Each year the Pantone Color Institute (PCI) selects a hue in order to start a conversation around color. This year, the chosen shade is Mocha Mousse, which for us also strikes a conversation around food.
As the name suggests, Mocha Mouse invokes the idea of rich, chocolate-colored dishes, Espresso Martinis, and even a savory course perfect for indulging in.
“We look to a mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and sensorial and comforting warmth extends further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, as to why the color was chosen.
Overall, the 25-year-old Color of the Year campaign aims to “highlight the relationship between color and culture” and to “express a global mood and an attitude, reflecting collective desire in the form of a single, distinct hue.”
While Mocha Mousse proves pleasing to the palette, it’s also perfect for the palate. Find more than a handful of dishes around town to help you fill up and celebrate the color. At least, as close as possible.
Chocolate Macarons at Miette et Chocolat
Head to the Stanley Marketplace for some of the best French-style macarons in town. While Miette et Chocolat has other flavors, it’s the creamy chocolate ones channeling the Pantone Color of the Year. Owned by skilled confectioner David Lewis, the small shop opened with the marketplace launch at the end of 2016. 2501 Dallas St., Suite 176, Aurora, mietteetchocolat.com
Vegan Chocolate Mousse at Ambler
It should surprise no one we found a mousse in the same shade of Mocha Mousse. This decadent vegan version comprises dark chocolate, coconut cream, and a hint of maple syrup. For $12, expect a lovely creamy texture, which may even try to convince your palate it’s not 100-percent plant based.
Ambler opened last summer in Hotel Indigo downtown. The vibe gives off bohemian sensibilities meshed with the beatnik lifestyle of writer Jack Kerouac. 1801 Wewatta St., Denver, amblerdenver.com
The Family Jones Espresso Martini
It’s not a Mocha Mousse roundup without at least one espresso martini, and we have two. The first one comes from LoHi’s The Family Jones Spirit House. Drink one there or take it home since the beverage is part of the distillery’s Automatic Jones ready-to-drink cocktail program. Inside the bottle find Annika Jones vodka and espresso liqueur mixed to perfection. In house the mocha-colored drink gets dressed up with a dollop of orange coffee foam and the traditional trio of coffee beans for a garnish. 3245 Osage St., Denver, thefamilyjones.co
La Mousse au Chocolat at Le Bilboquet
Imagine the inspiration one can take from a luscious chocolate mousse featuring rich dark cacao with light, airy Chantilly cream. It’s well-executed and tasty, and comes decorated with delicate dark chocolate curls.
The lovely dessert not only embodies Mocha Mousse the color, but it adds to the elegance of the Cherry Creek French restaurant. The bright space opened in 2019, run by Philippe Delgrange, founder of the decades-old Le Bilboquet in New York City, and restaurateur Rick Wahlstedt, who just opened Le Colonial in the same neighborhood. 299 St Paul St, Denver, lebilboquetdenver.com
Veal Osso Bucco at Carne
Not all mocha colors have to be sweet. At chef Dana Rodriguez’s newly-opened Carne in RiNo, it’s the Veal Osso Bucco ($33) that speaks to the color of the year. Enhanced with a white wine, mustard, and rosemary jus, the bone-in meat gives off the comforting spirit of the color. No, the whole thing isn’t exactly Mocha Mousse, but enough of it matches the hue and has us salivating. 2601 Larimer St., Denver, carne-rino.com
Café de Tacuba at Call Me Pearl
You don’t have to be a guest of The Rally Hotel in order to enjoy Call Me Pearl’s Mocha Mousse creation, though if you have a few you may wish you were. The Café de Tacuba is the bar’s take on the classic Espresso Martini. Inside the glass find a blend of tequila and mezcal, enhanced with mole spices and a hint of habanero.
“Our Café de Tacuba is currently the star of the show,” said Edward De Decker, general manager at Call Me Pearl. “The blend of earthy, smoky, and slightly spicy flavors has struck a chord with our clientele, making it the most popular choice on our menu.” Plus, it’s the perfect hue for this year’s color theme. 1600 20th St., Denver, callmepearlbar.com
