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I The Good
Guys Do Wear the Black Hat!!
Last week Gregory and I wanted something familiar for
dinner, so we made our way over to Kittredge to the
Black Hat Cattle Company.
The Black Hat Cattle Company is on highway 74 on the
west side of Kittredge. It was opened in 2005 by Dave
Rodriguez, a native of Montana, who brought to Colorado
his love of good food, especially beef. After five years
in operation, the Black Hat Cattle Company is going
strong due to it’s down to earth menu, good service and
consistent production of great food.
The dining room is warm and comfortable, decorated with
traditional western art, including bronzes of cowboys,
cattle and horses, numerous prints by Bev Doolittle and
other cowboy memorabilia.
The menu is a well balanced mix of traditional favorites
that you would expect at an up market steak house but is
very reasonably priced. The selection of appetizers
include Shrimp Cocktail, tender Calamari (served with a
piquant plum sauce,) Spinach and Artichoke dip,
excellent Crab Cakes and Rocky Mountain Oysters. The
salads include the Wedge Salad that is done with Bacon
and Maytag Blue Cheese dressing and a traditional Caesar
Salad. For smaller appetites there are also entrée
salads finished with Beef, Salmon, Shrimp or Chicken.
The entrées are where Dave and his beef shine. The menu
guarantees that the beef is all natural Certified
Hereford Beef, aged for a minimum of 21 days and they
sure know how to cook it. Their grill is set to a
scorching 1800 degree Fahrenheit which sears the surface
of the steak giving it a great flavor and crunch, while
leaving the inside tender and moist. Rare was just as it
is promised, pink and cool on the inside, Beautiful!!
All of the popular steak cuts are on the menu, Sirloin,
New York, Filet and Porterhouse. They also have Elk
Medallions and Prime Rib. A fun touch that will put any
of the entrées over the top is the option to finish it
“Oscar Style” with the addition of Blue Crab, Asparagus
and Béarnaise Sauce. (An option that tempted me, but my
rational side convinced me that it would be gilding the
lily.)
However, the guest who doesn’t have a taste for red meat
is not left out in the cold. There are many alternatives
to the beef including Chicken, Shrimp, Trout, Lobster
and Salmon. And for those of us who just couldn’t make
up our minds there were the mixed grill plates. I had
the Mixed Grill with Sirloin Steak, Salmon and Shrimp
and Gregory had the Seafood Mixed Grill with Salmon,
Shrimp and Crab Cakes.
All entrées are served with choices of sides that
include Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Whipped Sweet
Potatoes, Steak Fries, Baked Potato, Steamed Fresh
Vegetables, Onion Rings and Sautéed Mushrooms and
Onions.
The Wine list is an extensive collection of Reds and
Whites, imported and domestic, all chosen for their
ability to enhance the foods they are paired with.
Another plus is that over half of the wines are
available by the glass as well as the bottle.
After the huge dinner, though I was thoroughly sated, I
couldn’t pass up the opportunity to look over the
dessert selections. I scanned the menu, passing over the
Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream and Chocolate Ganache,
the Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce and the Key Lime Pie,
which all looked good, but I couldn’t get past the
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie served a la mode with Coffee
Ice Cream. When I place the order with our server,
Gregory assured her that he wouldn’t need a second fork,
but when it came to the table, warm and fragrant, the
ice cream streaked with chocolate sauce, he couldn’t
help but to dig in and help me with my indulgence.
Mr. Rodriguez, always present in the dining room
sporting his signature black Stetson, has made the Black
Hat Cattle Company a successful western style, honest to
goodness steak house. He also proves that the good guys
DO wear the Black Hat.
The Black Hat Cattle Company is open seven days a week,
for dinner only. Reservations are not required, but
suggested. Their web site is
http://www.blackhatcattleco.com , another Gem in the
Foothills, well worth the drive from Denver.
As always,
Enjoy life, eat well and be thankful for what you have.
Lawrence French
Lifestyles Catering
303 232 7932
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