi, celebrated the grand opening of Sushi Moon (6585 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard in Greenwood Village) on June 1; look for a late-July/early August opening of Abbey Restaurant and Lounge, going into the first floor of the infamous Real World: Denver house at 1920 Market Street; also a late July/early August opening of French 250 in the former El Toro Palomo space at 250 Steele Street, just to the right of Sketch; the Corner Office opened on June 8 in the corner of the Curtis Hotel, at 14th and Curtis streets; and the closing of Theatre Cafe (1335 Curtis Street). westword.com ... Denver.metblogs.com visits Crepes'n Crepes ( 2816 E. Third Avenue). ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tipton review Organic Orbit. dailycamera.com ... The Rocky Mountain News asks four Denver-area chefs why they entered the field and what dishes they like to make most: chefs Noel Cunningham of Strings, Andres Jiminez of Denver's future Ritz-Carlton, Noy Farrell of Taste of Thailand and Robin Bar-On of Udi's Bread Cafe. rockymountainnews.com ... The Denver Post's Cheap Eats visits Hot Cakes diner (1400 E. 18th Ave.). denverpost.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Daughter Revives Emma's Hacienda

2007-06-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: The Rocky Mountain News' rockymountainnews.com John Lehndorff gives a C+ to Peruvian eatery Cebiche on 32nd Avenue, and rounds up other Peruvian restaurants. Lehndorff also notes, "Colorado's best Mexican/New Mexican eatery, Emma's Hacienda, closed in the border town of San Luis. We're happy to say that Theresa Lobato, Emma's daughter and a cook for 40 years, has reopened Emma's in Denver at 1630 Federal Blvd. ... Wolfie's Neighborhood Bistro has debuted at 1135 Bannock St., former site of Bambino's. ... When the second Elway's opens in the Ritz-Carlton Denver, 1881 Curtis St., this fall, the executive chef will be Andres Jimenez. ... Boulder's Full Moon Grill closes July 2 after 15 years at its original location. The owners will reopen as Alba Ristorante nearby at 4580 Canyon Blvd. in August. ... Kevin Taylor's Rouge at the Teller House reopens July 3 in Central City. . . . Crepes and Crepes, at 2816 E. Third Ave., will launch a second French creperie in September in Writer Square. . . . Colorado-born Beau Jo's Pizza returns to Boulder soon at 2690 Baseline Road." ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw rounds up the hits and misses at the recent Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and gives a gives two stars (very good) to the suburban sushi and Hawaiian spot Iwayama Sushi & da big kahuna bistro (5500 S. Simms St., Littleton). ... Cheap Eats reviews The Baldpate Inn buffet (4900 S. Colorado 7, Estes Park; baldpateinn.com) ... Westword's westword.com Jason Sheehan reviews San Lorenzo Ristorante (2500 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village) and stops by Chianti, while Nancy Levine considers Ron's Horny Purple People Eater Margarita at La Fiesta (2340 Champa Street). ... The Daily Camera's dailycamera.com Meg Tilton gives one and a half stars to the food at Five Spice Asian Cuisine (3325 28th St., Boulder).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Earl of Sandwich Eyes Denver

2007-06-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: A Florida-based restaurant chain is putting out feelers that it wants to greatly expand its reach, the Denver Business Journal reports. Earl of Sandwich, founded in 2004 and based in Orlando, says it's looking for franchisees around the United States, including Denver. Other cities on the company's radar screen include Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco (including Oakland and San Jose), Dallas/Ft. Worth, Seattle, Columbus, Nashville, San Diego, Cleveland, St. Louis and Sacramento. The company's president, Michael Grodi, said the goal is to add more than 100 locations a year. A former executive at Denver-based Quiznos, Grodi was named president and CEO of the sandwich chain in January. Quiznos sued Grodi and Earl of Sandwich in federal court in Denver in April, alleging Grodi would hurt Quiznos by disclosing their trade secrets about selling sandwiches to his new employer. Grodi left Quiznos in May 2006. He has denied Quiznos' allegations. ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two stars (very good) to Old Fashioned Italian Deli (395 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton). ... The Post sits down with Food Network chef Tyler Florence (he hosts Food 911 and Tyler's Ultimate), in Denver to finish hosting a food drive for Food Bank of the Rockies, signing books and greeting diners at the Parker Applebee's (he's working with the chain on new menu items), before cooking for 23 guests at Applebee's owner Steve Grove's ranch in Centennial. ... The Cheap Eats column reviews M&D's Fish & Barbecue Cafe (2000 E. 28th Ave., Denver). denverpost.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Tin Star Cafe & Donuts (28025 Main Street, Evergreen) and reports on the changing of the guard at both Jim Sullivan's Nine75 and Ocean. ... Patrick Osborn tries the burgers at CityGrille (321 East Colfax Avenue), and Nancy Levine samples the Bloody Mary at Benny’s Restaurante y Tequila Bar (301 East Seventh Avenue). westword.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff gives a B- to Rico Pollo. rockymountainnews.com ... The Daily Camera's Cindy Suter looks at haute happy hours, while Meg Tilton gives two and a half stars to Maharaja Indian Cuisine (1915 28th St., Boulder). dailycamera.com ... Boulder Weekly's Clay Fong reviews Boulder Café (1247 Pearl St., Boulder). boulderweekly.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Radda Trattoria Makes Mag's Hot List

2007-06-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

The June issue of Bon Appetit magazine epicurious.com/bonappetit lists 10 restaurants as "summer's hotspots," new foodie destinations around the country. Prices range from $10 pizzas at Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles to the $54 and $67 prix fixe menus at Bijoux in Dallas. Here's the full list:

Momofuku Ssam Bar, 207 Second Ave., New York City
Central Michel Richard, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
Trois, 1180 Peachtree St., Atlanta
Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza, 641 N. Highland Ave., and 6602 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
Tavolata, 2323 Second Ave., Seattle
Radda Trattoria, 1265 Alpine Ave., Boulder, Colo.
Aigre Doux Restaurant & Bakery, 230 W. Kinzie St., Chicago
Bijoux, 5450 West Lovers Lane, Suite 225, Dallas
Osteria, 640 N. Broad St., Philadelphia
Ad Hoc, 6476 Washington St., Yountville, Calif. (Napa Valley)

IN THE NEWS: From the 5280 magazine's 5280.com: "June 8 marks the opening of LoDo's The Corner Office Restaurant & Martini Bar, located in the swanky Curtis Hotel building. Although the restaurant will be serving what it calls "global comfort food" for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, it's the tapas-style small plates and hipster 'tinis that executive chef Jeff Bolton banks on making for Downtown's hottest new meet and eat spot." ... A South Texas restaurant group has been awarded the franchise rights to develop 20 Church's Chicken locations in the Denver metropolitan area by 2013, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. Laredo-based Pollos Del Centro is in the process of building two new units that will open at the end of the year. ... The Denver Post's Tucker Shaw gives two and a half stars (very good/great) to Laudisio Ristorante Italiano (1710 29th St., Boulder, at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall), while Cheap Eats visits the Greek pub Pete's Central I (300 S. Pearl St.). denverpost.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff gives a B to Il Posto (East 2011 E. 17th Ave., Denver), and also reports, "Denver was ranked No. 7 in Cooking Light's June 20 Best Cities Awards feature based on how much we exercise, dollars spent on park land and high chef's wages . . . although I know some chefs who might disagree. The magazine acclaimed Rioja as "best splurge dinner," Duo as "best bistro," Restaurant Kevin Taylor as "best pre-theater dining" and Marcyzk Fine Foods as "best food finds". ... Rudi's, which introduced the notion of fine vegetarian dining to Boulder 30 years ago, has closed at 4720 Table Mesa Drive. ... Il Fornaio has closed at 1631 Wazee St. Other local outlets of the chain remain open." rockymountainnews.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Aqua (925 Lincoln Street), revisits Sparrow restaurant, and also reports that July 3, Kevin Taylor will reopen Rouge at the Teller House. ... Patrick Osborn drops by Milwaukee Street Tavern (201 Milwaukee Street). westword.com ... Boulder Weekly boulderweekly.com notes Akiyama Sushi Bar & Grill (6525 Gunpark Dr., Suite 330, Boulder) and the return of head sushi chef Benny-san, who spent the past year at New York City's famed Nobu Japanese Restaurant.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Home, Home on the Front Range

2007-06-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: The Denver Post looks at Front Range farmers markets, while critic Tucker Shaw gives two stars (very good) to the always crowded Mexican restaurant El Tejado (2651 S. Broadway), and Douglas Brown visits Daphne's Greek Cafe (1695 29th St., Suite 1248, Boulder). denverpost.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff gives an A to Fruition (1313 E. Sixth Ave., Denver). rockymountainnews.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Gennaro's Lounge (2598 South Broadway), while Patrick Osborn considers another round at Pint's Pub (221 West 13th Avenue). westword.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton reviews Kyoto Teriyaki (3280 N. 28th St., Boulder). dailycamera.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Masters Open Montecito, Annabel's

2007-05-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: Breakfast joint Toast (2700 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton) gets a B+ rating in the Rocky Mountain News, while dining critic John Lehndorff reports, "The second location of Janie, Mel and Charlie Master's Montecito opened recently at 5970 S. Holly St. in Greenwood Village, serving chef Adam Mali's cool menu. The quartet has also opened Annabel's, dishing upscale American comfort victuals, nearby at 5960 S. Holly St. ... After a six-week hiatus caused by very high live-lobster prices in Maine, Steuben's is again offering its signature fresh Maine lobster roll at the loss-leader price of $18. ... Sushi Den will open a sister eatery nearby called The Den this summer featuring izakaya and robata dining. An izakaya is a Japanese-style lounge that serves appetizer fare. In robata cuisine, a chef cooks diner-chosen ingredients on a grill. ... Dizaly has closed at 2710 E. Third Ave. Opening soon in the space is Plush! We wish to note that Bang! is the sole exception to our rigid rule: Restaurant names should never include an exclamation point. ... We lift a cool one in memory of the late Tom Eldridge. We'll remember him as the down-to-earth owner of Tom's Tavern, a reassuring oasis of darn good burgers amid Boulder's bistros. ... Coming soon: The Abbey Restaurant and Lounge, 1920 Market St.; Fantastic Bistro & Deli, opening in June in Lakewood's Belmar; Cellar, 5240 S. Main St., Aurora, under former 240 Union chef Matt Franklin; and Wolfgang Puck's Spago at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. rockymountainnews.com ... Denver Post critic Tucker Shaw gives two stars (very good) to Hoong's Palace Chinese Restaurant & Lounge (10333 E. Costilla Ave., Centennial), while the Cheap Eats column considers the Mexican eatery El Potrero (320 S. Birch St., Glendale). denverpost.com ... Westword critic Jason Sheehan reviews J'Shabu (2680 South Havana Street, Aurora), stops by Oshima Ramen, and notes, "When Jack Martinez, founder of the beloved Jack-n-Grill at 2524 Federal Boulevard, franchised his New Mexican restaurant concept to Anthony Javazon, the Jack-n-Grill at 16221 East 40th Avenue became a favorite stop for recalibrating the tastebuds after flying into DIA, and earned a Best of Denver 2007 award. But Javazon recently decided to go his own way and has turned his restaurant into Cantina Margarita, an independent joint keyed to serving the massive influx of business and hotel guests in the area." ... Sheehan also reports the closing of Frisco's Deli & Market (7057 West Alaska Drive in Lakewood) and imminent closing of LoDo Italian restaurant Il Fornaio (1631 Wazee Street) by the end of May. ... Patrick Osborn stops by Ship Tavern (321 17th Street, in the Brown Palace Hotel). westword.com ... Blog Denver.metblogs.com raves about the economical Little Anitas on S. Colorado Blvd.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Cruise Room, El Chapultepec in Esquire

2007-05-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Esquire magazine's second annual Best Bars of America list is out in the June 2007 issue. They include:

Lou's Pub & Package, Birmingham, Ala.; J Lounge, Golden Gopher, The Edison, The Broadway Bar, La Cita, Bordello, Redwood, and Bar 107, Los Angeles; Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood, Calif.; The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills; Beach Ball, Newport Beach, Calif.; Brennan's Pub, Marina Del Ray, Calif.; Bourbon & Branch, The Owl Tree, Vesuvio, and Zeitgeist, San Francisco; The Sportsman, Sonora, Calif.; Cruise Room, and El Chapultepec, Denver; Jimbo's, and Churchill's Pub, Miami; The Clermont Lounge, Atlanta; Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani Hotel, and La Mariana Sailing Club, Honolulu; The California Clipper, The Red Lion Pub, Bungalow, The Matchbox, Hideout, and Chipp Inn, Chicago; The Red Key, and Nicky Blaine's, Indianapolis; The Old Seelbach Bar, Louisville; The Chart Room, The Bar at Tujague's, Fritzel's European Jazz Pub, and Napoleon House, New Orleans; The Brewer's Art, and Shamrock Inn, Baltimore; B-Side Lounge, Cambridge, Mass.; No. 9 Park, Boston; Doyle's Cafe, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; The Bar at Seldom Blues, Detroit; Miller's Bar, Dearborn, Mich.; Bulldog NE, and Nye's Polonaise Room, Minneapolis; Half Time Rec, St. Paul; John D. McGurk's, St. Louis; Any bar on the Strip, Double Down Saloon, and Petrossian Bar, Las Vegas; Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel, Little Branch, The Bar at Keens Steakhouse, Minetta Tavern, Jimmy's Corner, The Angel's Share, The Brooklyn Inn, The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel, Flatiron Lounge, The Saloon, San Domenico Restaurant, Spuyten Duyvil, 21 Club, Grassroots Tavern, Bill's Gay 90s, Julius', and Pegu Club, New York City; Freddy's Bar & Backroom, Brooklyn; Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, Queens; Thomas Street Tavern, Charlotte, NC; Andyman's Treehouse, Columbus, Ohio; The Library Bar & Grill, Norman, Okla.; Friendly Lounge, The Grey Lodge, and Southwark, Philadelphia; Dee's Cafe, Pittsburgh; Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, and Robert's Western World, Nashville; La Tuna, San Antonio; Donn's Depot, Austin; The Inwood Lounge, Dallas; Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville, Utah; Sambar, Zig Zag Cafe, and Fu Kun Wu, Seattle; Hawk 'n' Dove, and The Tune Inn, Washington, DC; Holler House, Milwaukee.

IN THE NEWS: The Denver Business Journal reports, "Restaurateur Mel Master and his wife of 43 years, Janie, have owned and operated vineyards in France and California, and owned restaurants in New York, Connecticut and Denver. On April 28, he closed his beloved Cherry Creek North restaurant, Mel's Bar and Grill, at 235 Fillmore St. Less than two weeks later, on May 11, Master opened his new restaurant, Annabel's, at 5960 S. Holly St. in Greenwood Village, in the former Ocotillo space -- and nine days before that, he opened Montecito South next door at 5970 S. Holly St., in the former Ventura Grill location. Annabel's offers classic American cuisine, and Montecito offers Mediterranean cuisine. Meanwhile, Master plans to open a new Mel's Bar and Grill near Cherry Creek North. Montecito South is the second Montecito that Master has opened in the last year. Montecito North, at 1120 W. Sixth Ave. in Denver, opened last December." ... The annual Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County recently was announced. The list included Lucile's (breakfast), Breadworks (bakery), the Flagstaff House (fine dining), Efrain's Mexican Restaurant (Mexican), V.G. Burgers (new), The Kitchen (overall best restaurant), Khow Thai (Thai), Frasca (wine) and Laudisio (Italian). ... Its most recent issue reviews Mediterranean Market and Deli (2607 Pearl St. in
Boulder). boulderweekly.com ... The Denver Post's Kelly Yamanouchi looks for, and finds, Asian street food in area restaurants, including Lao Wang Noodle House, H Mart, Spice China, J's Noodles & New Thai, and US Thai ... Douglas Brown reviews O! Pizza (3980 Broadway in Boulder). denverpost.com ... The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff gives a B- to Golden Europe (6620 Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada) and also reports: "Stuffed-pizza fans are mourning the closing of Beniamino's Chicago Pizzeria at 1 Broadway. However, Rosati's Pizza is open at 9960 Wadsworth Parkway, Westminster, serving authentic Chicago-style pizza. Another good Windy City-inspired choice: Baked in Boulder, 1729 15th St. (near Liquor Mart). ... After opening Campo, Moda, Euro, 9th Door and, most recently, Boulder's 7 Eurobar, tapas virtuoso Michel Wahaltere has teamed up with Denver nightclub impresario Francois Safieddine. Amuse by Michel opens in late May in the back room of 5 Degrees, 1475 Lawrence St. . . . Shiraz, the fine Persian restaurant, has reopened at 9625 E. Arapahoe Road ... Limon, the hot Peruvian bistro, has expanded from 40 to more than 100 seats and is now taking reservations. ... The downtown location of Earl's Restaurant is open at 1600 Glenarm Place. ... A Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery is scheduled to open at Denver International Airport. ... Boulder's Radda Trattoria, 1265 Alpine Ave., is named one of 10 hot new restaurants across the country in Bon Appétit's June issue." ... Westword's Jason Sheehan reviews Fruition (1313 East Sixth Avenue), his choice for best new restaurant of 2006, and interviews chef Alex Seidel. Sheehan also reports, "Chef Eric Roeder has another new gig, this one just a half-block from his old home at Bistro VendÔme. Roeder, who'd worked most recently for the Lure, at 1434 Blake Street, is now executive chef at Le Rouge, the new restaurant and lounge that opened in March in the old Purple Martini space at 1448 Market Street." Sheehan signs off for the week by bemoaning the change in menu and presentation at JJ Chinese Restaurant (1048 South Federal Boulevard) and the disconnected telephone number of Hookah Cafe (270 South Downing Street), both 2006 Best of Denver Award winners for the paper. ... Westword's Patrick Osborn stops by Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake Bar (2780 East Second Avenue). westword.com ... The Daily Camera's Meg Tilton reviews the Hungry Toad, 2543 Broadway in Boulder. dailycamera.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

America's Best Restaurant Cities

2007-05-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

"Today ... most major cities in the U.S. have the kind of gastronomic diversity and regionality that is rich in every department, and even if you’ve visited recently, you can be sure that next time you go, there’ll be more new and enticing restaurants than you could possibly visit," writes Donald Burnam in a recent ForbesTraveler.com piece, "America's Best Restaurant Cities." "It’s getting hard not to have a great meal anywhere in the U.S.." Burnam continues.

Forbes' Top 10 Restaurant Cities:
1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Los Angeles
5. New Orleans
6. Houston
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Atlanta
9. Boston
10. Las Vegas

Rankings were based on: Overall number of restaurants above the fast food level; Number of fine dining restaurants with national and international standing; Solid representation of regional American food; A wide segment of second-tier restaurants that would include seafood, steakhouses, and independently chef-owned restaurants; Breadth and depth of ethnic restaurants, especially if the city has neighborhood such as a Chinatown; A significant number of neigborhood restaurants where the locals tend to eat out regularly; A well-traveled clientele that regards eating out in that city one of the real pleasures of going there.

IN THE NEWS: Good Times Restaurants Inc. will launch an advertising campaign this month to promote its new mini burger similar in size to White Castle's famous "Slyders," the Denver Business Journal reports. Golden, Colo.-based Good Times has 52 restaurants, mostly in Colorado. The company's Bambino Burgers are already available, but the campaign didn't kick off until May 14 with the slogan: "It's not the size that counts. It's the number you can eat." Good Times sells Bambino Burgers for 75 cents apiece, $2.75 for three or $3.75 for five. The burgers are about 3 inches by 3 inches. White Castle doesn't operate in Colorado, but sells a frozen version of its mini-burgers available at grocery stores in the state. ... The Denver Post's Cheap Eats looks at Joey's New York Pizza, 329 E. Colfax. denverpost.com ... Rocky Mountain News critic John Lehndorff examines some of his favorite Colorado culinary attractions, including:

Gold Hill Inn
401 Main St., Gold Hill
goldhillinn.com

Royal Gorge Dinner Train
401 Water St., Cañon City
royalgorgeroute.com

Buckhorn Exchange
1000 Osage St., Denver
buckhorn.com

Hammond's Candies
5735 Washington St, Denver
hammondscandies.com

Alfred Eames Cellars
At Puesta del Sol Vineyards, three miles south of Paonia
Call for appointment: 1-970-527-3269

Pine Creek Cookhouse
11 miles outside Aspen at the base of the Elk Mountain range
pinecreekcookhouse.com

New Belgium Brewing Company
500 Linden St., Fort Collins
newbelgium.com

... Lehndorff also notes: "Reports of the demise of the Rockybilt burger were apparently premature, according to readers responding to my May 4 column on itty-bitty burgers. The original owners of Micky Manor, Jerri and Richard Sanchez, are planning on reopening the historic eatery and lounge at 2544 Federal Blvd. rockymountainnews.com ... Westword's Jason Sheehan visits Jim 'N Nick's barbecue, 24153 East Prospect Ave. in Aurora, looks at Limón chef-owner Alex Gurevich's expansion progress, the closing of Beniamino's Chicago Pizzeria at 1 Broadway, the opening of Seventh Taste of Philly cheeseteak outlet at 1116 Broadway, and the addition chef Michel Wahaltere (ex of Moda, Campo di Fiore, Euro, 9th Door and Seven Eurobar) to 5 Degrees, at 1475 Lawrence St., where owner Francois Safieddine will open Amuse by Michel in a remodeled private back room and patio at the nightclub. westword.com ... Saxy's Cafe (2018 10th St., Boulder) gets a three-star review from Meg Tilton in The Daily Camera. dailycamera.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

R.I.P. Mel's Restaurant and Bar

2007-05-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

Jason Sheehan of Westword reports extensively on the recent closing of Cherry Creek's institution Mel's Restaurant and Bar and also mentions the recent closings of Tonti's on South Chambers Road (the other two locations in Parker and Elizabeth are still up and running) and Aurora's Afghan Village, 11002 East Yale Ave. Sheehan He also reviews Dish Bistro, 400 East 20th Ave. The Denver Post's Kyle Wagner also has filed a fine feature on Mel's. Post critic Tucker Shaw gives two stars (very good) to the New Orleans cuisine of Platte Canyon Grill, 60629 U.S. 285 in Bailey. The paper also gives shout-outs to the newly opened Smoke (241 Harris St. in Basalt) and Pulcinella Ristorante, 1800 Lawrence St. ... The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff reports on: the closing of TV Cuisine, a Thai and Vietnamese restaurant at 4980 Kipling St. in Wheat Ridge; The Gold Hill Inn is open for its 45th summer season serving a six-course meal for $31; Rouge - Kevin Taylor's steakhouse in Central City's Teller House - will be open July 4 to Sept. 3. Lehndorff gives a C- grade in his review of The Old Spaghetti Factory, 1215 18th St. ... 5280 magazine reviews: Il Posto, 2011 E. 17th Ave.; BB’s on Pearl, 1475 S. Pearl St. ; and Vesta Dipping Grill. Meg Tilton reviews Mista Italian Kitchen, 2785 Iris Ave. in Boulder, in The Daily Camera. ... Clay Fong reviews The Sink, 1165 13th St. in Boulder, in the Boulder Weekly.

Chicago's Frontera Grill won Outstanding Restaurant of the Year and Michel Richard of Michel Richard Citronelle in Washington, D.C. was named Outstanding Chef at the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony. Hosted by CBS Early Show anchor Hannah Storm, the Beard Awards were held May 7 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York's Lincoln Center. More than 60 awards were presented by the country's pre-eminent nonprofit culinary organization, in its 20th anniversary celebration, and more than 1,600 industry leaders attended the ceremony. Other top awards went to: New York's L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, named Best New Restaurant; Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Yountville, Ca.) received the award for Outstanding Restaurateur; and David Chang (Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York) received the Rising Star Chef of the Year award. Celebrity and culinary superstar attendees included Stephanie March, Ted Allen, Katie Lee Joel, Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Thomas Keller, Jose Andres, Tom Colicchio, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Padma Lakshmi, and Marcus Samuelsson. The Foundation's Media Awards took place at a separate event at the Hudson Theatre at Millennium Broadway Hotel on May 6. All Award winners received a bronze medallion etched with the image of the late James Beard, the esteemed chef, cookbook author, and food journalist. There are no cash awards. Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognizes outstanding achievement within the fine food and beverage industry in North America. For full awards results, please visit http://www.jamesbeard.org.

Beard Award highlights are:

AMERICA'S CLASSICS: Primanti Brothers, Demetrios Patrinos, Pittsburgh, Pa.; The Pickwick, Christopher Wisocki, Duluth, Minn.; Doe's Eat Place, The Signa Family, Greenville, Miss.; Aunt Carrie's, Elsie Foy, Narragansett, R.I.; I

Brookville Hotel, Mark and Connie Martin, Abilene, Kan.; Weaver D's, Dexter Weaver, Athens, Ga.

BEST CHEF, GREAT LAKES: Grant Achatz, Alinea, Chicago

BEST CHEF, MID-ATLANTIC: R.J. Cooper, III, Vidalia, Washington, DC

BEST CHEF, MIDWEST: Celina Tio, The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo.

BEST CHEF, NEW YORK CITY: David Waltuck, Chanterelle, New York, NY

BEST CHEF, NORTHEAST: Frank McClelland, L'Espalier, Boston

BEST CHEF, NORTHWEST: John Sundstrom, Lark, Seattle

BEST CHEF, PACIFIC: Traci Des Jardins, Jardinière, San Francisco

BEST CHEF, SOUTH: Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

BEST CHEF, SOUTHEAST: Scott Peacock, Watershed, Decatur, Ga.

BEST CHEF, SOUTHWEST: Nobuo Fukuda, Sea Saw, Scottsdale, Ariz.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT: L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Chef-Owner: Joël Robuchon, New York, NY

OUTSTANDING CHEF: Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, DC

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF: Michael Laskonis, Le Bernardin, New York, NY

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT: Frontera Grill, chef-owner: Rick and Deann Bayless, Chicago

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR: Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE: Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand, and Richard Melman, Tru, Chicago

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL: Paul Draper, Ridge Vineyards, Cupertino, Calif.

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE: Mark Slater, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, DC

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR: David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York, NY

Compiled by Pat Embry, WheretheLocalsEat.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

James Beard Awards Await

2007-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Roughly the dining out equivalent of The Academy Awards, The James Beard Foundation annual awards ceremony takes place Monday, May 7, at the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Go to www.jamesbeard.org for the complete list, but here's a partial list of national nominees:

-- Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard, San Francisco; Frontera Grill, Chicago; Magnolia Grill, Durham, N.C., Picholine, New York; Spiaggia, Chicago.
-- Best New Restaurant: A Voce, New York City; Chochon, New Orleans; Cut, Beverly Hills, Calif; L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, New York City; Momofuku Ssam Bar, New York City; Restaurant Guy Savoy, Las Vegas.
-- Outstanding Restaurateur: Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif; Keith McNally, Balthazar, New York City; Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (R.J. Grunts, Wildfire, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!), Chicago; Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group (Tribeca Grill, Nobu, Rubicon), New York City; Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges restaurant, New York City.
-- Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio, Craft, New York City; Lee Hefter, Spago, Beverly Hills, Calif.; Jean Joho, Everest, Chicago; Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago; Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, D.C.
-- Rising Star Chef: Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco; Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues at The Peninsula Hotel, Philadelphia; David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York; Patrick Connelly, Radius, Boston; Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, New York City.

Restaurant magazine just released its list of the world's top 100 restaurants. (http://www.theworlds50best.com/2007_list.html) Here are the U.S. entries:

The French Laundry, Yountville, Ca. (No. 4)
Per Se, New York City (No. 9)
Jean Georges, New York City (No. 18)
Le Bernardin, New York City (No. 26)
Charlie Trotter's, Chicago (No. 30)
Daniel, New York City (No. 32)
Alinea, Chicago (No. 36)
Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Ca. (No. 40)
Masa, New York City (No. 56)
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the Four Seasons, New York City (No. 64)
Peter Lugar, Brooklyn, NY (No. 69)
Nobu New York, New York City (No. 89)
Gramercy Tavern, New York city (No. 90)
WD-50, New York City (No. 91)
Zuni Café, San Francisco (No. 98)
Alex at Wynn, Las Vegas (No. 100)

IN THE NEWS: Kenneth Keymer, new CEO for Denver-based Vicorp Restaurants Inc. (Village Inn, Baker Square), is spotlighted by The Denver Business Journal. The paper also reports the formation of Denver's Independent Network of Restaurants (DINR), a group of 33 independently owned eateries, as well as the planned May opening of The Railroad Restaurant and Saloon (steaks, chops, burgers) at Boulder's new Twenty Ninth Street retail district. The area also has spring debuts set for the West Coast chain Daphne's Greek Cafe, Ai Sushi and Steak, Ruby's Diner, and Jamba Juice, with a summer opening set for Wetzel's pretzels. An upscale Mexican chain Cantina Laredo plans on an opening there in November 2007, the paper reports. denver.bizjournals.com ... From The Rocky Mountain News' John Lehndorff: Russian eatery Mirage Restaurant is open at 2648 S. Parker Road; Tin Star has closed at 5332 DTC Blvd. in Greenwood Village; Thai House has moved to 7113 Sheridan Blvd.; and coming soon, Encore, a new restaurant from Steve Whited and chef Sean Huggard of Black Pearl Restaurant, in the Lowenstein Theatre, 2550 E. Colfax Ave.; and Sobo American Bistro, Table Mesa Shopping Center, Boulder. Meanwhile, Sushi Yoshi, 406 Center Drive, Superior, gets an A- review (www.rockymountainnews.com) ... Denver Westword's Jason Sheehan (www.westword.com) reviews Richard Sandoval's La Sandía, 8340 East 49th Ave. (www.modernmexican.com). In a separate story, Sheehan wonders why Sandoval is the lone celebrity chef to establish a restaurant outpost in Denver ... 5280 magazine's Amanda M. Faison reports that the Woody Creek Tavern, a favorite haunt of the late Hunter S. Thompson, could be nearing its end after 27 years. "Mary Harris, who owns the tavern with her husband, Shep, confirmed they have had an attractive offer on the restaurant and bar and are considering getting out of the business. She says the offer is from locals, who won’t change the place. The sales price has been agreed on. As for not changing a thing, I’m skeptical because the buyers aren’t only purchasing the bar," Faison writes. (www.5280.com) ... The Daily Camera (www.dailycamera.com) reviews V.G. Burgers, 3267 28th St. in Boulder.