Gary James This is what passes for a bad day in Telluride—I only had time to visit Rustico Ristorante for lunch. That is, I couldn’t stay for dinner, which kept me from delving into their outstanding Wine Spectator-reviewed wine list, with seldom-seen whites such as Albana and Friulano and the red Lagrein. For the well-heeled, … Read more
Gary James The Roma was once one of Telluride’s oldest and wildest bars, but since 2006, the renovated building has been Honga’s Lotus Petal, a restaurant serving fantastic pan-Asian fare. Start off with a specialty ginger mojito, a potent, imaginative concoction. The bustling sushi bar serves fish flown in from Hawaii four times a week, … Read more
Gary James I hold Telluride as the most beautiful spot in Colorado, and just being there induces a natural high. WhenI coupled that with a food buzz, Happy Hour turned into Ecstatic Hour at the Cosmopolitan Restaurant, located in the Columbia Hotel, right at the base of the gondola. The unpretentious waitstaff assured my party … Read more
By Gary James It’s home to some of Colorado’s best courses—of both the golf and gastronomic variety. Named for the prominent butte near the center of town, Castle Rock remains a distinct community between Denver and Colorado Springs, with a burgeoning populace that savors golf at The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Red Hawk Ridge and … Read more
By Gary James EAT, PRAY, LOVE: The Old Stone Church’s panseared trout with poblano potato hash. The Old Stone Church was just that before a remodeling made it a restaurant. I had concerns about eating in what was once a place of worship—as an altar boy, I snuck my fill of unconsecrated communion wafers and … Read more
By Gary James Castle Cafe general manager Dave Doty throws down with certainty—you come to the Cafe, you get their famous Pan-Fried Chicken. Like barbeque ribs and other regional specialties, fried chicken is all about the contrast of individual tastes. (Me? There are no wrong answers.) The Cafe’s version is a made to order item, … Read more
By Gary James CLUB SELECTION: Siena’s savory Chicken Asiago Caesar club with Applewood smoked bacon and arugula. SIENA AT THE COURTYARD The vibe at Siena at the Courtyard is right out of the Tuscan countryside, with brightly painted walls indoors and an outdoor patio where you can enjoy a large fountain area in the summer months. … Read more
By Gary James MATE OF THE UNION: Co-owner Dennis Dickey takes good care of his patrons and his people. The x-factor for any restaurant’s success is how well the operators balance aesthetics and economics. Union Bistro has it down. It’s owned by Dennis and Christina Dickey and chef Kim Heideman, all of whom previously worked … Read more
Donald Ross could never have imagined the range of excellent ethnic eateries near Wellshire Golf Course Gary James Overlooking the Wellshire Golf Course, the Wellshire Inn was a venerable dining destination until a few years ago. The Tudor landmark—originally built in 1926 as a clubhouse for a private club— now functions as a venue for … Read more
Gary James House of Kabob has been serving up tasty Middle Eastern and Lebanese food— the titular skewered meals plus staples such as hummus and baba ghanoush (bless you!)—for more than 20 years. Nice touches abound, like the reddish-purple ground sumac used as a garnishing spice on rice, and a deliciously cool tzatziki dip. My … Read more
