Sunday Night in Denver

[Rosie]

Where must we eat? Type of cuisine and cost not a problem. We want to be impressed by the quality of the food and skill of the chef.

[JAZ]

Last year we had a great dinner at Rioja, which I wrote about here. (There are other suggestions on that topic, although most are a few years old.)

It sounds as if they still do the tasting menu; if so, I recommend it -- with the wine pairing.

[Dave the Cook]

I'd say "anywhere Ian Kleinman is cooking," but since leaving O's, he seems to be catering and hosting the occasional dinner for hushDenver. However, in a recent Westworld interview, he named Opus as his favorite Denver restaurant, and also cited 1515 and New Saigon. Opus seems especially interesting, and a recommendation from Kleinman is trustworthy.

[JWest]

- Ask Chef Thanawat Bates to do a tasting for you at Palace Arms of The Brown Palace Hotel. I thought the food in his special spontaneous tasting menus were great about 3 years ago, and I just read a recent review that his food is even better.

- Food & Wine Magazine just also named the chef at Fruition a "Best New Chef"

- Restaurant Kevin Taylor always has young creative chefs in the kitchen, that might be a spot to check out as well.

If you can make the trip out to Boulder (about 40 minutes) , then go there and eat at Frasca Food & Wine. This would be my number one choice, the restaurant is superb in all aspects.