The unmistakable scent of bacon permeated the air this past weekend in Keystone, as thousands of swine fanatics congregated in Keystone Village for the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, a two-day pig fest that sizzled with everything from strips of bacon and bacon-tatted underwear to a bacon-pelted sheet cake. There were…

Cafe Society dished out four Guess Where? contests last week, ranging from a simple — and simply perfect — prosciutto and brie sandwich from Cafe Max, to a plate of Asian chicken wings studded with chiles from Vietnam Bay, to a rum romp at a Brazilian restaurant…

Devils Food Bakery & Cookery is renowned for its diabolical pastries and sinful breakfast and brunch dishes, but the Washington Park restaurant also turns out devilishly good dinners, and tonight, at 6 p.m., chef Brian Crow and wine buyer Marc Despalmes are hosting an epic supper paired with Orin Swift…

Ask Dave Query what excites him most about the new Jax-Glendale, which opens for dinner on Tuesday in the City Set project at Cherry Creek Drive and Colorado Boulevard, and his answers might surprise you: a dumb waiter, a fish file and a floor urinal in the men’s bathroom –…

Leave it to Johnny Ballen, the eccentric (and innovative) owner of the Squeaky Bean, to honor the lives of those that have passed with more than just a obligatory R.I.P. It all started years ago at the former Squeaky Bean with Farrah Fawcett (who died of anal cancer) — and…

Leopard-print stilettos, animal print shirts, safari dresses and jungle hats were all part of the fashion statements at last night’s Do at the Zoo, a yearly romp around the Denver Zoo grounds that showcases dishes from dozens of Denver restaurants and cocktails and beers from local distilleries and breweries. More…

This is one of those cases where I really did eat the whole enchilada — but at least I had the discipline to stay away from the chips and salsa (mostly), and as much as I wanted a margarita, I didn’t give in to that whim, either. Can you guess…

Last night at dinner, we had a bona fide rum aficionado in the mix, and neither he — nor we — could stop waxing poetic about the terrific choices that were splayed on our table. Can you guess where I’m drinking? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer…

Gerard Strong Central Bistro & Bar 1691 Central Street 303-477-4582 centralbistrobar.com This is part two of my interview with Gerard Strong, exec chef of Central Bistro & Bar; part one of our chat ran yesterday. Most memorable meal in Denver that you’ve ever had: I’ve had most of my top…

Suffice it to say that I eat out more than the general population, unless, of course, the general population can catalogue more than 450 restaurant meals in a year — which is about the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I stomached in 2012. Pathetic, isn’t it? But all…

Get the chicken wings, insisted our server, who pronounced them the best wings in Denver. I’m not sure I’d fly that far, but the wings, crisp and slicked with fish sauce and chiles, were way, way better than the gumbo, a dish that disappointed me once before and showed no…

Gerard Strong Central Bistro & Bar 1691 Central Street 303-477-4582 centralbistrobar.com This is part one of my interview with Gerard Strong, exec chef of Central Bistro & Bar; part two of our chat will run in this space tomorrow. I’m a Scorpio, and I’m pretty proud of that,” volunteers Gerard…

America’s extremism with bacon mania continues this weekend, when more than 4,000 pounds of rashers will be hauled up to Keystone for the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour, a two-day feast created for junkies who can’t get enough of the salty, sweet swine. See also: – Bacon, beer and Justin Brunson:…

Not all sandwiches require a litany of ingredients that reach skyscraping heights. In fact, sometimes simple is better, as in the case of this sandwich, which is nothing more than Brie and prosciutto…and a little fig jam. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first…

While the rest of you were in Denver, languishing in the beat of the summer heat, thousands of culinary cognoscenti, many of them heeled in stilettos and outfitted in backless black dresses showcasing perfect spray tans, spent the weekend at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen hobnobbing with some…

Dana Rodriguez, who’s spearheaded the kitchen at Bistro Vendome for just over two years, may be one of the most unheralded chefs in Denver, but that’s about to change: In late July, she’ll leave that kitchen behind to become the executive chef-partner of Work & Class, a new restaurant that…

Cafe Society dished our four Guess Where? contests last week, ranging from a shrimp stir-fry from Makan Mayalsian Cafe, to a still-unidentified frozen strawberry margarita poured in a cactus glass, to a Greek frappé from a restaurant-bar that just began serving brunch…

It’s only day two of the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and at least one local chef has already made a huge splash, running laps around the pool at a Denver FIVE party…and bombing it with liquid nitrogen. “I think that’s the first time anyone has probably done that…

Last night’s fifth annual Hot Rocks Griller Challenge at Elway’s Cherry Creek, a benefit for the Denver Health Foundation’s male-based programs, was scorching hot…in more ways than one: The blazing sun beamed through the fire-haze on the sun-kissed bodies (the event is unparalleled in its people-watching), while fifteen of Denver’s…

Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market’s choicest ingredients home with them and cook up a feast. Oh, baby, it’s…

The fact that this restaurant was bereft of bodies during a recent dinner there last week bewilders me, because the food coming form the kitchen, including this excellent shrimp stir-fry, deserves an appreciative crowd. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to…