Restaurant Show on Saturday, August 1, 2009

This week's PLAYBACK
Part 1:


Part 2:


We were at Argyll Gastropub in Cherry Creek on 3rd and Clayton. My guests were Robert Thompson, owner, and Sergio, chef at the restaurant. It is an upscale pub with great wine and beer and super food-more than just bar food. That is what gastro pub means. Amy Smith, our charming wine lady, of Trinity Wines joined us too.

The menu is fabulous-the food is incredible. The service is great and so are the prices. We had fabulous lasagna, fried chicken-the best ever!!!!! Crab cake sandwich, eggs benedict, organic eggs with scotch toast and crispy bacon, tomato and onion. We also had incredible chocolate cake and key lime tart-and incredible rose wine and fabulous tea too. The beers and wines are outstanding!!!! And priced right too.

Today and tomorrow-say "GABBY" AND GET 15 PERCENT OFF YOUR ENTIRE MEAL-BRUNCH OR DINNER-SAT. AND SUNDAY

The question of the day—how many eggs do they use in a week-720.

STRINGS WILL OPEN FOR BRUNCH STARTING AUG 9!!!! FROM 11-2 EACH WEEK
THE MENU IS FUN, SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE AND LOOKS GREAT!!!

The second Snooze is now open on 7th and Colorado. Yeah for all of us who so love this place. The original in LoDo is the best and now there is one in another popular neighborhood.

Johnny Ballen of Squeaky Bean stopped by –they are open for dinner Tues-Sat and brk and lunch Tues-Sun.

Next week there are two Gabby events-

Mon, August 3 is the Gabby dinner at miniBar and it will be fabulous!!!! If you have a reservation, keep it or cancel very early so we can fill the space.

Thursday, August 6 is the Elway’s Cherry Creek joins with Matsuhisa, Aspen to show off the new distilled sake (made into great cocktails too), paired with the foods of Matushisa and Elway’s---this will be great fun and a very special night!

We went to Panzano and reserved our spot at the cook’s kitchen table where we watched the amazing chefs led by the incredible Elise Wiggins for a fabulous meal. The wine was fantastic, chosen by Gary Keller-a rose-perfect in taste and price. The breads are marvelous with their signature dipping sauce. We all had the grilled Caesar, one of the best ever for starters. Then we had half orders of gnocchi with lamb and cherries, a perfect combination. Entrees were a fabulous halibut on mushroom risotto, Peking duck leg confit with polenta and eggplant parmesan. All were perfect. The desserts sounded great but we were too full. It was a fabulous night of food and wine.

I was a judge with Penny Parker and Lori Midson at the Caesar salad taste off-we voted Squeaky Bean as winner but the crowd voted for Isakaya Den. It was lots of fun—and lots of Caesar-but not many real ones-most were definite interpretations.

Then we went to dinner at IceHouse Tavern and it was sooooo good--- Really great even.

We had deviled crab and great wines and then we had the BLT egg salad sandwich with sweet potato fries-and regular fries too. And a huge divine mac and cheese-and fried chicken with great spiced honey. We were way full but so happy and so much fun-we had great service as well.

Dinner at Taki Sushi was great as always. It’s a perfect neighborhood place-no matter what your neighborhood—with great food, wine, beer and sake, prices, service-a great spot-a real little gem—we had a special roll of spicy crab wrapped in cucumber and an octopus soup with cucumber first. Then we had rainbow roll, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki salmon, rice-with divine house salads with great dressing. And ended with watermelon slices that are complimentary. It is a real treat.

Off to the biggest treat with a test breakfast at my favorite-Snooze!!!! Now on 7th and Colorado-it rocks, it is perfect, as exciting as downtown—looks similar-tastes perfect-so is LoDo—yeah for all of us---pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, burrito, benedict-and that was starters. It is soooooooooo good- you snooze you lose if you are not there!!! Opened yesterday and get there fast.

We went to Root Down for dinner-and that is something special at all times-the place is mobbed-the service is divine—the food and wine spectacular---and that is how it is every time we go. We had the cucumber melon soup, the cherry, goat cheese salad, and the beet salad—then we had the most divine new tuna with sticky rice and pork to die for!!! That is two dishes by the way. Then we had the scallops, the berry tomato tart, the sliders and the sweet potato fries-and then we quit!!!! It was amazing and divine.

TV was great at Civic Center Park area-with the farmers market and outdoor café on Tuesday-the rest are places to eat in the area with so much going on—Mad Greens, Palettes, Dozens, and Kate Mullins.

Then we had a meeting at Maggiano’s for Fine Dining at Taste of Colorado and it is gonna be fabulous this year!!! Our restaurants are great and all the demos super divine too.

We went to Second Home for dinner and the place is mobbed-the bar and that area!! No cougars and mobs of people inside and out. We were in the dining room-more quiet there-although busy. We had the corn bread that is complimentary, nice wines, and shared a huge grilled Caesar for starters. Then we had the chicken club, the short ribs, the strip steak, and the sea bass for entrees. The dessert was key lime pie. Service was lovely and we had a very nice time. The place is sure hoppin now and that is just great.

We went back to Snooze for the final testing-it does not need testing---it is amazing and incredible and fun and good and service is great too!!! It has it all---no surprise—we had pancakes and the perfect poached eggs, the ham benedict, the spuds deluxe-hash browns with your choice of toppings and then melted cheddar cheese and scallions-wowy!!! And finally the chicken fried steak and eggs. All were just plain divine and great.

We had dinner at Strings with friends from out of town—we all met at Strings years ago and now our friends have a 5 year old-she was there too and loved her mac and cheese-and desserts made by her. The rest of us had great cold soup, Caesar salad, arugula with walnuts and grape salad, mussels, tomato bisque and caprese. Then we had lamb, salmon, scallops, and soft shell crab for entrees. Some had the same dish. And desserts were crème brûlée, chocolate tart, chocolate mousse and ice cream. Service was great too. And remember brunch is coming in 2 weeks on August 9.

Lunch at Capital Tea was a real great treat. The teas are wonderful and the prices so much better than anywhere else. I met a lovely lady, Diane, who is writing a book about tea places in Colorado-not till next summer---but we had a ball. And our lunch was great with a salmon burger and the egg salad pannini---and lots of tea. I may even have a new favorite.


McCormick’s Fish House in LoDo is beyond fabulous. The place is so welcoming—traditional but so friendly and casual and wonderful. The valet is great to start-and finish. Then you are so welcomed and at home. The wine list is lovely. Then we had the sour dough and a fabulous beet salad and the new special salad with “live” Bibb lettuce, cucumber, tomato, enoiki mushrooms and the best vinaigrette. We all had the same entrée of a striped bass special flown in from the Atlantic with a fabulous sauce of mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus and sherry and divine rice. Dessert was an outrageous apple pie a la mode. What a treat-perfect service was a special attraction as well.

Rae called about Sam Taylore BBQ.

Faye wanted to know about Pasta Jay in Lonetree-we know of Boulder but no one has been to this one—red sauce, Italian----then she went Castle Café and it was great-she loved it and the sides too.

Kathleen wanted Loveland—
Amy came up with Terrior-a great spot in Longmont!!! And we know of Tortuga but they do not take reservations.

Bob wanted to know about Scotch Eggs-we talked about the great ones at Argyll.
And remember Argyll’s webpage too. It is incredible.

Matt wanted to know about the beers-Tennents and more and so did other callers. We talked about all the beers on tap here too.

Kathy adored McCormick’s downtown!!!

We spoke to many other callers about the goodies at Argyll’s.

Thanks for listening and calling.

Gabby