This past Saturday Theorie Restaurant and Martini Lounge opened up on Market street in what I believe is the old Real World spot. Opening night was Saturday, invite only (no.. I don’t rate that) and then Sunday was the first night for open reservations.

I haven’t had a chance to check this out yet, but it looks to be going for a bit upscale with some tasty dinner items and a special late night menu. My guess is that with bottle service and the late night menu this is both a date night restaurant and an “out late clubbin’ spot”.

So will someone please check it out and let the rest of us know. Menus are below if you want to check them out. But they said they are changing the menu’s every 90 days so this post will be dated in a few months. Happy eating!

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Okay, here is my newest favorite to share. Especially since I keep heading to the mountains to get some break from the heat.

So you are heading to the mountains and don’t have time to grab grub in Denver and arriving at your destination too late for dinner… here is my favorite pit stop. And even if I am getting to the mountains in time for dinner this is still a must do.

Kermits

Yep, that little motorcycle hangout off of I-70 has a secret treat that you have to get. Kermits offers awesome Green Chili. Try it alone loaded with cheese, onions, and sour cream or get it in poured over their beef enchilada and you are in heaven. Dip your flour tortillas, order some ice cold beers, and kick back on the outdoor patio. Or hang out inside and take in the hundreds of signed dollars pinned to the walls and ceiling for with some classic comments left by others.  And I can’t forget to mention the old school juke box that is always throwing out some off the wall classics.  During my last pit stop Jack Black was bellowing out some of his famous tunes from The Pick of Destiny.  Where else are you gonna get this authentic kind of spot.
Either way… this little spot is worth the trip and you can get pints to go to share with others.

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On Sunday we enjoyed another wonderful dinner at Sushi Sasa (does this place rock or what) celebrating a birthday and then continued over to Forest Room 5 for a little after dinner cocktail. What a pleasant suprise we got when we arrived and learned that they were holding their weekly movie nights.

So here is the scoop. Every Sunday and Monday FR5 (Forest Room 5) takes full advantage of their great outdoor paito and sets up a projector and launches a movie against the big brick wall opposite them. What a great idea! Just take a sight sore vacant wall and turn it into drive in style entertainment.

Whatever movie was playing on Sunday was definitely from the offbeat path. A mix of artsy and Kill Bill style gore, it was if nothing else some great background for in depth discussions over slowly sipped tequila or tasty micro brew beers.

If you want to know what kind of movies you can regularly expect, the answer is anything goes. Apparently all requests are considered and the joint is not so busy yet that you can’t have your own screening occur.

So check it out, pick a good flick, and swing back to the Urban Brain Forum to please let us know what you are planning or what is playing next.

P.S. photo take on iphone.

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Whoooo boy…. Denver was doing it up last night at Potager’s 10th anniversary dinner event.  This special event was held to honor one outstanding restaurant’s birthday and also all the wonderful people on their team who know how to do it right.  With a 5 course dinner to satisfy all of our taste buds we were in heaven.
Being one of the appreciative guests for dinner last night I can tell you it was a ball.  Every course, every bite, was wonderful.  And maybe a wee bit too much wine had me waking up slower this morning, but well worth it.

The team at Potager also had a “once in a lifetime” brunch this morning and then they are taking some well earned vacation time.  They don’t open back up until Tuesday July 17th so get yourselves ready for the new menu on the return.  I would tell you to make a reservation, but they don’t take any.  See you in line.:)

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Sometimes people and places surprise you in a wonderful and sincere way. This is exactly what happened when I made a recent trip to Rosa Linda’s Mexican Cafe in the Highlands on 33rd near Tejon.

It had been a particularly long day and it was approaching almost 9:00 before we finally got around to even thinking about dinner. This was a couple days ago and it was a mid week night with cold weather and perfect hibernating weather. It was one of those times where the weather just calls for cozy warm food as a cure. In the course of several lunch time orders we had enjoyed Rosa Linda’s several times, but I had never actually gone in. We pulled up their website and ordered their famous “Best of Denver” which included a shredded beef or chicken burrito, one award winning chili relleno smothered in green chili, and rice and beans plus some chips and guac.

Our order was carry out so I quickly headed over there and walked in. Rosa Linda’s is a quaint little spot on 33rd with warm light flowing out of their windows to the street.

I had arrived a little bit early and our meals were not yet ready. I looked around and the wonderful little tables and booths, the years of decorations on the walls, and the different lamplights and decided to have a seat at the bar. Rosa Linda’s just gives off such a warm vibe. It was impossible to resist sitting down for a second and after watching a couple of margaritas heading to a nearby table I decided to sample one myself. The margarita was awesome. But the real story is about Eric Aguirre who was managing the restaurant and his lovely family that started and own Rosa Linda’s.

As I sat there on my stool enjoying my the salt on my Margarita I got the opportunity to chat with Eric. I had never heard the history of Rosa Linda’s and I was quite simply… touched.

There are so few true family businesses. Rosa Linda’s, however, is one of them. Eric shared the details and it is a great story that goes a little like this.

Eric’s parents, more than 22 years ago, opened up Rosa Linda’s in a part of Denver now know as the Highlands but previously just “North”. At that time, you may recall, the neighborhood had a little different feel than it does today. Apparently, many folks advised against the idea of opening this restaurant, but the dream would become reality. They started with a family approach, four children and expecting the fifth. That family approach has carried on since with great rewards.
Since 1985 they have fed the folks in their neighborhood, and their great reputation has spread. One promise they made when they started has also continued. That promise was that if the restaurant made it, they would give back by feeding the homeless every Thanksgiving. That continues today and now includes Christmas as well.

They have a wall of fame that includes years of best of Westword and many other rewards. And last week they won their newest award, best cactus. I tried a cactus taco and it was awesome, and the award is well deserved.

And continuing in the family tradition, they are going to be starting something new. One of the sons is a chef and will be offering a special night once or twice a month where the restaurant will be closed for regular dinner and they will be hosting special chefs dinner with tequila tasting. These new special nights are planned to start in the next month or two.  Registration is from the web site, so make sure to visit.

Great food, great people, check it out.

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Romance is in the air, love is on the wind, and the pressure is on to get a reservation at a romantic restaurant before you are forced to take your sweetheart out for pizza and chicken wings on Valentines Day. While I may be to late in this post to help those who wait until the last minute to make their Valentines Day plans, don’t forget you can always cook a terrific dinner.

But for those who prefer to go out on the town, sit with candlelight, order a bottle of wine, and get romantic today’s poll is all about identifying the most romantic dinner spots in Denver. So guys go ahead and vote, and ladies please share your opinion because that is the one that matters the most. And don’t forget to comment because it is so much better to share why you like your favorite restaurant than to just vote, and you can let me know what spots I have missed and I will add them to the poll.

So here it is, the most romantic spot for dining in Denver is…

[Poll=20]

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I love breakfast. A warm cup of coffee, bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast… or maybe pancakes… or should I do a breakfast burrito.. it all sounds so good. I remember living in the mountains and being the biggest pain in the butt to my friends. Some people woke up early for fresh tracks, I woke up even earlier so I could have a big breakfast before my fresh tracks. My friends would always know it was me because my calls came in the wee hours of the morning looking for breakfast and ski companions as a round robin, hitting their home, their cell, then their roommates cell. Eventually I would find someone who hadn’t gone out big the night before. Okay, I admit I can be a bit of a freak about getting up on the hill early and staying fueled up to ski through the day without stopping… especially on a powder day. And the key to making that happen is a great breakfast.
So of course my time in Denver has been spent hunting down some of the best breakfast spots around. Now imagine how excited I was the first time I went into Snooze. Great coffee, killer pancakes, and a steak and eggs benedict that is out of this world. You will find me there at least once every week, which is made easier by the fact that they are open every day.

The last time I was in there I was with about 12 folks, which gave us a full sampling of the menu. Everything was great, and a few new members of the Snooze fan club were started. So I thought it was time to get to know Snooze and it’s host and owner Jon Schlegel a little better. Join me for an interview with Snooze…

1: Let’s start out basic for folks who have never been in to visit you. Tell us a little bit about Snooze.

Snooze is my dream. I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 13, went to DU for the Hotel, Restaurant School, and have been in fine dining for a while. It’s the package for a breakfast restaurant; focus on great food, great service, and a fun atmosphere.

2: By the way, Snooze is a great name. Where did you come up with that? [Read more →]

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Living in Riverfront Park means you certainly know one pub by heart. And just like that old Cheers show with norm and cliff, the beauty of this gem is that everyone really does know your name. Of course sometimes that is because you had a little bit too much fun the night before and your antics are well remembered. This, of course, is not a story about me and my friends… It is everybody else.
McLoughlin’s is like a den mother that is always there to make sure you are well fed, warm, and never thirsty. When we are working 80 hour weeks they have been kind enough to bring over our lunch and make sure we don’t forget to eat. When we come home late at night and want to regroup with friends for a nightcap they are open until their 2 am closing, no matter how slow their evening is. When you need a great meal and a friendly face they are always there. The people are great, the food is great, and the beer is cold.

And I haven’t even told you how great the summers are sitting out on the patio. That was the best.

During the blizzard when everything was shut down they kept us fed until the last scrap of food was gone. How’s that for reliability.

So join me in getting to know a little bit more about McLoughlins and Jon Koenig General Manager/Owner. [Read more →]

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Here is a story that will make you laugh.

Yesterday we were going to a friend’s house for a dinner party. Now you have to understand that we have a great policy of always taking a cab when we expect to be having a glass or two of wine. Usually that means less than ten dollars and a trip across town. Sometimes it’s more if we are going to the burbs for dinner and we can’t take the light rail. Either way, taking a cab is the right thing to do.

However this dinner party was in Evergreen. But we stayed with the same plan. The farther away it is, the worse it would be to drive. And since I lived in Vail for all those years and we took cabs across town all the time, I didn’t think there would be a problem.

I was wrong. [Read more →]

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Today’s topic is wine, wine, and more wine!

Urbanites are social. We throw our dinner parties, our martini balls, our football get togethers, and our impromptu late nights with friends. So what do we consider a bare essential…. our wine store and having a great selection available for us.

So join me in getting to know Little Raven Vineyards and Peter Klann, Proprietor.

Peter, can you tell me what first attracted you to wine, what you love about it and a little bit about your background?

Shortly after moving to Colorado in 1976 my wine adventure began in the cellar of a neighbor who had an extensive collection of French and German wine. I have traveled to several of the major wine regions in the world to further my education. My formal wine education includes advanced Sommelier and Advanced Wine and Food paring certificates from the IWG.

What was your inspiration for Little Raven Vineyards and the wines you select? [Read more →]

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