Recession Special, originally uploaded by aturkus.

This economy sucks.

Many people out there are trying to act like it isn’t that bad.   Bull puckey.  I believe the real expert I talked to the other day…. my cab driver set the record straight for me. It was on this past Friday night.  I had just rolled into the back a green and white hybrid taxi cab of Metro Taxi (Thanks for going green Metro, but don’t stop at a few). I should have known something was different when the “ring ring” of my phone indicating my taxi’s arrival came only a few scarce minutes after I placed the call.  I mean this was fast service. Remember, this was on a Friday night. Usually you can call a cab with time to spare to finish getting ready, have a glass of wine, watch the last few minutes of 30 rock that you recorded on your DVR, or even take the dog out for a final squirt before they usually arrive.  In fact you usually have to make that insecure “did you forget about me call” at least once, which coincidently I believe is the real time that they dispatch the cab.   But not this night my friends.  They were ready and waiting.  Here is why…

“This is my worst Friday ever” the cab driver shared with me. He was pretty noncholant about it. “I thought last Friday was my worst Friday ever, and then this week it got worse” he continued. “This economy must be keeping everyone home”. It was then that we passed tons of people walking to the Pepsi Center. “Or maybe they are just driving”.  That might be scary if they are still out at 2 am.

Whatever their transportation plans are, straight from the cabbies mouth we are seeing the slowdown in the simplest things. I stopped into the Chang (PF Chang) for for a quick lunch while downtown and the place was, well not empty, but lets just say “strangely table friendly” I could pretty much sit wherever I wanted, lay out whatever I was reading, and be taken care of by the readily available team there. Mind you this was a weekday, lunches have consistently been packed on weekdays downtown. (Side note, weekends are a great time to eat at the Chang and avoid lines). Again the feedback I got from my server was “It’s been reeeeeeaaaaaaallllllly slow”. nuff said.

The last omen might not be the economy but a troubled season. I decided to save a little money myself and put a pair of club level Bronco’s tickets for the always popular Raiders game on stubhubb. At the beginning of the season I was all pumped up for the game, now I think I’d be just as happy to sit cozy on the couch with a my own snacks and beverages. Everyone said “those tickets will sell in a snap”. They haven’t. I look and prices are dropping. This one you can’t blame on just the economy, but the Broncos don’t need any more heat.

And for those of you out there, you know who you are, who say “Don’t say the economy is bad, it will scare people into acting in a way to make the economy worse”.  The cat is out of the bag.  Lets just realize it sucks, laugh about it, deal with it, and move on.  Making it a big bad scary thing that you can’t say does make people act a great deal differently.  Treating it like the a zit on the face of life that will come and go makes it a little easier to bear.  Sure, it’s ugly, but it will go away.

By the way it is either sad or funny what the lowest (0 votes at the time of this post) ranked cutback item is.

You have to understand the irony of me seeing Tina on this trip to New York. I was only recently introduced to 30 rock and was instantly hooked. The show is witty with smart humor and great characters. It has been a LONG time since I found something this hilarious and I admit I am hooked on the pretty, smart and funny Tina Fey who co-produces, writes and stars in her 30 Rock show. After checking out the online episodes from this season I filled my Netflix queue with the past season.

Just the week before some colleagues joked and were a bit surprised that Tina was in my top 5. Imagine their shock on finding out I got a chance to meet her. What an awesome profession, making people laugh. I admire her and what she does writing for 30 Rock. You just need to believe and follow your dreams… hmmmmm, maybe meeting her was a sign.

The talented Mrs. Fey was, as you would expect, very nice. I met her at the site of Columbus Circle where the writers strike line had just ended. She was with Rachel Dratch talking and preparing to head out when I introduced myself, shook her hand, and asked her how the strike was going. Her eyes sparkled, she smiled, and shared with me that she thought it would be over soon.

Tina, i certainly hope so. Good luck guys!

In Colorado they keep talking about how much it would cost to build new tracks and we never get anything moving forward.

What if… we just utilize our commercial lines for transport. We have inactive lines going through Minturn that would make a perfect skier stop. And I found an old train map showing the lines running around. Let’s work out something with Union Pacific or someone start a business that rents from them. Design a car that fits the rail and is comfortable. Serve some drinks, food, and fun.

What if we did it?

How do we do it?

It’s been done elsewhere. Here is an article about how New Mexico converted a former Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) track that runs from Belen in the south to Sandoval City.The ten double-decker passenger cars are built by Bombardier in Quebec and can carry up to 200 passengers each.

Since I have my scooter now and am searching for excuses to use it (ie “sure I’ll go pick up lunch” or “lets get carry out, I’ll fly”) I thought it might be a fun time to try and find the best breakfast pastries, breads, etc. in Denver. So every morning before work I jump on my scooter and cruise out to search out something I can bring back and share with the office.

Not exactly Magellan setting out for the new world, but a good enough of an excuse to cruise around as any. Plus I get to share my finds with others so maybe there is some good karma there as well.

The ground rules are easy. I don’t want to get in my car so the distance shouldn’t be too great (not that I wouldn’t scoot far, I just don’t have that much time before work) and any pastry could work. Bagels, croissants, donuts, etc. Just as long as it counts as breakfast fare.

Day one I scooted up through the Highlands. I remembered seeing a number of bakeries around the 32nd street area. Sure enough, just past Duo I saw a familiar sign for a bakery. It was Rosales Mexican Bakery located at 2636 W. 32nd Ave. I parked my scooter and shot inside.

First of all, the bakery looks like a wonderful spot for great authentic cookies, sugary breads, and other sweet delights. For breakfast fare the options were equally as sweet. Already prepared were a number of sugared donuts, Pan Dulce, and other tempting items.

I asked about other donuts they might have and they said they were about to slather up a number of fresh donuts with some Mexican chocolate sauce. That works for me.

Minutes later I am headed out the door with a dozen donuts under my arm. 6 sugar coated and 6 smothered in chocolate. Not exactly a health breakfast but a little indulgence now and then is good for the soul.

I brought the first day’s bounty back and they got quickly snatched up. The most popular… the chocolate. The donuts themselves had an even richer, more sugary texture than most donuts. Perhaps a characteristic of the Mexican Bakery technique.

And there you have day one of the pastry quest.

Well it has been quite some time since we did any Denver Best Polls and I am sitting here on Monday night trying to decide where to get some carry out from. I am really in the mood for Indian food and have only tried a few in town, mostly for lunch.

I need to change that.

I just have to decide who to try first, and second, and third, and so on. Why don’t you share your vote for who has the best Indian food in town, and feel free to comment on why.

Let’s hear it Denver

This past weekend and today I took a small step forward in reducing my carbon footprint. As of this morning I am an officially licensed motorcycle licensed scooter driver.

How does this reduce my carbon footprint? Well so far whenever I had to get somewhere quick or without the time or the convenience of jumping on my bike I would pull out my keys and jump into that gigantic SUV I bought back in 2000 to travel across town. I keep the beast because (1) it is paid for and (2) I have a 125 lb pup along with tons of gear that I need to carry between Denver and Vail whenever I get a chance to enjoy the mountains.

But except for those periodic mountain adventures I would prefer to travel as light and environmentally friendly as possible. So with the addition of a scooter to replace an auto for the 99% of my life spent here in Denver I just went from a measly 13 mpg to a wonderful 60 or more mpg. I may rarely, if ever, drive. But now at least I feel better about it.

Now let me tell you a little bit more about the process to get yourself zipping around on a scooter, just in case you are thinking about it.

PART I – Bike and Class

First of all, you need to decide if you want a smaller engine such as a 50cc engine or something larger like a 150 cc. There is a big distinction between the two. With a 50 cc engine you can just buy and go, parking wherever you want on curbs and other spots. It is looked at more like a bicycle as far as rules and licensing are concerned. No special license required or endorsement on your license. But it has a little less pep, so if you need or want to be able to accelerate when you need to (this can be a bonus for safety to get out of someone’s way or in traffic) this might not be the best choice.

Now with the bigger engine you will have the zip to power on Speer if some loser doesn’t see you and starts to weave into your lane, but it also means the process to get you legally zipping around takes a few more steps.

But that is the cool part, there is no difference between you and a motorcycle as far as the law is concerned. You need to go pass both a written and driving test on your scooter before the great state of Colorado will give you permission to zip around. Now to be clear, you need a license to legally drive a larger engine scooter but you don’t need one to buy one.

Guess what that means… alot of people buy a larger scooter and drive around without their endorsement or at least until they get around to taking the test. Or you have another alternative. You can do what I did and sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation two day class which runs you through all the safety, training, and other knowledge you need to be safe on the road information and prepares you to pass the test at the end of the two days.

Did I mention it will also shorten your wait at the DMV? More about that later. Plus your MSF safety card usually, with most carriers, gets you some preferred insurance rates.

Anyway, back to the class and the story I have about that.

The class costs about $240 and states that it goes from 7 am to 5 pm for two days straight. I signed up for the this past weekend and followed all the rules which are to (1) make sure to pick up your homework book at one of the local scooter spots and get it done before class (easy), (2) Wear long pants, over ankle boots or shoes, long sleeve shirt, and gloves, and (3) don’t be late.

The being late part is really important. If they start class without you then you cannot jump in. Say good by to your class cost and if it is for day two you just lost that one day you spent already. It has something to do with the insurance of joining the class if you miss even a little bit of the instruction. So don’t be late. Even if you stay up late at a birthday party the night before.
The class was held at the Denver Coliseum. You know this spot, a beat up old parking lot located off of I-70 filled with leftover carnival cars and junked up trailers with the trains running by and the overpass hanging overhead. Very pretty and cheerful, but perfect for having a safe wide open spot to practice.

Our road instructor was a great seasoned ex police motorcycle officer. He had a great sense of humor, dry and quick, and could do about anything on his bike. He was fondly referred to by his younger cohort and fellow instructor as yoda, the wise teacher. Yoda, it turns out, could ride tight circles on his hog while balancing with his knees on the seat, which we witnessed as they tested out a bike during an out of class break.

In a class of 12, I was the only scooter among a pack of motorcycles. They had road bikes, dual bikes, Yamahas, Kawasakis, and more. I, however was on the “cute bike”. That’s okay, the younger instructor confessed he had never ridden a scooter until the class and loved them. They were, as he described it, “just fun”. No need to shift or worry about maneuvers… you just zip and go.

The first day we spent half the day on the course testing one drill to the next. Part of it was a bit dull for me when the drills called for learning to shift (Scooters like mine don’t shift). But that just meant I zipped the loop having fun. The weather was humid, like walking around with the dense weight of the water pressing on you. But it was overcast and the sun stayed hidden so we got spared a bit.

You spend your first day first learning how to power walk your bike, then progress to drills taking you back and forth, shifting, doing turns. It’s fun and fairly easy. Just getting a feel for your bike (or scooter). By about 1 pm you get a quick break for lunch and then are asked to meet at Sun Honda for the written part of the class. For those of you who hate tests, this is one you shouldn’t stress about.

We get there and get a two part video watching and discussion section that covers the basics of bike safety and common sense. I mean, really, you will not have to stress about the test. The instructor said they gave it to a group of nuns who never took or read any classwork about motorcycle safety and they all passed.

He also said he stopped telling that story after he told it and someone didn’t pass. And of course he told our class, so anyone who didn’t pass must really have felt great about hearing that comment. I do think we may have had one person who did not pass. But some people just hate tests (or really should not be out there on the road).

I forgot to mention. The price tag for us to have the class at Sun appears to be in the form of advertising. We all first went on a 25 minute tour of the building, the showrooms, the bikes, the accessories and the service department. Our guide cut to the chase and let us know he was available if we want to buy anything and would give a discount to the class.

I can’t really complain. They provide a space to do the class and I am sure a number of those newly trained motorcycle consumers loved seeing the big classic Harleys. Some of them might even buy something. They also have a cool room upstairs with vintage bikes that was fun to see. And the crowds checking out the bikes were almost as interesting as the bikes themselves.

After a few hours of watching, listening, and quite a bit of yawning its a quick written test, immediate feedback on your score, and out the door. By now it is after 6 pm. Plan to run over the first day with the goal of getting out early the next.

Intermission: I want out for a friends birthday party that night and we had both Saki and beer. I will pay for this later

Sunday morning we all arrive at 7 am. I am feeling less than perfect from the birthday party before and guess what the weather decides to do to help me out. It decides to be 100% sunshine, humidity, and scorching heat. The black asphalt acts as an amplifier to the heat sending it up through our boots and the bikes are radiating more heat as they chug through the day. Ouch.

There is a series of 7 drills on day two that include….

• Quick stops demonstrating the ability to, well, stop quick
• Tight U turns to demonstrate your ability to maneuver in close places
• Corner turns to demonstrate going on an on or off ramp
• Wider turns to demonstrate curves of a road
• Swerving to dodge obstacles
• Riding over something in the road (a 2X4 in this case)
• Doing lane changes
• Stopping in a curve

The drills were fun, and the only time that we got a break from the heat with some nice wind. That and hiding out under the overpass. They also prepared us for the test which included the U turn first, the quick stop second, and finally the curves.

The good news is that these tests are items that we already did many many times. When you did it wrong you did it again. If you thought you did it right but missed something, they tell you. It really does mean that you learn something for road safety that is needed. It also prepares you for the test.

I couldn’t imagine, if you never rode a scooter or a bike, that these tests wouldn’t be a little tricky. But with the two days sweating on that parking lot you get it dialed in perfectly. And hopefully you don’t get to nervous and forget it when the actual test arrives. Two people did have a bit of a freak out during the test and after completing the u turn (the test that gave everyone the most trouble) and then forgot to cruised right through the easy stop. Ouch again.

So that was it. Test is passed, class is wrapped up, and it’s only 2:30 pm. We take our wonderful Motorcycle Safety Cards (which are not your license) and our stinky, sweaty selves and cruise out of there as fast as we can for cool showers at home.

PART II – The DMV

This deserves it’s own heading because if you do this wrong you will sit in line for a long, long, long, long time.

Your card means you don’t have to wait in the super long line at the DMV, or take the test there. For those who don’t know, the DMV can be the single longest line in the city of Denver. That and the Social Security Department. So just trust me on this advice on how to handle it. Go to te office before they open at 8 am. Some say to go at 7, I went at 20 till. There was already a long line in front of me waiting to get in the door but most of these folks will need to do the long process of the test. You, with your handy motorcycle endorsement card, will be going to the expedited line. After the first 30 people ahead of me walked in and got numbers I just told them what I needed and was sent, instead, to the head of the line for quick stuff (or something like that). A quick show of the card, a punch of my old license, and my $2 fee and I was all set. Done. The time was 8:15 am. I was there for 35 minutes. Behind me in the “short line” by the time I was done were about 40 people. The difference of showing up 20 minutes before they opened and arriving after may have saved me 2 hours. Think about it.
I almost forgot my last experience before I got to go scooting around Denver testing out my new scooter and my new license… it was the moment of getting my new photo taken at the DMV.

Without giving me a heads up the DMV representative snapped a photo and said I was all wrapped up.

“How did the photo turn out then? Does it look okay?” I asked

He paused for a second, looked down at his screen and replied “Well, it looks like you”

I don’t think I want to see this license.

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.

Here is another great spot you have to try. Tom’s Home Cooking located in Five Points is some awesome southern delights.

Fried catfish, fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas and more are there for your selection. During lunch you want to get there early. 11:30 is the magic number for me. And there will be a line when you get there and the line will be longer when you leave.

The operation is simple enough. Imagine the soup nazi from Seinfeld without the attitude. Folks churn through the assembly line and call out their main course plus two sides and you get it handed to you, in your styrofoam box, and you are off. Oops, I almost forgot the cornbread and drink are included. This is important because they brew and serve authentic sweet tea. The folks I know from the South swear it is the real thing, and they consume it by the gallon when we go.

Once you get your food grab a seat quickly before they all disappear.  If all the seats are gone, just wait a minute or two.  The turnover is quick among these small diner style tables in a small area filled with Southern antiques and signs.  Take a look around at the wall artwork, it is sure to get a laugh.  And you’ll notice there are signs warning of fees for cell phone usage while ordering or just being high maintenance.  This is where the Seinfeld reference comes from.  No catfish for YOU!!

If you are really hungry go ahead and upsize your catfish from two pieces to four, or add on a slice of pie. Either way you will not walk but roll out the door. This may not be healthy for you, but it is good. If it is any consolation, one of the most recent Scientific American articles talks about how it is healthier to eat everything you want and include alot of good stuff than it is to try to never eat anything bad. Really, or maybe we can just rationalize anything.

Yum. This is a gotta do item for anyone in Denver. Let me know what you think.

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?

I’ve been working restaurant hours since I can remember. I thought to myself, If I ever want to coach my kids soccer teams, If I ever want to be at home for dinner with a future family, if I ever want to have nights off, I needed to change something. I would set my alarm every morning to try and be an early bird, to live the life of “normal” people, even though I went to bed at 3a most nights. I hit the Snooze 3 times, each morning….and one morning, while I was searching for my answer on how to have nights off….the epiphany happened.

3: Can you share a little bit about the background of Snooze and how you got started? Is this your first restaurant?

Snooze is the classic start up business story. Over 20 banks said NO, investors, developers….and than finally, the whole thing happened. I started the business plan in 2000, and had several people critique it. It’s my first restaurant that I own, but since moving back to Denver, I’ve been the manager of The Denver Chophouse, Sushi Den, MAO (Now Ocean), and Monarck.

4: Okay, I have to ask about the pancakes. How many types do you have and which are your favorites?

We had National Pancake Day in September and we had three batters, 20 ingredients, 15 sauces and 7 butters to choose from. We have a ton of pancake ideas….it is really what tastes best, what’s the season. It’s great because it’s constantly evolving. I am a Reece’s Pieces junkie….it’s a joke among my family. The new big cups are my favorite. So, the Peanut Butter Cup pancake is mine (Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter Cream Anglaise, and More Chocolate on top, crushed peanuts for garnish)

5: If you had a friend in to visit and they only got one meal at Snooze, what would you recommend they try that they couldn’t find anywhere else?

Juan’s Breakfast Tacos with flour tortillas and Chorizo, a side Pineapple Upside Down Pancake, a cup or House Coffee (Our Own blend flown in from Guatemala each week) and a Morning Manhattan.

6: Any plans to franchise Snooze, open additional locations, or open something new?

We still have so much we want to do with this Snooze. The product can always evolve, improve I feel. Plus, I have some great regulars and employees. When you have more locations, that all changes.

7: Any plans for lunch or dinner? Any new items for the menu coming soon?

No Dinner. We want to do two meals, breakfast and lunch, and do them well. We serve lunch Monday – Friday and our menu changes approximately each 2 months. We have a new menu rolling out February 6th…..it’ll be sweet!

8: Didn’t you recently have a pancake charity event? What events have you had and are there any more planned?

Make a Wish for Pancakes Day….Pick your batter, pick your ingredients. All Pancake sales went to our neighbors at the Samaritan Shelter. We’ve hosted everything from DU alumni events, to Dinner Rehearsals. We have the chef and the liquor license and the space. It depends on the occasion.

9: Can you tell us about your location? Denver is constantly growing, have you seen changes?

As a Denver native, I wasn’t even allowed down in this area. However, I live above the restaurant and am the VP of the Ballpark Neighborhood Association. I’m familiar with the historic district, future developments; future endeavors….the area are great. In my opinion, it’s the most diverse of the Denver Neighborhoods which is a cool characteristic.

10: Anything else I should have asked that folks should know?

I love hearing about someone’s Favorite dining experience! It doesn’t matter when or where but what was it that made it so memorable!? One of my favorite books is THE PERFECT MEAL……it’s about the best meals all over the world. Some in rural parts of Asia, other chapters at the nicest fine dining restaurant in the world. Tell me yours….

Visit, edit or contribute to the Denver Wiki Page for Snooze

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.

For those who haven’t visited you yet, can you share a brief
description of McLoughlins (Food, ambiance, vision, people)?

We set out to create a restaurant featuring modern american cuisine in a casual, relaxed environment. Basically we wanted a place that people would feel comfortable coming in after work in a pair of jeans, and have a burger and couple of beers. But also a place where people felt fine dressing up, sharing a bottle of wine, and eating a steak. It’s also become a “neighborhood” place, and on any given night, you will know half of the people in here.

McLoughlins has an Irish heritage. Can you share a little bit
about the owners, how you came to be in Denver, and more about the
history?

Frank and Jim McLoughlin, natives of Dublin, Ireland. Frank came to
the states almost 20 years ago, working for Fado Irish Pub in Atlanta. He
moved to denver 7 years ago to open the Fado here, then
teamed up with Jim to open the Irish Snug, their first pub, almost 3
years ago. Jim moved to Chicago about 7 years ago, and owns some
property there. He has an extensive background in Accounting and CFO
duties for large corporations. He travels constantly between the
two cities, racking up tons of mileage for free trips if he were ever
to get any time off.

Talk about locating in Riverfront Park and the Central Platte
Valley and what attracted you to this location. Are there unique
elements to this location?

Riverfront Park is a beautiful new development right next to the heart of
Denver. We are proud to be part of the development. We feel like we are
playing our part in creating a new neighborhood and we love our new
neighbors.

Where do you get your menu ideas? Do you have any favorites?

The menu creation is a culmination of Frank, Jim and myself. After
deciding on the basic idea of what we wanted on the menu, we each
brought ideas to the table, mostly favorite dishes we had, some
things we had cooked for ourselves or our families. Then the fun
part, I got to prepare everything and we all tasted. Some were
excellent, and we all agreed they should be on. Some where not so
great and didn’t make the cut. We’ve revised the menu a few times
since we opened; bringing Nick on as our Kitchen manager a month or
two after we opened. He has brought considerable expertise to the
mix, and some of his creations have become our most popular menu
items. I think my personal favorite dish is the Arabiatta pasta. It’s
a vodka, cream and tomato pasta, slightly spicy. It’s tasty, and it’s
made with booze. Win – win!

Every member of your team has been a rockstar when I’ve been
there, can you share a bit about who they are?

We’ve two bartenders that have been with us since the beginning,
Tommy and Doug. I met Tommy at Fado years ago, and Doug the day of
his wedding. He came into the Irish Snug before the wedding. I bought
him a guinness and a breakfast and sent him on his way. Nick our
kitchen manager is a bit of a sports freak, and it always amazes me
the stats and knowledge he can come up with. Vinny is our main dinner
cook, and he’s a good guy, with dubious connections to denver mafia.
I try not to yell at him too much. Our other staff members Chloe,
Sarah, Jessica, Loren, Jake, Sarah, our other manager Tina, and our
day guys, brothers Demetrio and Enrique all bring their own personal
flair to the place. Chloe speaks fluent french and makes fun of me
when I say wine names. Sarah was hired as part time, but has yet to
work under 40 hours a week for us. Jessica’s wisconsin accent comes
out when she’s had a couple. Loren lives only two blocks away, but
still never manages to come in on time. Jake is one of the more
enthusiastic people I’ve worked with. Sarah has a green thumb and
helped build up our flower boxes for the winter. Tina’s “No BS”
attitude is enviable. Demetrio and Enrique manage to make everything
spicy.

What’s on tap and how do you decide what is flowing?

We’ve tried to hit all of the bases when it came to the alcohol. Of
course the guinness, along with other irish favorites Smithwick’s
(pronounced Smithick’s, silent ‘w’) and Harp. English beers Bass and
Strongbow cider, local brews from Odell’s in Ft. Collins, Easy Street
Wheat and 90 Shillings, Stella Artois and French lager Kronenbourg,
and a certain regulars’ personal favorite, Coors Light.. Our wine
list is fairly extensive, with 69 bottles total, 24 of which we serve
by the glass. It’s broken down by New World and Old World and has
something for everybody.

What about Special Events? Are there dates we should have in
our calendars not to miss?

Obviously St. Patrick’s day. We are planning on doing something
similar to last year. We will cover the patio, have a few bands, a
few special Irish dishes, and the Guinness will be flowing non-stop.

Located right on the Plaza, you have to have some great
stories. Can you share some of the most memorable moments or
sights you have seen?

Needless to say, during the blizzard of ’06 most of our staff had no
chance to get to work for a couple of days. But being the
neighborhood place that we are, we were determined to open somehow.
Being the only one with a 4 wheel drive, I managed to plow my way
down here. It was my day off, and I had only just rolled out of bed
and headed into work. Frank had walked all of the way from the Snug
with his girlfriend (downing and colfax) and so with the three of us,
we decided to open up with a limited menu. For the next 8 hours we
were completely swamped. Our patio became the place to park your
snowboard, skis or sled. Frank, Suzie (who has never waited tables)
and I ran around trying to take care of everyone. I was wearing my
pajamas, (never had a chance to go back home and change). A couple of
the staff found a way to get to work, so things got a little smoother
after that. I think everybody who came in understood the situation,
and nobody left too angry. In the end it was a great day for us.

You certainly have a loyal following here in Riverfront. What
do you credit this to? Do you have a unique philosophy to taking
care of your customers and neighbors?

I think the main reason we’ve been a success has been our staff. We
encourage them all to let their own personalities flow while they’re
working. I think it creates a very special atmosphere, one that our
customers have really enjoyed.

Anything else the folks out there should know? Anything new
down the road?

We have been tweaking our brunch menu, and we invite people to come
down on the weekends. We open at 9am every saturday and sunday, and
serve brunch until 3pm.