AURORA – I’ve always written about eating food grown in Colorado, so I was thrilled when the sustainability-focused “locavore” movement was born. When I found out they were talking about eating only stuff grown within a few hundred miles of home, I bowed out. I love coffee, blueberries and maple syrup too much.
The big conundrum for local locavores and chefs is that the state has a relatively short growing season for produce, leaving fans with only cellared Colorado potatoes, onions and beets.
My solution has been to expand the “locavore” tent to include the amazing artisan foods and beverages that are being made in Colorado ranging from cheese and crackers to candy, rum and beer. Naysayers among the resident foodies, especially those with an affinity for New York and California, like to wrinkle their noses at the quality of our indigenous edibles and drinkables. I just look at them sympathetically and direct their attention to the evidence such as the 2013 Good Food Awards.
The Oscars of the American artisan food world were handed out recently in San Francisco by chef Alice Waters. Eight Colorado products were named among the 99 winners after 150 judges narrowed the 1,366 entries to 183 finalists :
• Chili Verde Ale, Pagosa Brewing Company (Pagosa Springs)
• Goat Cheddar, Avalanche Cheese Company (Basalt)
• Costa Rica and Madagascar chocolate bars, Ritual Chocolate (Boulder)
• Fleur de Sel Butter Caramels, Serendipity Confections (Wheat Ridge)
• Bourbon Whiskey and Rum, Dancing Pines Distillery (Loveland)
• Navy Strength Gin, Leopold Bros. (Denver)
• Powder White Rum, Syntax Spirits (Greeley)
(Find the full winners’ list at goodfoodawards.org.)
FOOD NEWS UPDATE
Aurora’s Sushi Katsu has opened a second location at 9555 E. Arapahoe Rd. in Greenwood Village. … Denver’s acclaimed Continental Sausages will be served during the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 in the suites at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans. … Keep an eye out at local retailers for the first beers canned at Dry Dock Brewery’s new Aurora facility. … DRAFT Magazine has named Boulder’s tiny BRU as one of the “2013 Breweries to Watch.” DRAFT also named Denver’s Falling House Tap House as one of the 100 Best Beer Bars in America noting: “it’s a serious mind-trip contemplating the gems that have poured through the 75 taps.” … Anemoi Wines in Palisade recently won two gold medals at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition beating out brand-name competition from California vintners.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“I think it’s pretty well known I’m a ‘cheagan’ … If it’s on your plate, I might get to cheat. … You turn your head once and your food might be gone.” – Tennis star Venus Williams on being a “cheating vegan.”
Send your comments, questions and local food news to: jlehndorff@aurorasentinel.com. Visit (and like) the Nibbles Facebook page. Listen to John Lehndorff’s Radio Nibbles at 8:25 a.m. Thursdays on KGNU, 88.5 FM, 1390 AM, and kgnu.org.