Category: Colorado

Claire’s Restaurant – Estes Park, CO

After waking up to a beautiful Colorado sunrise and watching elk graze along the side of the street, it was time for breakfast. Estes Park offered a few options to choose from. When we came to Claire’s Restaurant, we thought this would be a great choice.

The menu was filled with classic breakfast choices. I went for the simple classic breakfast. It was scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, and an English muffin. There was a generous portion of scrambled eggs. I ended up chopping up my bacon and mixing it throughout my eggs. The potatoes were hand cut. They were crispy from being fried. I ate them with ketchup. I normally do not do that, but these potatoes reminded me of steak fries and those normally require ketchup.

 The English muffin was a nice addition. It had been a while since I have had one of these with breakfast. It was toasted so the edges got crispy. I spread some strawberry jelly all over it. I ate it last and it really hit the spot.

The other breakfast that was ordered was the Long’s Peak Omelet. This was a classic western omelet. There was diced ham, green peppers, onions, and cheddar cheese all mixed between the fluffy eggs. The peppers and onions gave great savory notes to the salty flavor of the ham. It was a pretty big omelet. It also came with those yummy homemade potatoes.

Claire’s Restaurant was the perfect place to grab breakfast. We got there early so we did not have to wait for a table. It gave us the energy we needed to continue with our hiking through Rocky Mountain National Park.

Check them out at www.clairesrestaurantandbar.com

Enjoy!

T

Dunraven – Estes Park, CO

Estes Park is a beautiful town within the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. While exploring the park, we decided to spend the night in town at the Estes Park Resort. The resort backed up to a beautiful lake. There were chairs and fire pits set up all around so visitors could watch the sun set over the majestic mountains and look up at the bright stars.

The resort had a wonderful restaurant called Dunraven that we made reservations for. Since it was a beautiful evening, we got a table outside on the patio.

We started off the meal with the calamari fritte. This was crispy fried calamari that was served with tartar sauce and homemade marinara sauce. The seasoning in the breading was great. It had a wonderful salty taste. And the crunch from frying was perfect. The calamari was tender too.

I ordered a cup of the minestrone soup. The temperature of the soup was just what I needed to help stay warm from the cool mountain air, as the sun was setting. There was a generous amount of beans in the soup. The broth had a great savory taste.

I ordered the shrimp scampi for my dinner. The shrimp was cooked in a fantastic garlic and sherry sauce. The garlic flavor was intense, but wonderful. It is the best flavor to complement shrimp.

This dish also came with fresh asparagus and a polenta cake. They prepared the polenta by slicing pieces and sautéing it on each side until it because crispy. Normally polenta I have enjoyed was softer and more like mashed potatoes or grits. This was unique and had a fantastic texture. I liked how crispy the edges were. It was easy to eat with a fork. There was a subtle salty taste that was addicting.

I got to try the eggplant parmesan. It was a large dish because it also came over pasta. The eggplant was sliced thin and fried up to be crispy. I could taste the oregano and basil that was mixed into the breading on the eggplant. The fresh made pasta sauce added a fresh element to each bite.

Another dish that was ordered was the chicken fettuccine alfredo. The sauce on this dish was exceptionally creamy and rich. They used seven different cheeses: Romano, mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, provolone, mascarpone, and cream cheese. All this cheese was melted and mixed with heavy cream. It was amazing. It was the best cheese and pasta I have ever had. The chicken was cut up and mixed throughout the pasta. It was tender but it was overshadowed by the cheese pasta.

The food, the view, and the service was outstanding at Dunraven. Even if I was not staying at the resort, I would make sure to make a visit to this restaurant. Check them out at www.dunravenepresort.com

Enjoy!

T

Ceaira’s Sweet Shop – Grand Lakes, CO

Grand Lakes is a beautiful town in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Many of the places close down during the winter. When spring rolls around, the town starts opening up to cabin rentals, tours, and of course ice cream shops. When I visited Ceaira’s Sweet Shop was open once again for business.

The shop originally opened in 1953. Over the years it has had many different owners but it has endured time and continues to offer guests homemade ice creams.

They offer a ton of unique flavors.

It is a small place, that has walk up windows for ordering. The staff is nice and friendly.

I ordered the Butter Pecan ice cream. My grandfather loved butter pecan and I remember eating it with him in the summer. So, I thought this flavor would bring back some wonderful memories. And it certainly did. The ice cream was extremely creamy. There were nice large pecans in each spoonful of ice cream. It was very satisfying.

The sweet shop had a constant line. Visitors ordered all kinds of treats. They even offered homemade ice cream sandwiches. If you are looking for some great ice cream, check out Ceaira’s Sweet Shop at www.sweetgrandlake.com

Enjoy!

T

Sagebrush BBQ & Grill – Grand Lakes, CO

While visiting Denver, we rented a car and decided to start exploring the other areas of Colorado. We drove the Rocky Mountain National Park and saw some of the most beautiful scenery. Everything was so green with only the peaks of the mountains having a little snow on top.

One of the small towns we drove through was Grand Lakes. Several years ago, when Colorado had those massive wildfires, Grand Lakes came really close to being destroyed. As you drive through the outskirts of town, the devastation of the forest can still be seen all these years later.

It was lunch time while we were in Grand Lakes, so we decided to stop at Sagebrush BBQ & Grill. It was a local place filled with Western décor.

What made me excited about this restaurant was their menu of wild game meat. There were several I have never had before and was looking forward to trying. The first thing I tried was the Buffalo Red Chili. It was ground buffalo, and it was tender. It really tasted like beef when it was combined with the red beans and the chili seasoning that was extremely savory.

For my main lunch meal, I ordered the Rocky Mountain Elk Burger. The large patty was topped with Swiss cheese, smoked bacon, and a raspberry chipotle sauce. Of course, there was lettuce, tomato, and onion included. The elk meat was juicy, and it seemed to fall apart easier than a beef patty. There was a slight gamey taste to the elk, but it disappeared from the saltiness of the Swiss cheese and the sweetness from the raspberry sauce. I was really surprised how great the burger tasted with the sauce.

I got French fries with my burger and instead of using ketchup, I decided to use their homemade BBQ sauce. The sauce was sweet with a slight peppery flavor.

To wash down the burger I tried a unique bottled soda. The brand was called Old Centennial and the flavor was Orange Cream Soda. The soda was not overly sweet. The flavor of the orange was subtle but there really was a creamy taste to the soda even though it was not actually creamy.

I also got to try the Buffalo Meatloaf Sandwich. They baked their meatloaf in a red tomato sauce. The buffalo was seasoned nicely, and it stayed moist through the baking process. They served it on a baguette. This bread was able to hold up well even with all the sauce that was on the meatloaf. There was also a generous portion of mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.

If you are interested in trying different game meats, then Sagebrush is for you. There are several other types of game dishes to try; However, if you are not feeling adventurous they do have some traditional meats as well.

Check them out at www.sagebrushbbq.com

Enjoy!

T

Urban Putt – Denver, CO

I found the coolest place in downtown Denver. It offered food, drinks, and mini-golf – it is called Urban Putt. I never expected to find a place like this.

The building is deceptively large inside. There is a bar and table on the left-hand side. You really need to have reservations for this because they seem to fill up quickly.

We started off getting some food and drinks. I started off with a seasonal mule, which was a raspberry vodka and ginger beer. It was served in a copper mug, so it stayed cold. It had a great sweet taste.

From their snack menu we ordered chips and queso. This was chili con queso made from white and Monterey jack cheese and sautéed chilies. They served rainbow tortilla chips alongside. The queso was creamy and not too spicy.

The other snack was my favorite, it was chicken and waffles. These were little chicken nuggets put on top of mini pieces of waffles. They naturally served maple syrup on the side. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The waffle was sweet. It was easy to dip because they were held together by toothpicks. These were a nice bite size treat.

Once we were done eating, we headed over to the ticket counter for mini-golf. The course was broken up into two different 9-hole games. We bought all 18 holes.

We each received two tokens, these were for us to get our favorite color golf ball to play with. The balls were in the old school candy machines. It was really a novel idea.

The mini-golf was under black lights so it was really cool how the different displays glowed, as well as our golf balls.

There were some obstacle courses set up to putt. Some were very challenging, some were easy. There were even a few holes that they set up like places in Colorado (like the Denver airport). It was a lot of fun.

I could see why this place was so busy. This is perfect place for groups of friends to hang out. If you are in Denver you should check them out www.urbanputt.com

Enjoy!

T

Urban Egg – Denver, CO

We had just landed in Denver, Colorado. The flight was a few hours and with the time difference it was the start of breakfast time out West. We wanted to find a good place to go for breakfast outside of the city. When I checked out the area I came across Urban Egg. In glancing over the menu I knew this place would hit the spot.

The restaurant already had a small line when we walked through the door. Good news is we did not have to wait too long for a table. The restaurant had some great wall décor that caught my attention. Even the artwork in the bathroom was funny.

Our waiter was wonderful; so cheerful and friendly, he made excellent suggestions about the menu. I would call the menu classic diner breakfast with a modern twist.

Two of us ordered the Corned Beef Hash. We just had our eggs prepared differently. But in reality the eggs were secondary to the dish. The corned beef was the star. They slow roasted the corned beef themselves. Then they shredded it and sautéed it with peppers and hash brown potatoes. The beef was exceedingly tender and the peppers added a sweetness that balanced out the saltiness of the beef.

The shining co-star to this dish was the jalapeno bacon chutney. It was almost like a jam on top. It was sweet, salty, and spicy. The spice hit you at the end. When this combined with the corned beef it created a medley in my mouth that was crave worthy. It is almost hard to describe how all the flavors worked together.

Instead of getting the toast that the menu called for, our waiter insisted we get a biscuit, since they make them from scratch everyday. The biscuit was light and fluffy. The top was golden brown and slightly salty from the butter they brushed on top.

The other dish that was ordered was their award winning Biscuits and Gravy. They took one of their buttermilk biscuits and cut it open. Then they smothered it with a creamy, homemade sage sausage gravy. The gravy was tremendously savory. The sage flavor made the gravy amazing. They gave a generous amount so some of it was able to be put on the scrambled eggs.

This dish also came with hash browns. These were not just ordinary hash browns, they were loaded. The crispy shredded potatoes were loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and scallions. It was just like a loaded baked potato, just in breakfast form. These were filing enough to be a meal.

We wanted a satisfying breakfast and that is exactly what we got at Urban Egg. The way the lines were growing out the door, this was definitely the spot to be for breakfast. Next time you are in Denver check them out. They have two locations, so visit their website at www.urbaneggeatery.com

Enjoy!

T

Henry’s Tavern – Denver, CO

It’s National Beer Lover’s Day. Whether you like IPA’s, Lagers, or even Sour Beers, today is a reason to celebrate.

I decided to make Henry’s Tavern in Denver, Colorado my celebration spot. They are a large sports bar with plenty of seats for everyone.

For my beer, I wanted to make sure I got something local. I ordered the New Belgium Brewing Dominga Mimosa Sour. It is brewed in Ft. Collins, Colorado. It had a great citrus taste to it and a nice tangy bite at the end. I love sour beers; they are so unique.

To help wash down the beer I ordered the Country Fried Calamari. The crispy fried calamari were served with a chipotle cocktail sauce and a grilled jalapeno bacon tartar sauce. Both sauces were amazing. The cocktail sauce had a great heat. It was my favorite.

I also ordered the Wild Arugula Pizza. The crispy crust was loaded with roasted tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pesto, shaved parmesan, prosciutto, and arugula. There were so many flavors on this pizza. There was a nice salty taste because of the cheese and prosciutto. This was complemented by the peppery taste from the arugula.

This was a great place to grab a bite to eat and grab a beer. Sit at the bar and you will get even better service.

Check them out at www.henrystavern.com

Enjoy!

T

Inside Scoop Creamery – Denver, CO

I was in Denver, and it was a beautiful summer day. After going to the aquarium, I was ready for an afternoon treat. Since it was hot outside, I thought ice cream was exactly what I needed. I found Inside Scoop Creamery and thought this would be the perfect spot to celebrate National Ice Cream Day.

When I walked through the doors, I could smell the homemade waffle cones being made. It smelt delicious. They make 20 different flavor of ice cream daily. It was hard to make a decision but luckily, they offer sample tastings of everything to help.

Since there were three of us visiting, we decided to get three different flavors, this way we could all have a little of each.

My choice was the Cookie & Cream. This creamy ice cream was loaded with crushed Oreo cookies. There were even a few big pieces. It gave an awesome flavor of cookie. It was as if the ice cream acted as the cream filling to the cookie.

Another flavor ordered was the Java Chocolate Chip. If you like coffee, then this is an ice cream for you. The ice cream itself is where all the coffee flavor came from. The crunch was all from the chocolate chips. The chips added the texture to the ice cream not much extra taste.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate was the perfect ice cream for chocolate lovers. It had a rich, chocolate flavor. It was smooth and creamy. I could see this ice cream in a milk shake for the ultimate treat.

I was so glad we were able to check out Inside Scoop Creamery. The girl working behind the counter was extremely friendly and really made us feel welcomed.

If you are in Denver and you need a sweet treat then check them out. Visit their website at www.insidescoopdenver.com

Enjoy!

T

The Broadmoor Seven Falls – Colorado Springs, CO

Not far from The Broadmoor hotel is a privately owned attraction called Seven Falls. These seven cascading waterfalls from the South Cheyenne Creek have been entertaining guests since the 1800s.

There are climbing paths and zip line activities that can be done during the day. It is a fun place for the whole family.

I was lucky enough to have a private dinner there. We were set up outside at the based of one of the waterfalls. It was a spectacular view, especially once it was lite up with colorful lights.

The meal started with an appetizer of Wild Mushroom Risotto. The risotto was amazing. I wanted more of this dish, I could not get enough of it. The earthy wild mushrooms were chopped up and mixed in a Parmigiano Reggiano broth and aged Carnaroli rice. The rice was tender and soaked up the flavor of the broth, which was creamy.

Out next was a salad. This was baby greens with Prosciutto di Parma, melon, and herb mascarpone cheese. There was a delicious lemon vinaigrette tossed on the salad. The prosciutto and melon combination went so well together. It is the yin and yang of sweet and salty. The mascarpone cheese added a creaminess that balanced out the tanginess from the vinaigrette.

For the entrée, we got a grilled beef tenderloin and garlic poached jumbo prawns. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and was tender. On top there was wilted greens, broccolini, an apple chutney, and a cider scented beef jus.

The slight bitterness from the greens went well with the garlic in the prawns. There was a sweet potato cake also on the plate. It was hidden a little underneath the tenderloin. It soaked up some of the beef jus. The sweetness of the potato made this a welcomed flavor in the mist of the salty accents from the steak. The apple chutney also added a slight sweetness with a hint of cinnamon.

I made sure to leave room for dessert. It was Death by Chocolate Cake. The cake was a flourless chocolate biscuit with a creamy milk chocolate cremeux. Cremeux is a French dense, soft pudding. They layered the chocolate biscuit with the cremeux, making three layers. It was very rich. I enjoyed it with a nice cappuccino. The cremeux was very creamy and rich with milk chocolate tastes.

I really enjoyed my dinner under the starts and waterfalls. It did get chilly as the sun went down. I would recommend taking a jacket. If you have a chance to visit Seven Falls, you will love the views. Being able to get in does depend on the time of year, so plan accordingly.

Visit the hotel website to learn more at www.broadmoor.com

Enjoy!

T

Garden of the Gods Resort & Club – Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado is a beautiful state. There are so many activities that can be done outside from hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring all the national parks across the state. Garden of the Gods is one of those parks located in Colorado Springs. This park has acres and acres of Red Rock formations. You can hike, drive or even take a jeep tour to the structures and learn about what the native Americans felt about these natural wonders.

When the sunlight hits these rocks the color just glows. It is breathtaking and pictures do not do the color justice.

When I visited, I got to have lunch on the patio of the Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. Their views are spectacular.

While I was enjoying the view from the patio, a deer wondered up and started feeding on some bushes. This was the one thing I noticed a lot in Colorado, the wild animals and the humans live in harmony.

 

The lunch I got to enjoy was a pre-fixed menu. I was looking forward to what the chef selected for us. We started off with a fresh salad. The lettuce was topped with cheese, bacon, and cucumber slices. They served a balsamic vinaigrette dressing that added a nice tangy taste to the salad. I enjoyed the crunch of the cucumbers and the saltiness of the bacon pieces.

For the main dish we got a chicken thigh with pineapples and peppers. The fresh pineapple was grilled which had great flavor. The smokiness from the grill enhanced the sweetness of the pineapple. The peppers also added a sweetness and paired perfectly with the pineapple. The chicken thigh was tender and juicy. The entire dish had a tropical feel to it.

For dessert we got a key lime tart that was topped with fresh blueberries and raspberries. The filling was creamy and had a nice tart flavor. The berries were sweet and complemented the tartness. It was a great dessert to enjoy outside with a glass of wine.

The views from the patio made this lunch even more enjoyable. The Garden of the Gods is a wonderful place to visit and will make a lasting impression.

Check out the resort at www.gardenofthegodsresort.com

To learn about the park, visit www.gardenofgods.com

Enjoy!

T