Category: Colorado

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

The Hotel Bar – Colorado Springs, CO

The Broadmoor is an iconic hotel resort in Colorado Springs. It opened its doors over 100 years ago in 1918. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking. There are wonderful views of the mountains.  There are beautiful lakes and wild animals everywhere.

This hotel has over 17 different restaurants and cafes, plus 2 legendary golf courses. One of the restaurants I checked out was The Hotel Bar. The original bar opened in 1936 at the end of prohibition. I was later restored in 2002. There is a rich history of how this bar got started, in the 1920s by an exclusive group of prominent hoteliers You can read all about their history on the menu or visit their website.

I sat outside so I could enjoy the beautiful surrounding mountains.

I was visiting for lunch, so I ordered a Cobb Salad. The salad was large. It was served beautifully with a rainbow of all the toppings. All the ingredients were fresh. It was nice with the vinaigrette that I chose as my dressing. It is a filling salad by itself.

I also got to try their classic cheeseburger. The melted cheddar cheese has a sharp taste that paired well with the grilled flavor of the burger meat. It was cooked perfectly medium, so it was still juicy. It came with all the classic sides of French fries and coleslaw.

I enjoyed my meal and the environment at The Hotel Bar. It is also a great place to grab a cocktail in the evening and warm by one of the fire pits.

Check out their history at www.broadmoor.com

Enjoy!

T

The Original – Denver, CO

Not far from the Colorado Rockies baseball stadium in Denver is a restaurant called The Original.

When I walked in, I was surprised by the style of restaurant. It was an updated take on an old school diner. There were old nick-nacks everywhere. They had a malt-shop like bar that you could sit at. It was totally retro.

Their menu also fit that classic diner theme. I started off with a cup of Matzo Ball Soup. This chicken broth had caramelized onions and seasoning throughout. There was one giant matzo ball that was light and fluffy. The broth needed a little more salt because it was slightly bland. Once I added salt and pepper to my liking, the soup got better. I enjoyed the texture of the matzo ball as it soaked up the broth.

For my dinner I ordered a sandwich. This was no ordinary sandwich, this was The GOAT. It was a combination grilled cheese ad BLT (GCBLT). They used thick slices of Texas Toast to make the grilled cheese; then they loaded it up with crispy bacon, juicy slices of tomato, and crispy lettuce.

The sandwich was much bigger than I expected. The bread had a great crunch from the grill. The cheese was gooey and wrapped around the bacon. There was almost too much bread based on the other ingredients. There was a comforting feeling with eating this sandwich.

They also served a side of shoe-string French fries. They were crispy and tasted so good dipped in ketchup. Something so simple was so satisfying.

Sticking with the diner theme, for dessert I ordered a milkshake. But this was no ordinary milk shake. They offered several “adult’ milkshakes. I ordered the Knight Rider. This blended Kahlua, crème de cacao, chocolate ice cream, and Oreo cookie crumbs. Tis milkshake was delicious. It was easy to drink through a straw even with the cookie crumbles. The Kahlua was not overwhelming. The chocolate flavor shined through. It was the perfect ending to my dinner.

The Original was a fun find in Denver. Luckily when I visited the baseball team had an away game. If they were in town, I am sure it would have been difficult to get a table without a reservation.

Check out their menu at www.theogdenver.com

Enjoy!

T

Tamayo – Denver, CO

There is a great area in downtown Denver called Larimer Square that is filled with shops and restaurants. At the corner of the block, I came across a Mexican restaurant called Tamayo. I thought I would check them out for dinner.

As soon as I walked through the door, I noticed their beautiful bar. It was so colorful. It really was a showstopper, not to mention all the choices of liquor they offered.

The waitress brought over some fresh tortilla chips and a homemade salsa. The salsa had a slight roasted flavor to it. There was no heat, it was pretty mild. It was a nice little snack.

I did not feel like anything too big for dinner. I saw tortilla soup on the menu and decided to order that. It was a creamy broth that was loaded with pulled chicken. There were a few vegetables throughout, including nice pieces of avocado. On top they put a scoop of crema fresca panela cheese. It was very creamy and added even more creaminess to the soup. The flavor was mild and did not overpower the soup. The tortilla stripes they included added a little crunch.

I did get two small sides to go along with my soup. The Mexican rice was very traditional. I was simple but had nice seasoning.

The black beans were seasoned and the sauce they came in was also loaded with flavor. I added some rice to the beans and sauce. The sauce soaked up nicely in the rice. The two flavors paired perfectly.

It was a great, quick dinner at Tamayo. There was a nice authentic taste to the food. The atmosphere was really great for groups of people. And they have a nice happy hour. Check them out at www.EatTamayo.com

Enjoy!

T

Kickin’ Chicken – Lakewood, CO

Driving around just outside of Denver, I passed a small restaurant that caught my attention. Their sign read Kickin’ Chicken and their mascot was a chicken dressed up like a ninja. Their parking lot was packed, so I figured it must be good. I decided to check them out for lunch.

When I went inside there was a long line of people to order. That gave me time to look over their menu. They only serve four types of chicken dishes and a couple of sides. That kept it simple to choose from. You order at the counter. If you were going to eat there, they bring the order to you. If not, you get a takeout bag.

I chose to try the chicken tenders. I was able to select two dipping sauces for my chicken. I went with the kickin’ sauce and the sweet chili. They cook the chicken to order, so when it came to the table it was piping hot. I was stunned at how big the chicken tenders were. They could easily be shared.

The breading was extra crispy, and it helped keep the chicken juicy. The kickin’ sauce was like a BBQ sauce. It was not spicy like I thought it would be. The sweet chili sauce had all the heat. The sweetness hit first and them I got the punch of heat from the chilis.

My tenders also came with a side dish. I chose the Mexican street corn. It was not on the cob, so it made it easier to eat. It had a nice tangy taste from the mayo and Mexican crema. The corn itself added the sweetness. They sprinkled Cotija cheese on top and a dash of cayenne pepper. The pepper did not add any heat. It was just for color. The cheese also added to the tangy flavor. It was a great side dish. It also was a pretty big portion which could have been easily shared.

The chicken was amazing at Kickin’ Chicken. I can understand why they were constantly busy while I was there. They are a great place to go for lunch.

Check them out at www.kickinchickenrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Kyoto Ramen – Denver, CO

I was traveling through Denver recently and was trying to figure out where to get some lunch. I came across Kyoto Ramen. They looked pretty busy. I had not had fresh ramen in a long while, so I decided to check them out.

They had a couple of ramens to choose from; I went after the chicken, with an extra side of ramen noodles. It might just be me, but I like extra noodles in my broth.

They used grilled chicken. It was laid put beautifully in the bowl along with bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, green onions, bean sprouts, seaweed, corn, and a hard-boiled egg.

I could not decide how I should start eating. Do I eat each section separately or mix it all up? I ate a few pieces of chicken to start with; it was seasoned perfectly with a sweet and salty taste. After that I mixed up all the ingredients. The bamboo shoots and bean sprouts added a little crunch. The seaweed added additional saltiness. The mushrooms did not have a lot of flavor, but they did add some extra texture.

The corn was a nice touch. It added a sweetness to the salty broth. I added the extra noodles to the broth a little at a time. They soaked up some of the flavor from the broth. It was filling. I saved the cut up hard boiled egg till the end. I cut it up into smaller pieces and ate it along with the noodles.

The bowl of ramen ended up being a huge lunch for me. It is hard to believe that all those ingredients put together could make me so full. I definitely left Kyoto Ramen satisfied. They did have a few other items on the menu besides ramen. I would want to try a Poke bowl the next time I am in Denver.

Check out their website at www.KyotoRamendenver.com

Enjoy!

T

Euclid Hall – Denver, CO

While in Denver I got to have dinner in a building that was built in 1883. The building that started off as a home has been everything from a flea market to a brothel. It is currently the home to the restaurant called Euclid Hall.

It has a rustic feel inside with reclaimed wood, exposed brick walls, and industrial metal accents.

To start my evening off I ordered one of their fancy cocktails. The Kansas City Kreamsickle sounded prefect. They blended together vodka, aperol honey, lime, cucumber, and basil. I guess because of the name I expected this drink to be sweet. It was not, even with the touch of honey. I could taste the freshness of the cucumber and basil.

We started off with some unique appetizers. The first dish was the Krakenpopper. By the name alone I had no clue what this dish was. Based on the description it was octopus that was braised in Kraken brand rum and wrapped in jalapeno. Hence the name Kraken, for the rum and popper, for the jalapeno. 

They took this jalapeno wrapped octopus and dipped it into a sweet potato tempura batter. It was lightly fried until it was crispy. They served a bacon aioli on the side for dipping.

The octopus was extremely tender. The jalapeno did not add any heat at all. The sweetness of the sweet potato batter was actually what I tasted. The bacon aioli added a slight saltiness, but I preferred the octopus without it.

Another starter was the Dark Wing Duck. These were crispy duck wings that were tossed in a black olive and Calabrian chile sauce. The sauce had great flavor. However, the duck was too gamy for me.

The last unique starter was the Bruleed Center Cut Beef Marrow Bone. I have never had bone marrow before. I was not sure what to expect. I had to take a spoon and scoop out the marrow. It had the texture of jelly. I then placed it on a small slice of toast. It spread like butter. When I took a bite, it was super sweet and almost buttery in taste. It was very delicate and delicious.

While I digested the appetizers and waited for our main dishes to come out, it was time for another cocktail. This time I got the Salty Oboe. This concoction was whiskey, orange bitters, lemon ginger shrub, and topped with a fresh lemon. The orange toned down the sharpness of the whiskey. It was a very comfortable drink that was best when sipped.

At last my dinner arrived. I ordered the Duck Poutine. I could not wait to try their version of poutine. They used fresh cut French fries and topped them with duck confit, cheddar cheese curds, and a black pepper duck gravy. The duck was perfect. It had a wonderful savory flavor and was not gamy or oily. The cheese and gravy added a salty taste. I was not able to finish the whole thing because it was a little too salty to me.

This was a unique dining experience. I was able to try a few new things. I like being adventurous when I am eating. You never know what you might like unless you try. If you are in Denver and want to try something different, check out Euclid Hall.

Visit their website at www.euclidhall.com

Enjoy!

T

Henry’s Tavern – Denver, CO

Denver is a wonderful city. There is so much to do and a lot of it can be done by walking. However, all that walking around can make you extremely hungry. That is exactly what happened to me. So, walking around in the main shopping area downtown I came across Henry’s Tavern. They were busy, so I thought I would check them out.

Since I worked up a big appetite, I ordered a bunch of dishes for the table. The good thing was all the dishes were able to be shared.

To start with was the spinach and artichoke dip. This dip was slightly spicy. The creaminess of the dip helped balance out the heat.

We also got a couple of chicken wings. We went for the traditional Buffalo sauce. This sauce was extra spicy which I was not expecting. This was not the traditional flavor of a Buffalo sauce. The wings were covered in the sauce which allowed for every bite to have some kick.

The bourbon glazed Brussel sprouts were a must try. They had great crispy edges. They were cooked along with walnuts and bacon. The walnuts added crunch and texture. The bacon added smoky flavor to the sprouts, because of the fat it was cooked in. Plus, it added a little saltiness that paired perfectly with the sweetness from the bourbon glaze.

The final item for the table was the spicy pepperoni pizza. It was a thick, doughy crust pizza. It was loaded with creamy cheese and slices of pepperoni. Based on the description I was expecting a spicy pizza. This was not spicy at all. It was just a good pepperoni pizza.

After working up an appetite, Henry’s Tavern was able to satisfy my hunger. They were great for a quick pop-in.

Check them out at www.henrystavern.com

Enjoy!

T