This week's PLAYBACK
Part 1:


Part 2:



We were at the great new Minibar in Cherry Creek North.

My guests were Michel and and the terrific ladies who work there-Tara and Lauren—and what fun. Then John from Squeaky Bean stopped by as did Noel Cunningham of Strings.

Minibar is having the first of Ladies Night Indulgences next Thurs with complimentary champagne-Perrier Joeut—and appetizers and someone winning a trip anywhere in the U. S. from United Airlines for $400. And specialty drinks too

Noel stopped by and they are celebrating their 23rd anniversary on Thursday-the 23th-happy times on the patio from 5-7pm—so lots going on!!!!

Question of the day-how many dates-they are divine-have they sold in 10 weeks-5,600!!
The food and drink and happy hour here is super-the patio divine—and it is just a welcoming special place.

I think the recipe for Opus’s tomato soup is up on the homepage.
And Look under dinners and nights for the updates on events.

We had a fabulous dinner at Tables—it always is=and was as usual. The summer menu is in and so good. We had the bread and then the spinach, goat cheese, bacon and plum salad and the beet salad with goat cheese. Then we had the burger with a caprese salad, the scallops with jalapeno vinaigrette and melon, the chicken with panzanella salad, and the soft shell crab with polenta. And then we ended with blueberry peach tart. A la mode on one, was even better. The whole thing was great!!

We went to Vert Green for lunch—what a treat!!! These little sandwich shops are awesome and this is one of the cutest-and best. Call for hours-place your order, they serve you and the food is great. We had the fresh baked turkey with balsamic figs, pine nuts, salad and tomato on great bread-and the BLT with mozzarella on super bread-both were fantastic-and the sides of a lentil cucumber salad and mashed potato salad were great too. What a neat little spot.

We went to BOA on W. 32nd in the Highlands-this is one of my favorite places-we only eat the Mexican fare but the Eastern does look great. But the Mexican is just plain incredible. The wine list and service are just as good as the food too---we had the stuffed sopapillas, one Mexican and one with the bbq combo of east and west-and then the open face burrito-and the green chile, and do not miss the warm chocolate cake for dessert-but the dinners are just plain fabulous.

We celebrated a birthday with lunch at Strings-and all of us ordered the chicken salad on focaccia and were thrilled-the chicken salad is the best-the bread so fresh-and homemade chips divine-the small salad on the plate had fabulous dressing too. What a treat.

We had a really great meal at Cuba Cuba-the place rocks, the service is totally outstanding with a casual ambience and the food is terrific. The bread is great, ceviche and plantain chips divine. Then we had the best rare tuna, arroz con pollo and duck breast—and the mashed sweet potatoes are divine too—and the chocolate pudding with caramel sauce is to die for.

The Gabby dinner at Opus was one of the best ever!!! They teamed up with Savory Spice (there are several locations and they are the best)-the dinner, food, service, wine, breads, every detail was beyond incredible. We had tomato soup with a mozzarella plank and tomato powder—you must get some-and I am trying for the recipe. Then we had house cured roman spice (the spice again great) lamb prosciutto with watermelon salad and arugula and goat cheese. The entrée of summer savory red trout with fingerling potato, shaved asparagus salad and brown butter hollandaise was just the best. And finally –a black onyx cocoa (you must try this spice) banana tart with Tahitian vanilla cream and butterscotch. What a meal and what a great night. They have a dinner coming up based on movie themes that should be fabulous too.

TV on Wednesday on Channel 7 was great-we had some really neat places-look under TV appearances to see pics---Crushery, Pearl St. Grill, Vert Kitchen, Park Burger, and Pajama Bread CO.
All were great.
So was my carryout lunch from Elway’s—always heavenly.

Table 6 was great as always—what a treat. Super service, wine, food and just fun. We had the great bread, salads and calamari for appetizers. Then we had ono niçoise, the chicken and waffles, and the halibut for entrees. Dessert was a rhubarb crisp that was fabulous as well. Every details is super-upscale, but casual, friendly and a treat.

Lunch at Crepes n Crepes was incredible. This place is so charming—and oh so good. We had –well-one of the crepes had chicken, cheese, and a béchamel sauce all in the crepe—I had the fried eggs in a buckwheat crepe and it was beyond amazing. What a treat-when can I go back!!!

We went to dinner at squeaky Bean and it was great. The entrees were not on the menu yet but what fun. First the cocktail list is fabulous with spiked lemonades that rock-or get them without the liquor---and the prosecco aperol is a must!!!! You will not stop until done-and the wines were great too. I had an amazing rose of Malbec. We had tomato mozzarella, chicken pate that is amazing to see, better to taste—the pig platter is another not to miss-seeing and eating. The beet salad, cold rice salad with with artichokes, and the dates in prosciutto were all divine. Then we had an incredible shrimp, boar bacon, Tomato, lettuce, avocado sandwich on terrific bread and moussaka with lamb. We were very full, very happy, and loved our night. And we are looking forward to entrees too.

What a neighborhood—after a great night at Squeaky Bean we went to LoHi Steakbar and it was fabulous too!!!! It was beyond mobbed, everyone was having a great time and patio and restaurant were totally full with a real long wait. We had super service, great food, and terrific wine. We had the hummus with flatbread and onion soup for starters. Then we had the steak and frites, the half chicken and frites and the entrée salad with salmon. All were terrific, portions great and prices super as well. And dessert was Sean’s amazing double chocolate pudding. They are now doing lunch and brunch too!!

Kathy called about the fabulous dinner at Opus-and it was!!! She also loves miniBAR
And it is great.

Eileen called about the dinner at Opus too-how creative-and the new dinners too. She went to Tables and loved it. She also said Mosaic has a great very early happy hour-
And they love Indulge Fresh Bistro on W. 38th.

Claudine Pepin called about Julie and Julia—the movie-we all want to see it. She did and loved it—and what fun to even have a dinner about it and watch it.

We also talked about Food Inc. at Chez Artiste-it is very interesting=about natural, etc.
And MiniBAR has all their food natural, purchased each day and presented beautifully.

They have special food and wine deals on Tuesdays too-do not miss them.

Alan went to Sushi Den=the food and service were fine. The bill of $73 came and he put down $100-the waiter asked if he needed change. Not the right move at all.
Change should be brought-and in small bills too. And then the guest should tip appropriately.

We ran out of time.
See you Tuesday at Cherry Cricket—and please cancel early or we are going to take money in advance so the restaurant can fill seats.

Thank you so much for listening.
Have a great week

Gabby