On the same day that the Humble Pie Store started selling its crusted wonders at 300 Elati St. in Denver, Leaf & Crumb opened at 4416 E. 8th Ave. The new bakery is headed by pastry chef Jennifer Akina Rocha, who studied at Johnson & Wales University, and Lisa Klodnicki. While there’s a major focus on cleverly designed wedding and birthday cakes, the shop also sells butter-laden take-out treats such as macarons, pecan bars, black bottom banana pudding pies with a meringue top, green tea-infused cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and lemon ginger peach bars. For more info: leafandcrumb.com.
Chef in the kitchen, on the farm
A recent Wall Street Journal feature on chefs who own farms includes Eric Skokan. At night, he’s the chef at his Black Cat Farm Table Bistro and the gastro pub Bramble & Hare in Boulder. By day, Skokan farms the 130 acres that supply the restaurants with produce and pork.
Travelers rank Colorado wine country highly
In a recent tripadvisor.com feature on the Top 10 Wine Destinations in the U.S., Palisade and Colorado’s Western Slope wine country took ninth place. Meanwhile, mensjournal.com features a profile of Colorado wine country by bike that notes: “The Fruit and Wine Byway takes cyclists along the back roads of Palisade, a small town with a high concentration of vineyards set in the scenic shadow of the 11,000-foot Grand Mesa and the iconic sandstone cliffs known as the Book Cliffs.”
DIA touted as wine, beer and fare destination
Forbes.com list of food options at five top airports featured Denver International Airport:
“Sample a few of the 58 wines at Lounge 5280 … overlooking Concourse B. Pair them with appetizers like osso-bucco-style pork wings or the perfect-with-wine cheese platter. … Microbrew fans should check out New Belgium Hub, also on Terminal B. It carries tons of specialty beers that the Centennial State is known for.”
The tell-us-something-we-already-knew list
GQ Magazine has named the five best beer cities in America and naturally Denver ranks high: “Denver, Welcome to Brewtown, U.S.A.: A bit of a no-brainer. Everyone knows the Rockies are famous for both their monstrous brewing giants and small, powerful micro-brew producers, but did you know Denver is home to the Great American Beer Festival every October?”
Winning green chile secret: ‘I just throw it together’
The Pueblo Chieftain reports that Pat Gurule won first place for her green chile in the non-commercial division of the Chile and Salsa Showdown at this year’s Chile and Frijoles Festival and is modest about winning for the third time. “When I make my chile, I just throw it together. I never vary it.” Gurule said she doesn’t have a recipe, but she uses these ingredients: diced pork that she browns in a little oil; flour to make a roux; one can each of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes; water; about 4 cups of diced Pueblo chile; salt and garlic to taste. Let simmer until thickened to desired consistency.
Garbanzo set to invade Jersey shore
Qsrmagazine.com reports that Denver-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill will open 27 Garbanzo restaurants in northern and central New Jersey, the first in early 2013.
Colorado’s farm exports are growing fast
The USDA reports that last year Colorado exported a record $1.3 billion in agricultural products which supported about 10,000 jobs on and off the farm. So far in 2012, Colorado’s farm exports show an 18-percent gain over last year’s record total.
– Staff and wire service reports