Once upon a time a decade or so ago, Colorado’s chefs, cuisine and crops were definitely NOT on the national radar. Critics dismissed the state as a quaint “cow town” culinarily, with nothing but steak to write home about.

Now they like us, they really like us. Not a week passes without some new national award or honor going to a local eatery or brewery.

Among the recent kudos:

• Trip Advisor’s new Top 10 list of American travelers’ favorite dining spots includes chef Alex Seidel’s Fruition Restaurant in Denver.

• Readers of Zymurgy, a magazine published by Boulder-based American Homebrewers Association, asked readers to list their favorite commercially available U.S. beers. Colorado brews making the grade include Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale, New Belgium Fat Tire, Avery Maharaja, Left Hand Milk Stout, and Great Divide Yeti.

• OpenTable.com’s new Top 75 kid-friendly restaurants in the United States list includes the Aquarium Restaurant in Denver and Miyama Japanese Steak House in Lone Tree.

• Denver’s Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza was named one of the top pizza joints in America in Zagat restaurant guide’s debut pizza survey.

• Boulder’s Pizzeria Locale was named one of the top new artisan pizzerias in the United States by Food & Wine.

• Colorado eateries are even winning awards in California. Snooze, the mini-chain of brunch eateries, was recently named the best breakfast restaurant by San Diego Magazine.

• And just last week, a Chicago Tribune food critic wrote:

“I never thought of Denver as much of a foodie destination, though Frasca, a 30-minute drive away in Boulder, gets heaps of well-deserved praise. But on a weekend trip a few months ago, I encountered a few meals — and a few drinks — that have me eager to return.” He talked up ChoLon, Colt & Grey, Little Man Ice Cream, Linger and The Cruise Room.

Meanwhile, dedicated diners and opinionated foodies are all filling in ballots for the Aurora Sentinel’s inaugural Grade A Awards honoring the very best things about life in metro Aurora including its award-winning array of ethnic eateries, bakeries and markets. If you know who serves the best burger in Aurora or the finest African fare, fill out a Grade A ballot by July 13. You’ll find a paper ballot in the July 5 issues of the Aurora Sentinel, Life Science and the Buckley Guardian. The easy online ballot is available at aurorasentinel.com/grade-a-ballot. The results will be published August 16.

RECIPE REQUEST

Nibbles reader C. Head wrote recently looking for a favorite recipe:

“When the Denver Salad Co. was in business on Exposition they had a wonderful tuna pasta salad. They closed 15 to 20 years ago and I’ve never been able to find one like it anywhere since. Surely someone in Denver knows the recipe.”

If you have the recipe, send it to jlehndorff@aurorasentinel.com.

EATERY UPDATE

Shin Sa Dong Restaurant recently opened at 10293 E. Iliff Ave. in Aurora, former site of Korea House. … Deelish opened recently at 1901 S. Havana St. dishing breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu includes salads, burgers, pitas and sandwiches including gyros, falafels, cheesesteaks and patty melts. … Cupcake Dreamin will close its current storefront at 10600 E. Garden Dr. in Aurora on July 15th. The Cupcake Dreamin truck will continue until a new retail/kitchen space is found. … Boom Yogurt Bar, a Boulder-launched operation that dishes great tasting frozen yogurt, opened recently at 200 Quebec Street in Lowry.

COME TO THE TABLE

Read more Nibbles and other Colorado Table features at aurorasentinel.com/colorado-table. Send comments and questions to: jlehndorff@aurorasentinel.com. Be sure to visit (and like) the Nibbles Facebook page. Listen to Radio Nibbles, 8:25 a.m. Thursdays on KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM, and kgnu.org).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“Everybody dies, there’s no avoiding it and I do not believe for one second that butter is the cause of anyone’s death. Overeating may be, but not butter, please. I just feel bad for people who make that mistake. ” – Nora Ephron (1941-2012)