Between festivals, parties, and having no kids around for most of July, it was a month of eating. And boy was the table laden high with heirloom tomatoes, melt-in-the-mouth beef, and pizza worth the hype. Read on for the 10 best things I ate in July, and let us know where to go next.
Tomato Tart From Boombots Pasta
Technically Boombots Pasta isn’t open yet, but owners Cliff and Cara Blauvelt are planning to launch the noodle-focused restaurant soon. However, we did get a taste of what’s to come at Eat Denver’s Big Eat festival in July. Enter the tomato tart, a delightful bite that, as Cara put it, tastes like a fancy pizza bagel. It did, in the best possible way. Follow Boombots Pasta on Instagram to find out more.
Wagyu Beef at Hey Kiddo
The new Walk With Us menu at Hey Kiddo is a good way to try a lot of things from Id Est Hospitality’s more casual spot in Berkley. It’s served family style and guests choose a protein to go along with a surprise array of side dishes. Hands down the wagyu beef with an apple-pear and jalapeno glaze was the winning plate. It was so tender and tasted a bit like Korean barbecue. While you can get a la carte dishes too, the only way to enjoy the wagyu is with the $95-per-person meal. 4337 Tennyson St. #300, Denver, hk-oy.com
E-Jole Salsa at Side Pony
Side Pony in Sloan’s Lake may be the only place to serve the smoky and spicy E-Jole Salsa, but it doesn’t compose the fantastic item. That honor goes to Eloy Lopez, who makes and sells his salsa around town. Head to Side Pony to grab a Jenny On the Block Margarita and try E-Jole Salsa with chips, and if you love it like I did, you can order it directly from him via Facebook. 4635 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, sideponydenver.com
Burrata With Heirloom Tomatoes at Carne
Tomato season is here, and chef Dana Rodriguez is using them to enhance her burrata appetizer at Carne in RiNo. The $17 plate comes with a cooling avocado mousse, and then a dash of harissa vinaigrette, which give the dish a pleasing bite. Get it while heirloom tomatoes are hot, when the fruit is gone, it’s gone. 2601 Larimer St., Denver, carne-rino.com
Parisian Gnocchi at Margot
Jump at the chance to try chef Justin Fulton’s new, and permanent location of Margot, located in Platt Park inside Denchu on Pearl Street. You can get dishes a la carte in the main bar area, or opt for the phenomenal tasting menu at the intimate eight-seat chef’s counter. All the dishes were beautiful, but I can stop thinking about the Parisian Gnocchi, which came in an umami-rich Parmesan broth with grilled green onion and black garlic. 1551 S. Pearl St., Denver, margotdenver.com
Jerk Chicken Sliders at Adrift Tiki Bar
Don’t sleep on the new sliders at Adrift Tiki Bar in the Baker neighborhood, the jerk seasoning is perfect and the buttery Hawaiian rolls lovingly embrace each bite. Recently the jerk chicken sliders made it to our table, and, despite amazing fries, SPAM musubi, and killer tropical drinks, the mini sandwiches stood out. You can also get the same great flavor with the jerk tofu sliders. 218 S. Broadway, Denver, adriftbar.com
Matcha Dumplings at Evoke 1923 in Evergreen
For some reason gnocchi was on the brain last month, though the Matcha Dumplings at chef Rand Packer’s Evoke 1923 had a personality all its own. The housemade gnocchi is bright green thanks to the matcha, which makes each little puff stand out in the dark broth. At first glance the dish looks stew-like, but at first bite it’s a roller coaster of umami flavors including truffle miso butter, bunashimeji mushrooms, and heirloom tomatoes all swimming dashi tonjiru broth. 27376 Spruce Lane, Evergreen, evoke1923.com
Bun Bo Hue at Pho Social
Yes, I did want to eat a large bowl of hot and spicy soup in the middle of summer, and with the Bun Bo Hue from Pho Social there were no regrets. There were, however, leftovers of the beef noodle soup, the $19 bowl is huge and could have fed two people. Not that I would have shared, after all, tailoring the dish to personal desires is part of the fun. There’s basil, bean sprouts, lime, raw jalapeño, and cabbage to choose from, if desired. 333 Broadway, Denver, phosocialdenver.com
Dubai Croissant From Reunion Bread (Bakery)
Over at Reunion Bread inside The Source in RiNo, chef Ismeal de Sousa has released a special in the form of the Dubai Chocolate Croissant. It’s amazing and if you see it on the bakery’s Instagram, make sure to go get it. Think rich chocolate coating a croissant stuffed with pistachio cream. It’s messy, it’s indulgent, and it’s a must try. 3350 Brighton Blvd/ #140, Denver, reunionbread.square.site
Pizza at Rosalee’s Pizzeria in Longmont
After so many trusted food people raved about Rosalee’s Pizzeria in Longmont, I had to try it while coming back from an event nearby. It was lunch time, which meant it was easy to order a couple slices at the counter. The special was sausage mushroom, and I got a pepperoni slice too. Yup, all those reviews and recommendations were right, it’s legit. Only problem, it’s an hour from my house. 461 Main St., Longmont, rosaleespizzeria.com
