Bonjour Colorado

Top Chefs

Pasta from Panzano

What does it take to become a top chef?  Certainly lots of training, years of experience and a passion for creating a memorable dining experience.  The desire to make people happy seems to be the driving force behind the success of most culinary whizzes, professional and amateur alike.  (Just think of your grandma baking you your favorite cake.  My grandmother’s was a special boiled raisin cake with thick butter cream frosting that neither my mother nor I have been able to duplicate.)  This notion of people-pleasing became abundantly clear to me recently when I interviewed two notable chefs on Travel Fun.

Chef Kenny from Capella

Chef Kenny Gilbert, Executive Chef at Capella in Telluride, told me that he became interested in food when he’d watch his father barbecuing as a child.  Growing up in the South, there was always lots of barbecuing and Kenny had many opportunities to see how people enjoyed it so much.  

Chef Elise Wiggins, Executive Chef at Panzano in Denver, talked to me about a similar experience.  She explained that in her native Louisiana, much of life revolves around eating.  “It’s about good times with family and friends.  I learned at a young age that you can make a lot of people happy by cooking.”

Both went on to pursue their love of cooking at culinary school and began to rack up experience at home and abroad in the kitchens of some of the best known restaurants in the world.  Chef Kenny draws largely upon basic French techniques that emphasize such fundamental practices as kitchen organization and garde manger (pantry) management.  Chef Elise has been greatly influenced by her mother who spent summers in northern Italy, preparing regional dishes for her family and also by many Italian chefs with whom she studied over the years.  Her regular travels to Italy have helped her to hone her knowledge of largely northern Italian cuisine, the emphasis at Panzano.   Chef Elise pays particular attention to how flavors change according to the terroir in Italy, especially in products such as cheese and salumi.

Chef Elise from Panzano

So it comes as no surprise that at Capella in Telluride you might find a barbecued pulled pork sandwich on the menu at Suede, the hotel’s swanky informal bistrot, and a superior cut of meat served up at Onyx, this tony establishment’s more high-end restaurant.  Chef Kenny’s whimsical note is rolled out in the form of a multi-tiered candy cart that showcases everything from puckery lemonheads and swirl pops to luscious truffles and pâte de fruits.  “I like to serve up childhood favorites,” Chef Kenny says.  “I’ve seen a diner moved to tears over Swedish fish.”  Creating and conjuring up memories is after all an essential part of the dining experience.

At Panzano, gorgeous plates of food composed of the freshest ingredients and many house made specialties such as hand cured meats delight discriminating diners in Denver, a city that is quickly becoming one of the food capitals of the country.  If you haven’t tried one yet, this is where you’ll find the best grilled Caesar salad on the planet.  Who would ever think grilled romaine could taste this good?  “It’s a simple technique with simple ingredients,”  Chef Elise says.

Lighting Up Mountain Village with Telluride Festival of the Arts

Chef Kenny and Chef Elise will have the opportunity to meet up and create some culinary magic together at the Telluride Festival of the Arts, a celebration of the visual and culinary arts that’s taking place this year August 14 through 16.  They’re both participating in a gastronomic extravaganza with Hosea Rosenberg, winner of Bravo’s 2009 Top Chef.  “It’s a well-organized, flawless event that features a great mix of people,” Chef Elise told me.    This will be her second year at the festival and my first.  I’m really looking forward to it, too, not only since one of this year’s highlights will be a free concert by Joan Osborne but also because it has become abundantly clear to me that foodie events big and small are about making people happy.

One of Chef Kenny's Creations

Kitchen Tip from Chef Kenny Gilbert

“Time management is key.  It’s really about the mise en place,” Chef Kenny emphasizes.  “Have everything in place, write your list out, check inventory and have everything right in front of you.”  I’m hoping this will up my chances of having everything ready at once and served at the desired temperature!

Culinary Advice from Chef Elise Wiggins

Memorize flavors.  “Act like a three year-old and put everything in your mouth in its raw state and then you will remember its flavor,” Chef Elise says.  “This also helps you to realize that you can overdue it with certain herbs.”

Onyx and Suede are the two signature restaurants of Capella, Telluride, 970-369-0880, www.capellatelluride.com

Panzano, located in the Hotel Monaco, 909 17th Street at Champa, Denver, 303-296-3525, www.panzano-denver.com

Note that Chef Elise gives cooking classes once a month specializing in everything from pickling and preserving to the preparation of turduckin, a classic Cajun dish served at Christmas.

Type Capella or Panzano into the search in the upper right hand corner of my Web site to read more about my dining experiences at Onyx and Panzano.  You can also read my story on Hotel Monaco by typing Hotel Monaco into the search.  You’ll notice that I put a quirky spin on it.

Book Picks

Chef Kenny recommends “Developing the Leaders Around You,” by John C. Maxwell.  This book has helped him to look at his employees as potential leaders, not just employees.  “In the kitchen, I feel everyone is a struggling artist, so it’s important to understand people’s skill sets in order to help them create goals and to achieve them,” Kenny says.  “If I can give to the employee and they give to me, then they’ll give back to the guests and the guests will feel their passion.”

Chef Elise loves “Eat, Pray, Love,” by Elizabeth Gilbert and so do I.  The food scenes in particular are extraordinary!

Bon Appétit!

Viva Italia, Viva Italian Americans, Viva la Dolce Vita in Denver

Clemente.  My name ends with a vowel, just like Delgato, Cardaluccio, pizza.  When my grandparents emigrated from Italy our name was actually spelled Clementi.  They Americanized it somewhat with an “e.”  Even Frankie Valli once contemplated making  his stage name Vally with a “y.”  But he opted to be a good ‘ole Jersey Boy and settled on Valli and in so doing preserved more of his Italian heritage.

My dad is a Frankie, too.  Not from Jersey but from Troy, New York.  Close enough.  Recently the music of the Jersey Boys helped him to reconnect with his roots.  I spent a lot of time back east this past summer helping my father get through a difficult passage in his life and every step of the way we were serenaded by the melodious and memorable sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  We became Jersey Boys addicts.  My dad had seen this explosive Broadway show that recounts the story of four Italian American guys and their rise to fame last spring.  Their hits from “Sherry” to “Oh, What a Night” to “My Eyes Adored You” to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and more buoyed him up to a place of joy he had not known in quite some time.  Through this music, I could tell my dad was retracing part of his own story.  And I was right there with him, rediscovering a sound and a slice of Italian American culture I had not paid much attention to in quite some time.

So when I heard Jersey Boys was coming to Denver at the end of last year, I knew I had to experience this show.  I had originally hoped to go with my father but he wasn’t planning to make it to Colorado this winter; it would be the first ski season in many years he would miss.  Still, I needed to go; I had to hear this foot-stomping music live.  I also knew it would be a way to reconnect with my dad even if he wasn’t seated beside me.

Since I rarely do anything halfway, I decided to plan twenty-four hours around an Italian theme in Denver.  The logical hotel choice would have been Hotel Teatro, Denver’s premiere boutique hotel, an intimate establishment that exudes all the sophistication and style of an exclusive Italian villa.  Having stayed at Teatro before, I decided to try something new and instead opted for The Brown Palace, a Denver landmark of the finest quality designed in the Italian Renaissance style.  (Who ever would have imagined that of such a great western destination?)

I checked in to The Brown Palace Hotel early—just after noon—and was instantly transported into a world of grandeur most associated with the finest hotels of New York, Chicago or London.  The bellman whisked me through the ornately decorated lobby and inner courtyard festooned with garlands, beads and some 100,000 little white lights.  A glittering chandelier as big as a small hot air balloon hung blithely over the courtyard which was now filling up with people turned out in their Sunday best; most were gathering for tea, a Brown Palace tradition carried out throughout the year that becomes exceedingly prized during the holidays.  (People reserve as much as a year in advance for a teatime table here in December but if there’s only two of you and your schedule is flexible, there’s always a chance you may be seated.)

I hastened to arrange a few of my belongings in my room before hustling off to meet David Craig, the General Manager of Hotel Teatro, for lunch.  Dave has turned out to be my point man of sorts in Denver since he is always eager to share his best addresses with me in order to clue me in on what’s hot and what’s not in this burgeoning city.  

We had dined before together at Prima Ristorante, Teatro’s signature restaurant overseen by renowned chef, Kevin Taylor, although today Dave decided to introduce me to one of his favorite out-of-house Italian restaurants instead.  (Located almost next door to The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, know that Prima is a pre theater hot spot and also a favorite for a post theater nightcap and dessert.  Its high ceiling, long, flowing curtains ruby red velvet banquettes evoke a theatrical mood that rounds out beautifully any evening devoted to the arts.)

Knowing that I’m a big fan of Larimer Square, the anchor to Denver’s historic LoDo, or lower downtown, Dave ushered me into Osteria Marco, one of many fine restaurants created within the subterranean locales of this bustling street.  Brick walls, black tables and dark lighting further enhanced the downstairs hideaway feel of this large, informal Italian eatery.  Dave took charge of the ordering and our table was promptly covered with a sampling of Osteria Marco specialities including burrata, a homemade cheese made of a firm mozzarella exterior and a creamy ricotta center, bresaola, a cured meat, and meatball sliders.  The restaurant is, in fact, well known for their house made cheeses and meats in addition to showcasing some savory offerings from the rotisserie.    This is not your typical Italian restaurant, though, since the menu features only one pasta, a homemade lasagna that I would imagine is the talk of the town.

Dave and I talked about the Italian food scene throughout much of the lunch since I made it clear that I had suddenly become obsessed with everything Italian, at least for this twenty-four hour period.  “There’s not an Italian neighborhood in Denver like you find in many other big American cities,” he explained.  “But we do have some fantastic Italian restaurants.  Frank Bonanno is one of the owners and chefs behind Osteria Marco,” he continued.  And it was only minutes later that this driving force on the culinary scene in Denver passed by our table to say hello.  It’s always impressive to see a chef working the room but even more so when the guy in charge is also the inspiration behind two other dining establishments, Luca d’Italia, a high-end Italian restaurant and Bones, a soon-to-be-launched noodle bar that I’m sure will be the next fun place to check out on the Denver dining scene.

“Il Posto is one of the very best Italian restaurants in Denver,” Dave added as I queried him further about the Italian dining extravaganza that I was soon beginning to associate with the mile-high city.  “I like it because Andrea (the chef and owner) makes the menu fresh every day.  He rarely uses more than five ingredients.  They do the best red beet risotto you could imagine.  Their espresso pasta is really good, too.  Their cuisine is really innovative.”  My mouth was already watering even though I was just finishing up my last forkfuls of rotisserie chicken salad with pancetta, blue cheese and red onion at Osteria Marco.

“I’ve been to Barolo Grill before,” I chimed in.  “They offer an extraordinary dining experience as well.  Chef Brian Laird also composes his dishes around the best-sourced ingredients of the season.  He’s a big proponent of the Slow Food movement,” I trailed off once David Craig, one of the more influential persons in the hospitality world in Denver concurred that this Cherry Creek establishment is indeed a superior address.  

“And what do you think about Panzano at Hotel Monaco?”  I ventured, knowing that perhaps I was entering touchy territory since I was referring to an Italian restaurant that happened to be housed in Denver’s other first class boutique hotel.  (The parallels between Prima Ristorante and Hotel Teatro were striking.)  

“Oh, that’s a fine address as well,” Dave declared without flinching.

“Good, because that’s where I’m headed tonight.”

Dave and I bidded ciao to each other and I was left feeling grateful that he always provided not only good company but excellent addresses during my stays in Denver.

I hopped on the free bus at the 16th Street Mall and headed toward the Denver Art Museum, one of my perennial favorites in this cosmopolitan capital of the West.  Usually I check out one or more of the temporary exhibitions here, most of which are located in the new section of the museum, the edgy, Rockies-inspired Hamilton Building, designed by Daniel Libeskind.  But this time I headed directly to their permanent collection of European and American Art housed in the old section of the museum.  I was in quest, more specifically, of Italian art.  

Museum going after a leisurely lunch is one of my favorite things to do when traveling.  Here I was taken by their choice selection of paintings and furnishings showcased against richly painted walls the color of the earth and sky.  I was thrilled to discover that the museum boasted works by many Italian masters including Botticelli, Veronese and Caravaggio.  My impressions were further enhanced by the Campari and Pinot Grigio I had consumed at lunch.  I was truly living la dolce vita.  Had it not been for the occasional descriptions in English, I would have thought I was at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

The closing bell snapped me out of my reverie and I hurried back to the hotel to change for the evening.  Turndown had already taken place and housekeeping had left gentle, classical music tuned in in the room.  I soaked it up with as much earnest as if I was listening to an Italian aria at La Scala.

I welcomed the short walk over to Panzano where I was to meet my friend Margie, another well-traveled gal and ardent Francophile, for dinner.  It was hard to imagine I was going to be feasting again but by the time the waiter brought over a glass of Prosecco and a plate of figs accompanied by mascarpone and grilled pancetta, I was easily back into the mode of fine Italian dining.  More glorious courses followed—from Panzano’s award-winning grilled (yes, grilled!) Ceaser salad to Spaghetti Carbonara to Scallopine di Vitello to chocolate truffle cake—each accompanied by a perfectly paired sampling of wine from some of the most distinctive vineyards in Italy.  

I learned that Chef Elise Wiggins wields her culinary genius here with an expertise that transforms local and sustainable ingredients into contemporary Northern Italian cuisine at lunch and dinner.  Here, too, the foundation of the restaurant’s offerings revolves around many homemade specialties such as pancetta, sundried tomatoes, tapenade, gelato and an array of flavorful breads.  Margie and I joked about switching our allegiances from France to Italy.  Clearly she was very much in the spirit of my Italian theme and had even donned a Missoni top for the occasion.

We trotted off to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to see Jersey Boys, the main act in my Italian flight of fancy.  Soon we felt high on food and drink and dance and music.  I mouthed the words to the songs that I had come to know by heart with my dad.  It was extraordinary to hear these familiar tunes performed live.  Suddenly I felt empty though and pangs of sadness hit as I tumbled down from my sugar rush.  I missed my dad terribly and wished he, too, was sitting there with Margie and me.  But the music grabbed me again, allowing no room for a funk.  I got right back in the groove and in so doing realized that my dad was, in fact, right there with me.  He was singing and laughing and snapping his fingers right along with me.  That’s the magic of music and memories.  That’s the magic of Jersey Boys.

I lounged in my luxurious room at The Brown Palace the better part of the next day, languishing over the Jersey Boys program and the booklet that recounted the rich history of this illustrious place of lodging.  A maple syrup-drenched Belgium waffle and a flood of coffee served as the best remedy for my excesses from the day before.  I mustered up just enough strength to pad down into the recently opened Brown Palace Spa to take a steam.  I was tired from my whirlwind trip to Italy but felt amazingly well for having indulged in so much food and wine.  It was all of the finest quality, so I was not surprised about feeling so clear-headed and well hydrated.

I looked over the garland draped railing of the atrium-like courtyard onto the festive scene below.  Little girls scampered about in jewel-colored velvet dresses with teddy bears tucked under their arms.  Three-tiered silver stands were being gingerly placed on the hotel’s eclectic assortment of tea tables.  Tea and Champagne (or perhaps Prosecco?) was flowing.  It was another joyous day at The Brown Palace.  I checked out humming Jersey Boys tunes in my head.  I felt more proud of my Italian-ness than ever before.  This might indeed be the first chapter to a new life, I thought.  Maybe I’ll get around to learning Italian after all.  And I know I’ll embark upon another themed weekend in the not-too-distant future.  Why, there’s Sonnenalp in Vail for a hit of Bavaria and, of course, Paris Las Vegas, both within a reasonable distance away.

Denver Hotels with an Italian Flair

Hotel Teatro, 1100 14th Street, 303-228-1100 or 800-727-1200, www.hotelteatro.com

The Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th Street, 303-297-3111 or 800-321-2599, www.brownpalace.com

Hotel Monaco, 1717 Champa Street at 17th, 303-296-1717, www.monaco-denver.com

Denver Italian Restaurants

Prima Ristorante, 1100 14th Street, 303-228-1100 or 800-727-1200, www.hotelteatro.com/teatro/dining/prima

Osteria Marco, 1453 Larimer, 303-534-5855, www.osteriamarco.com

Luca d’Italia, 711 Grant Street, 303-832-6600, www.lucadenver.com

Il Posto, 2011 East 17th Street, 303-394-0100, www.ilpostodenver.com

Barolo Grill, 3030 East Sixth Avenue, 303-393-1040, www.barologrilldenver.com

Panzano, 909 17th Street at Champa, 303-296-3525, www.panzano-denver.com

Maggiano’s Little Italy, 500 16th Street, 303-260-7707, www.maggianos.com, another of my Denver favorites.  The food and ambiance are so good and authentic that you’d never know that this is a chain restaurant.  I love the Denver Pavillon location, just off the 16th Street Mall, which is very close to the Denver Art Museum.

Denver Arts Musts

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 303-893-4000 or 303-893-4100 or 800-641-1222,  www.denvercenter.org

Denver Art Museum, 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Streets, 720-865-5000, www.denverartmuseum.org

Italian Food and Wine Programs in Denver

Panzano, Barolo Grill and Osteria Marco offer cooking classes and wine tastings on a fairly regular basis.

Travel to Italy

Go here to see travel recommendations from Barolo Grill.

And for those seeking a French fix, go to Spirit of Provence to discover Margie’s passion for France and French goods.

Holiday Time in Denver

Ebenezer Scrooge at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Having grown up in upstate New York, a trip to the big apple was almost a tradition around this time of year to take in the festive ambiance, glittering decorations, holiday entertainment specials and a bit of shopping.  For many of us, Denver is the big city and I already know a lot of people planning a trip there before winter truly sets in.  For shopping, a trip to Cherry Creek Shopping Center is a must.  Cherry Creek Mall and Cherry Creek North serve as home to some of the most alluring stores in the Rockies.  I suggest you stay at Loews Denver Hotel, a luxury property that is offering screaming deals on weekend travel (Thursday-Sunday) with rates beginning as low as just over $100. a night.  They’re a short shuttle ride away from the mall and they offer a ton of perks and discounts on Cherry Creek and more that will make your stay pay for itself. Entertainment-wise, you’ll want to take in at least one of the exciting shows at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.  A Christmas Carol and Jersey Boys are sure to be tops, and in my opinion, the perfect antidotes to any bah humbug sentiments brought on by these blustery times.  Denver has become quite the arts capital, you know.  Why, it almost reminds me of New York City.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 303-388-3900, www.shopcherrycreek.com

Loews Denver Hotel, 303-782-9300, www.loewshotels.com/denver

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 303-893-4100, www.dcpa.org

A Christmas Carol Finale

More LoDo Love

Larimer Square (photo courtesy of DMCVB)

My late-August jaunt was such a flash trip to Denver that I didn’t have time to hit my favorite haunts, most of which are located in LoDo, Denver’s historic Lower Downtown, a 26-block area between the main part of downtown and Union Station.  This section is fun to explore by foot so that you can best take in its abundance of high western Victorian buildings, many of which house interesting stores, art galleries, restaurants, bars and hotels.

Lobby of The Oxford Hotel

When possible, I like to step into the lobby at The Oxford Hotel and breathe in its wonderful western flair; it always leaves me imagining how easterners felt arriving here a hundred years ago.  “It’s an example of authenticity,” says Dana Crawford, referring to this handsome space filled with distinguishing features such as a large marble reception desk, brass lamps and artwork in the spirit of the West.  As one of our country’s leading preservationists, Dana was not only the driving force behind the restoration of The Oxford Hotel, but she has also been pivotal in the entire revitalization of LoDo, a project that began in the fifties with Larimer Square and continues today with the billion dollar development of light rail coming to Union Station and the restoration of this landmark site.  It is largely thanks to Dana that LoDo became one of the most handsome and historic revitalized areas of America.  

Hotel Teatro represents the new face of LoDo as well as Denver’s vibrant arts scene.  Housed within an historic building and situated across the street from The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Hotel Teatro exudes a marvelous Commedia dell’Arte feeling that is both warm and welcoming and highly sophisticated.  “It feels like a private residence,” says David Craig, General Manager of Hotel Teatro.  

Teatro Wall Art

It is indeed a glorious palladio, beautifully decorated with costumes, masks and posters, all of which accent the hotel’s swank, luxurious décor.  If you do stop in here, be sure to take in the magnificent theater costumes and props showcased downstairs.  Hotel Teatro is also a home away from home for many renowned artists, so you never know who you might run into here.  I can imagine myself sitting in the corner booth at Prima Ristorante, one of the hotel’s two restaurants operated by renowned chef Kevin Taylor, sipping a cappuccino waiting for my prince…or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince…or some other person of interest to step onto the scene.  

The Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th Street, 303-628-5400, www.theoxfordhotel.com

Hotel Teatro, 1100 14th Street, 303-228-1100, www.hotelteatro.com

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1101 13th Street, 303-893-9582, www.denvercenter.org

Book Pick

“Men to Match My Mountains,” by Irving Stone.  “This is a great book about the opening of the West,” says Dana Crawford.

Night Out in Denver

I love visiting a place when it’s in the throes of a big happening.  It couldn’t have gotten much bigger recently in Denver during the Democratic National Convention.  The streets were buzzing with all kinds of people from all over the country, all over the world, in fact.  I had never seen so many fashionable looking people in the mile high city—the old cow town myth has certainly been put to rest!

After a short while though I was feeling rather alone in the crowd.  So I went and sought comfort at Tattered Cover, one of my all-time favorite bookstores and certainly one of the finest book emporiums in our country.  Their LoDo, or Lower Downtown, location pleases me the best; this worked out well since that’s the area where most of the Convention hoopla was taking place.

Fortunately just as I was beginning to tire from checking my e-mails from my cozy armchair at this most welcoming bookstore, I received a call from David Craig, General Manager of Hotel Teatro, Denver’s award-winning boutique hotel.  It was time for some distraction and I was more than willing to receive it from this charming man, certainly one of Denver’s most eligible bachelors.

The Capital Grille on Larimer

We met at The Capital Grille, a popular address on Larimer Street (also known as Larimer Square at this level) that seemed to be a favorite among men in suits and high-heeled ladies.  We were fortunate to find a table within the especially busy bar area, so we slipped into the banquette (side by side, of course!) in order to take in every bit of this bustling scene as the crisp white linens were smoothed out before us.  I admired the rich mahogany paneling and original oil paintings that distinguish this handsome restaurant’s interior and was amazed when Dave informed me that there’s a Capital Grille in most gateway cities.  Really you had to look very hard to find anything cookie cutter about this place.  

We feasted on perfectly chilled oysters, buttered pieces of sweet, dark bread and champagne (Suntini for Dave, which is a martini made with mandarin-flavored vodka and Grand Marnier, garnished with orange slices).  It was more than fun to catch up in such a manner.  We had met last November at his hotel and now it was refreshing to see each other in a less professional context.  

Next stop:  across the street at Corridor 44.  “This is the best champagne bar in Denver,” Dave said.  “It’s really the only one.”

“What about Cru?” I asked.

“That’s really more for wine,” he informed me.

We both enjoyed Raspberry Truffle champagne cocktails, a delicious nectar made from raspberry vodka, Godiva chocolate liqueur and champagne and then topped off with fresh raspberries.  Here, too, we were lucky to have found a couple of seats at the bar where we were perfectly positioned to take in another alluring décor, this time in a more elegant era genre reminiscent of the fifties.  White leather demi-lune booths, crystal chandeliers and black and white films that played on a large T.V. screen further enhanced the romantic feel of this dreamy enclave.  I was particularly taken with the quote above the bar which, not surprisingly, prompted me to remind Dave that it was indeed a French monk, Dom Perignon, who invented champagne.

Come quickly, I’m drinking stars.

—Dom Perignon

And by now, it seemed that that was very much how we both felt.

The party was only beginning, however, since the sky was just turning dark.  Dave whisked me off to Writer Square, a quaint grouping of shops and restaurants between Larimer and Lawrence Streets and 15th and 16th Streets.  Red Square Euro Bistro was the destination he clearly had in mind.  We marched passed the restaurant’s sprawling patio filled with stylish diners into the red-walled interior of this large establishment.  We hunkered down at the bar and began to chat with the warm and welcoming Steve Ryan, owner of Red Square.  I gulped down several glasses of water before sampling one of their many vodkas from all over the world.  Dave took a shot of the black pepper vodka, I sipped a delicious anise flavored one.  Somehow the garlic vodka seemed like a bad choice.

People around us dined on elegantly presented plates of rack of lamb and Stroganoff, but we didn’t seem to have much of an appetite.  We were having fun talking about all and nothing.  I continued to take a few notes nonetheless although even they were becoming increasingly undecipherable.  (In looking back at them, I discover one scribbled line that I’m not sure to whom it should be attributed, whether to Dave, me or someone entirely different.  It reads as follows:  “What I miss in discipline, I make up for in passion.”  Must have been me.)

Diners at Crêpes 'n Crêpes

We bid goodbye to Steve and scooted across the way to Crêpes ‘n Crêpes.  It couldn’t have been a more perfect choice since by now we both needed to eat something in a no-frills setting.  We bellied up to the crêpe counter where we could sit and watch our crêpes being made.  I instantly chatted up the young Frenchman working his magic at the burners before us; I think he was relieved to speak French with a client for a change.  Dave and I agreed that sweet or savory, these were true masterpieces both in their making and in their final form.  He gobbled up a banana and cream wonder while I lingered over every morsel of a mushroom (both wild and domestic) and camembert crêpe.  It was perhaps the best crêpe I ever tasted.  

Sweet Endings

Truly satiated, we left this pleasant eatery and the rest of LoDo with the feeling that Democratic Convention or not, Denver was definitely a fun place to hang out and as always, it’s best experienced à deux.

Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street at Wynkoop, 303-436-1070, www.tatteredcover.com

Hotel Teatro, 1100 14th Street, 303-228-1100; www.hotelteatro.com

The Capital Grille, 1450 Larimer Street, 303-539-2500, www.thecapitalgrille.com

Corridor 44, 1433 Larimer Square, 303-893-0044, www.corridor44.com

Cru Wine Bar, 1442 Larimer Street, 303-893-9463, www.cruawinebar.com

Red Square Euro Bistro, 1512 Larimer St., Suite 38R, 303-595-8600, www.redsquarebistro.com

Crêpes ‘n Crêpes, 1512 Larimer Street, 303-534-1620