This week's PLAYBACK
Part 1:


Part 2:


Here’s the Scoop from the Gabby Gourmet Restaurant Show on Saturday, October 30, 2010.

Halloween fun at the studio with the folks from the new Zi Fusion restaurant.
My guests were Bob Cherenzia, Chris Straka, and Chef Rhett Songer. Lee Roper came by as well as we are doing a book signing at Compleat Gourmet this Friday, November 5 from noon to 3. And we are giving away a great prize to someone who buys books—or a book.


DON’T FORGET NEXT WEEK WE ARE AT NATURAL GROCERS VITAMIN COTTAGE IN SOUTHGLENN –ON S. UNIVERSITY—LOVE TO SIGN YOUR BOOKS TOO.

AND NEXT FRIDAY FROM 12.30 TO 2.30 WE ARE AT COMPLEAT GOURMET ON DRY CREEK AND S. UNIVERSITY TO SIGN MY RESTAURANT GUIDE AND LEE ROPER’S COOKBOOK. WITH A PRIZE FOR A LUCKY PERSON WHO PURCHASES A BOOK-A SELECTION OF CEYLON PEARL TEAS.

THIS WEDNESDAY WATCH CHANNEL 7 AT 11AM FOR THE SEGMENT FEATURING GABALICIOUS DISHES FROM THE NEW GUIDE.

They were terrific and the restaurant is doing fabulous things-happy hour, lunch, dinner, and fun.

The question of the day—how many wines are there by the glass at Zi Fusion—23.

THE NEW GABBY GOURMET RESTAURANT GUIDE, 2011—THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS HERE-AND AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE. READ GABBALICIOUS, GABWORTHY, NEW HEAVENLY AND MORE.

NEW DINNER

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Zi Fusion
7340 S. Clinton St
Englewood
720-287-1479

6.30 pm

Join us for a New Year’s treat at the new and divine restaurant where Fusion with an American accent is at it’s best. Off Dry Creek and Clinton, the beautiful surroundings set the scene for a night of great food and wine. The sommelier is selecting fabulous wines to accompany the meal, and all our guests are in for a treat. The price including tax, tip and wine is $ 40.00 per person. The menu will have each course paired with a special wine. It’s a great way to start the New Year.

Wine Dinner
Oolong Tea smoked duck with a five spice poached pear and Blueberry Jus

Thai Beef Noodle Soup with Buckwheat noodles

Choice of Either
Black Bean Shrimp with Chinese Broccoli over Jasmine rice
Or
Beef Tenderloin medallions with Shiso Chimmichuri and charred White Asparagus

Mango Cheesecake with a fortune cookie crust and a fresh raspberry coulis

Wines to be paired with each course.


Dinner at Fruition was HEAVENLY-that place deserves every award it gets—and does get. It is amazing-service, food, wines, every detail. Alex is so special, kind, and very modest too. We started with RICOTTA FROM HIS FARM with prosciutto and plums. Then we shared the smoked sturgeon appetizer with his “caviar”. The entrees of seabass , pork chop (wowwy), and fried chicken all came with fabulous fall vegetables and were amazing to see, better to taste-perfect-and topped by the best date pumpkin cake a la mode ever—and so is the lemon meringue—but the pumpkin date—get there.

There is a new restaurant in Northfield-Wyland’s Ocean Blue that is an art gallery with paintings of fish from the owner plus a great restaurant. We had several dishes-several of us doing lots of sharing-we started with steamed mussels, shrimp coctel ixtapa, broiled oysters dynamite and conch fritters—have not seen those in a long time. All were excellent and great presentations too. Then we shared the southwest Bibb and the arugula and berries salads and they were super too. The entrees-again great- were arctic char, sea scallops, seafood sudado (like a cioppino) and a double cup pork chop. You pick sides but we were so full we passed-and each fish is offered with several different sauces. Dessert was a platter of crème brûlée, key lime pie and gelato and sorbet. It is a place to visit.

Dinner at Shells and Sauce was just plain great---as always!!! This is just a favorite for all—by the crowd—and me too. The happy hour is super to start—but we went for dinner—started with great wines-ball buster-yes really-is great and so were the other choices. Then we had the great warm bread and dip and Caesar salads. The apps sounded great but we passed cuz of entrée choices. Those were vongole, lasagna (gabalicious choice), and sea bass-all were divine. And so was the chocolate bombe for dessert. Service is amazing too all the time. This is a perfect neighborhood restaurant.

Heavenly restaurants on TV were heavenly on channel 7----Elway’s Cherry Creek, D-Bar Desserts, Table 6, Root Down and Barolo—see the segment under TV appearance for a view of some great food and fun.

Lunch at Elway’s at the Ritz was great. We had the Asian chicken salad, the buffalo reuben, and the egg salad sandwich special—all were great with teatulia white tea too.
Service was great, food, and the valet—the best.

The Gabby dinner at Chile Verde was great fun—lots of margaritas, wine, and beer with great chips and dips to start. Then we had ceviche and entrees of chili rellenos or crepes-both were terrific. And dessert was flan-a fun Mexican night.

Cherry Creek Grill was lunch for a meeting. The lunch was great-rotisserie chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, Caesar, and an artichoke (that was sent to us as they did not honor the reservation well—but certainly did care enough to do something about it). The slaw and cucumber salad sides were great.

Dinner at Cholon was fabulous. It is really great. The place filled late but was mobbed-and it is noisy. But very good. We had the complimentary rice cracker and super dipping sauce, the beef tartar, the duck spring rolls, a beet salad, and the thai salad-and each dish was great-the sauces are really outrageous. Entrees we shared were the chicken and the lamb shank with sides of Brussels sprouts and fried rice with a poached egg. The warm chocolate cake comes with divine peanut butter salted caramel ice cream but we had coffee-a request-and the sorbets are awesome. Service was great too. This is one new exciting place.

We went to Oceanaire for dinner. It was not the best experience. The folks were very nice but we were seated in a back room for no particular reason. We had a chop salad of greens, a Caesar, and a bibb salad—all were split. Then we had 3 appetizer crab cakes, trout, and fried shrimp for entrees—and a side of hash browns and fried beans. Dessert was key lime pie and a not very good baked Alaska. With a bottle of wine, the bill was beyond expensive.

Kathy called and adored the new Wyland’s. she can hardly wait to go to Zi Fusion---and she loved the gabby dinner at Chile Verde.

Gary went to Zi Fusion and loves the sushi there-and the entrees too.

THE MENU IS TERRIFIC—Rhett’s descriptions were amazing.
And-Chris’ wine selections and beers were fabulous too.

We had lunch from the Bagel Deli—and Chris had gluten free bagel for his sandwich.

Jim wants haddock fish platters—and special Chinese dishes—we knew not where.
Someone called and said Spanky’s on Friday afternoon but we are not sure if they were haddock.

Haley loves Zi Fusion and the other restaurant Purple Ginger on Youngfield.

Paul wanted to hear more about lunch at Zi Fusion—and Hawaiian specials too.

Rachel just got engaged and we talked about the great private dining room, banquet facility, bar, etc.
DON’T FORGET NEXT WEEK WE ARE AT NATURAL GROCERS VITAMIN COTTAGE IN SOUTHGLENN –ON S. UNIVERSITY—LOVE TO SIGN YOUR BOOKS TOO.

AND NEXT FRIDAY FROM 12.30 TO 2.30 WE ARE AT COMPLEAT GOURMET ON DRY CREEK AND S. UNIVERSITY TO SIGN MY RESTAURANT GUIDE AND LEE ROPER’S COOKBOOK. WITH A PRIZE FOR A LUCKY PERSON WHO PURCHASES A BOOK-A SELECTION OF CEYLON PEARL TEAS.

THIS WEDNESDAY WATCH CHANNEL 7 AT 11AM FOR THE SEGMENT FEATURING GABALICIOUS DISHES FROM THE NEW GUIDE.