Favorite Food of Utah: Deep Fried Cheese Curds

When I lived in Utah...I had a blog called What's A Utahn To Do. I started it about 6 months before I moved, not realizing that I'd be rushing back to my home state of Colorado.

I was frustrated that I couldn't find info on the internet about great restaurants and things to do so I decided to make a site that offered those things. I should have started sooner....

Of all of the places we tried in our time in Utah...these Deep Fried Cheese Curds were my favorite! If you are ever in Ogden Utah, you must find this fabulous little hole in the wall BBQ joint and have these. This gem, called Soul & Bones BBQ is located in Downtown Ogden.



The mac and cheese and St. Louis ribs were quite good too. Only complaint....no beer. But that's Utah for you....

Le Central

My (available) Brother in Law Robert took me on a date last weekend. He let me pick an event and then he surprised me with dinner.

He proved that he's been listening because I took me to Le Central in Downtown Denver.

I've never had French food before so I've been excited for a long time check this place out. I was excited to try a few things that I've never had before.

We started with a bottle of  2005 Saint Emilion Grand Cru (Cotes Rocheuses).  It had a full, ripe flavor just like the menu said and it went down really easy.  It was the perfect wine to go with the choices we made.

I was walking on the wild side in my stilettos so I decided to try Escargot Bourguignons.  Our lovely waitress recommend this as a beginners dish and I was delighted with it!  Little escargots and mushrooms floating in a sea of butter.

Robert talked about how he always orders the Mussels with unlimited fries...also known as moules et frites!  I suggested that we share them and then share an entree.  He thought this was a fabulous idea!

I had my heart set on the Cassoulet du Central.  The menu describes it as white beans simmered with duck confit, sausage, pork, lamb, garlic, tomatoes and onions; topped with a pork sausage, duck confit and gratineed with breadcrumbs.  It is heaven in a bowl.  We stated that we wanted to share and they split the dish for us.

The nice thing about sharing dishes is that you have room for dessert!

I selected something for us to share and surprised Robert.  As it turned out...he's not a fan of chocolate so I got to eat most of it.  YAY me!

This delicious little gem is called Trois Chocolat.  It was lady fingers layered with white chocolate mouse, raspberry preserves and the topped with a dark chocolate ganache.  I loved every single bite!


Le Central
112 E 8th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
303.863.8094
Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week
Facebook Page

Bubble Tea, Yes Please!

Last weekend, I was at Belmar with my family.  My kids love to go to Dick's Sporting Goods and ride bikes all over the second floor.  My apologies if you've been run over by one of my children.

It was a really nice day so we decided to park by the new Target (opening March 6th) and walk.  That's when I noticed Wystone's World Tea.  I sent my family ahead to Dick's and I took a seat on the patio in the sun.

I scanned the extensive menu and I saw it.

Bubble Tea!!

I had a Bubble Tea in Salt Lake City over a year ago.  It was so good but I couldn't find a place selling them in my town.  I'd forgotten all about them!  When I moved back to Colorado...I didn't even think that I could get one here.  Such a great surprise!

I ordered the Mango and asked for Tapioca Pearls.  It was so delicious and it was the perfect patio drink.

I decided I needed a little bitty treat so I ordered a Petits Four.  Yum!

You won't believe the number of teas you can try in this place!  And they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner too.  I noticed a Crab Cake Benedict....I must try it!

Wystone's World Teas
7323 W Alaska Drive
Lakewood, CO 80226
303-663-5775
Mon-Fri 9am-9pm
Sat 9am-9pm
Sun 9am-6pm
Twitter: @Wystonesteas

Disclosure: I didn't receive any free tea or chocolates for this post. I just like to try new places.

5280 Magazine 6 Top Craft Beers

5280 Magazine created a six pack of Colorado's top 6 craft beers for a limited time.  For some reason if you tell me that I can only get something for a short time or that there are only 5,280 of something.  I have to get it.

I'm crazy or something.

I dragged my family out in the cold last Friday night to Mile High Wine and Spirits in Belmar and found my six pack.  My intention was to share (because I'm a good wife) it with my husband and to do our own taste test during the Super Bowl.  We got through 4 of them before I got a migraine.  And finished the other two last night while watching The Bachelor.

iKeith and I do not have the same taste in beer so I thought this was a great assortment for us to try.  We both had a favorite and one that we both liked.  Here are the results:

iKeith's Favorite:

  Red Ale from O'Dell Brewing Co

Connie's Favorite:

 White Rascal from Avery Brewing Co.

We both liked:

Milk Stout from Left Hand Brewing Co.

Puerto Rican Chicken in Green Sauce

I was feeling all domestic today so I threw my apron on and decided to actually cook something.

I found this recipe in Food & Wine's December 2010 issue and I thought it sounded so great because I love cilantro! I was intoxicated by the smell of my food processor blending all of these veggies together. I love using this machine because it makes life so much easier....except for the fact that it lives in the hall closet in my little apartment.

I decided to leave the jalapeno seeds in because I was making this for me and my husband and the children wouldn't be eating it. It is nice and spicy! I think if you leave them out you could serve it to your kids.

I also won't use drumsticks again. It took forever for the them to cook. The boneless thighs were ready long before the drumsticks. If you're using bone in chicken...use the new cook times that I've indicated in the recipe. I also recommend cutting the chicken into smaller piece so that it's easier to eat.

This dish is delicious with lots of salt and lime.  Kind of like Jose Cuervo.  

Puerto Rican Chicken in Green Sauce
adapted from Food and Wine December 2010
my changes in italics

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch chunks
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups packed cilantro leaves
6 garlic cloves, halved
2 large jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1 1/4 pounds medium red skinned potatoes, cut in half and then sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 limes, cut in wedges
Steamed rice and lime wedges, for serving


Season the chicken with salt, pepper and the cumin. Let stand for 10 minutes.


Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the cilantro, garlic, jalapeños, onion, red and green bell peppers, wine and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and puree.


Transfer the puree to a slow cooker and stir in the chicken stock. Add the chicken. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour and 45 minutes 2 hours and 15 minutes, shifting the chicken a few times, until the chicken is cooked through.


Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the stew. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper and nestle them into the stew. Cover and cook on high, shifting the potatoes a few times, until tender, about 30 minutes 45 minutes. Season the stew with salt and pepper.


Spoon the potatoes into shallow bowls and drizzle with olive oil. Arrange the chicken on the potatoes and ladle the sauce all around. Put in a bowl and serve with rice and lime wedges.

Wynkoop Brewing Co.

A few months ago we were traipsing around Downtown Denver because we were participating in a scavenger hunt for Denver Arts Week and it brought us to Wynkoop Brewing Co.  We were hungry so instead of just having a pint of beer we decided to eat lunch.

I love cheese steak sandwiches so I was really excited to see one on the menu.  The thinly sliced steak was really well seasoned and the onions, peppers and mushrooms were tender and juicy.  Fabulous cheesy goodness!  I ate all of it and most of the fries too.  I was hoping that all of the walking would counter-balance the calories.

My husband was in the mood for breakfast so he ordered from the brunch menu.  He loved his Eggs Benedict and even ordered a side of pancakes.  It went great with his beer.  Weirdo.

We had the kids with us and they ordered a root beer and the kids Mac and Cheese.  As soon as it came to the table I knew I was going to be eating some of their meal too because it was made with white cheese.  I was almost reluctant to let them eat it because if they really liked it...they may never eat the boxed Mac and Cheese again!

By the way, they also make an adult sized version with beer bread crumbs and you can add chicken or sausage to it.  YUM!

Wynkoop Brewing Co.
1634 18th Street
Denver, CO 80202
303.297.2700
Twitter
Facebook

Denver Restaurant Week 2011

I feel like I've been waiting my WHOLE life for this.

Or at least 4 years....since I moved away to the land of canned and bland food. (Utah)

February 26 - March 11 2011 is Denver Restaurant Week.  Wait a minute.  Isn't that TWO weeks?

Here is the List of Restaurants for Denver Restaurant Week! If you click on the bars at the top of the Denver.org website..you can look for restaurants by neighborhood and by cuisine.  Participating restaurants will offer a multi-course dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two or $26.40 for just one person.

It's going to be hard for me to choose between:

Argyll Gastro Pub

Le Central French Restaurant

CRU Wine Bar

Euclid Hall Bar and Kitchen

Venue

Strings

D Bar Desserts

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant

 240 Union

I may have to put them all in a hat and pick one....or visit them all!