While I’m leery of any celebrity-endorsed food item, goods from former Broncos seem to be exceptions. Notably tasty are Ed McCaffrey’s Rocky Mountain Horseradish Sauce and Terrell Davis’ Mile High Salute Barbecue Sauce. Now add Mark Schlereth’s Stinkin’ Good Green Chile to that list. I enjoyed the former offensive lineman’s vegetarian (and gluten-free) green chile — it’s thick with roasted green chiles, corn, onion, Great Northern and black beans, cilantro, jalapeno and tomato and thankfully minus any goopy gravy. After a few bites a nice amount of bright heat builds up on the back of the tongue. The only “stink” is the fine perfume of roasted peppers. The product is available in frozen tubs at King Soopers and other supermarkets. It should be noted that former Broncos John Elway and coach Mike Shanahan deliver some exceptional cuisine at Elway’s Restaurant and Shanahan’s Steakhouse, but they don’t do any cooking. Any suggestions for a food product for new Broncos QB Peyton Manning?
GRADE A NEEDS YOU
The 2012 Grade A Awards ballot, a new way for you to vote for your favorite things about life in Aurora, is only a week away. We made sure there were lots of food categories. Get ready to tell us where in Aurora you get your favorite thin-crust pizza, burritos, fried chicken, pho, steaks, African fare, brunch, bakery items, chicken wings and more. Online voting begins June 14. We’ll have full details in the June 21 issue including the print ballot.
COLORADO FOOD NEWS
One of the best resources for tasting the state is the 2012 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory featuring more than 200 farms, ranches, roadside stands plus tours, wineries, corn mazes, and more than 100 farmers’ markets. The free booklet is offered at libraries, visitor centers, CSU Extension offices and online at coloradoagriculture.com/farmfresh. … Udi’s Healthy Foods — a Colorado company that sells gluten-free foods — has been sold to Smart Balance. The good news is that the Udi’s most of us know — bakery, catering, cafes including the fast-casual prototype Pickled Lemon in Boulder will stay with the family of founder Udi Bar-on. … There’s a new farm in the neighborhood: The Ugly Goat Milk Company recently moved to 1701 Hidden Acres Place in Parker. … Over 82,000 pounds of food was collected by Postal Service employees and donated to metro food banks during Stamp Out Hunger on May 12. … Food & Wine wine editor Ray Isle recently listed five wineries around the country that are worth a trip including Denver’s Infinite Monkey Theorem. Isle notes: “Good wines: stop by and taste the intense 2009 Hundredth Monkey, an inky blend of Petit Verdot, Malbec, Petit Sirah and Syrah, or really anything Parsons makes.” … In July all Sunflower Markets (including the Aurora store at 15405 E. Briarwood Circle) will be re-branded as Sprouts Farmers Market after a recent merger. … Durango’s Ska Brewing Company will introduce a series of canned artisan stouts starting with Autumnal Mole (mow-lay) Stout infused with spices, chiles and cocoa.
EATERY UPDATE
Yogurtland is open at 18191 E. Hampden Ave. in Aurora. … Cruller lovers are ecstatic over the news that more than 25 Dunkin’ Donuts stores will be opening in the metro area in the next few years. … PizzaDoodle, a new family-friendly pizza chain, opened recently at 6830 S. University Blvd. in Centennial … One of our favorite outdoor dining destinations, Highlands Garden Cafe has reopened for the season at 3827 W. 32nd Ave. in Denver. According to opentable.com, diners’ top picks for outdoor dining in Colorado include Chautauqua Dining Hall (Boulder), Ajax Tavern (Aspen), Willow Creek Restaurant (Evergreen), Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna (Colorado Springs) and Vita (Denver).
COME TO THE TABLE
For more Colorado food news, visit aurorasentinel.com/colorado-table. Send your comments and local food news 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
“There are a lot of foods I don’t like. I hate cilantro and peppers, and there are definitely some Armenian foods that I personally find disgusting, but that doesn’t reflect my opinions on other Armenian people or my culture.” – Famous celebrity Kim Kardashian, clearing things up after she had declared Indian food was “so disgusting.”