Fresh Thymes Eatery: A Boulder-Style Breath of Fresh Air

November 30, 2013 by

Fresh Thymes Eatery: A Boulder-Style Breath of Fresh Air

saladFor anyone with dietary restrictions, eating out can be a pain. There are complicated orders, lots of questions for the waiters and frequently, not many options that are compliant with a diet that prohibits certain things (gluten-free and vegan folks, I’m looking at you).

Enter Boulder’s Fresh Thymes Eatery in the Steelyards. Open less than a year, this Boulder restaurant is 100% gluten free and offers many nutritious items that fit with a Paleo or vegan lifestyle. Additionally, the delicious entrees and side dishes are affordable and a dinner out here won’t break the bank.

So basically, it’s a Boulderite’s dream come true.

fresh_thymes

There are many reasons to love Fresh Thymes, but one of the primary ones is that the managing chef behind the restaurant, Christine Ruch, is a diagnosed Celiac. While Celiac’s Disease is never a good thing, Christine’s diagnosis means that everything she makes is designed for those who want to abide by a 100% gluten-free lifestyle. Using local ingredients, keeping the food real, and making recipes like your grandparents did are the main tenets of her philosophy behind dishes at this eatery.

From the Working Man’s lunch to the Warm Winter Veggie sandwich, there’s enough on this menu to satisfy any appetite. Small plates are easily shared by the table while the large salads and other counter items encourage team eating also. But whatever you do, don’t skip out on dessert — because they are amazing. Not like amazing for a gluten-free restaurant but amazing for any kind of restaurant. There’s pumpkin cheesecake that could be mistaken for the real thing and a raw brownie that gives the cooked variety a run for its money.

Fresh Thymes enlists the help of clean, modern decor mixed with wood to keep the mood warm and light. This restaurant is a fast casual dining experience, where you stand in line to order and then they deliver the food to your table. Even though the place can get packed, the service is friendly and no one rushes you through your meal. They have happy hour specials and serve many varieties of gluten-free beer. Wine is also available.

 

 

John Marcotte

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Vegan Restaurants in Boulder

November 16, 2013 by

Vegan Restaurants in Boulder

Vegan Restaurants in Boulder

Making the decision to become a vegan is a big deal. Whatever your reasons for making the lifestyle change are, it means that sometimes you’re frequently left eating the veggie tray with hummus anytime to go out to dinner with friends, leaving you hangry for the rest of the evening.

Lucky for you though, you live in Boulder, which is a fairly vegan-friendly city for people who are committed to their dietary choices, but still love eating out. Here’s a list of some of the great places to find vegan food in Boulder (note: this is not, by any means exhaustive, so if you have a place you love, please feel free to add it in the comments).

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

If you’re looking for an upscale evening in a restaurant that understands the needs of vegetarians and vegans alike, Leaf is a great place to dine. The meals are creative and satisfying and you can most certainly get enough to eat. The menu, which is filled with mouth-watering season dishes, is clearly marked with vegan, gluten-free and raw items (Jamaican Jerk Tempeh, need I say more?).

Native Foods

Want to eschew the meat eaters and hit up a place where all the food is vegan? Then head over to Native Foods. This place is a fast-casual business model, so it’s easy to drop in for lunch or a quick dinner. The entire menu is vegan, so you don’t even have to think twice about ordering anything on the menu, which is very extensive, from starters to sandwiches and even dessert.

Julia’s Kitchen

This little café just off of Broadway and Violet is 100% vegan and gluten-free! AtJulia’s Kitchen, the menu is all plant-based and you can get something for any meal of the day, from buckwheat pancakes to kitchari. It’s a little bit pricey, but fans rave that the food is worth it.

Sun Deli & Liquor

This one is a little hidden next to an apartment complex on Pearl and you’ve likely driven past it a dozen times without realizing the amazing vegan options they offer. Next time, don’t drive by; instead, stop in for a pizza or a sandwich. Virtually half the menu at Sun Deli is offered both as a meat or vegan option. Yes, your omnivore friends can join you here and you won’t have to listen to them complain about a lack of meat on the menu.

Boulder Baked

Even vegans get the munchies for sweet satisfaction. Boulder Baked delivers (literally) with a wide range of vegan desserts. The added bonus: they deliver until midnight, so you can still fulfill that late night craving without compromising thedietary guidelines that you’re committed to.

We also discovered several Nepalese restaurants that offer great vegan buffets once a week. Nepal Cuisine on Table Mesa offers an all vegan lunch buffet on Mondays from 11-3 and Himalayas has a vegan dinner buffet on Wednesday evenings.

 

 

John Marcotte

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A Margarita Tour of Boulder

September 11, 2013 by

A Margarita Tour of Boulder

boulder margarita

Being from Texas, there’s a special place in my heart for the margarita. Thankfully,Boulder restaurants keep my margarita cravings appropriately appeased. As we’re prepping for a three-day holiday weekend, why don’t you come on a stroll with me and sample some of my favorite ‘ritas about town? Maybe you’d think you can’t get a decent marg in Boulder county, but there’s where I’d be telling you — son, you’re dead wrong.

So pull up a barstool. You’re going to need one by the time we’re done with this tour.

Zolo – While this little gem might be tucked away in a shopping center off Arapahoe and Folsom and away from the hustle and bustle of Pearl Street, it’s a Boulder favorite. Delicious Southwestern fare coupled with a fantastic margarita selection only makes it more appealing. Check out their tequila bar, their coin-style ‘ritas and, of course, my favorite margarita on the menu: Herra the Dog (oof).

The Rio – Good for but great margaritas. The Rio is well known for their potent margs and has a 3 margarita limit for every patron. Seems that even they know the oomph behind their salt-rimmed glasses. If you’re just looking for a good time, you might want to check out their Mini Margs, which still pack a punch and will likely not leave you crawling out the door.

Tahona Tequila Bistro – If you’re walking down Pearl Street and need a Boulder margarita fix, stumble on it to Tahona — and then stumble out a few hours later. They have a full tequila bar like Zolo (double oof) and have one of the best margarita-flavored happy hours in town. As far as their margaritas go, the house marg is perfectly serviceable, but I’m a fan of the Prickly Pear. They also offer a variety of infusion-style margaritas made with whatever the house infusion is that day. Check out the menu here.

T|aco – Last but not least, it’s T|aco on Walnut. Happy hour runs from 2-6PM daily boasting a $4 house margarita (delicious, says my liver). Personally, I’m a fan of the pineapple habernero margarita, though. A word of warning: the pineapple habernero marg packs a punch and frankly, I can’t abide by more than one. Maybe you’re a better man/woman than I am, but even if you stop with one, you’re well taken care of on the tequila front. They also have a Smoky Marg that’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of the chipotle flavor. See the menu here.

By Erika Napoletano

 

John Marcotte

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Pica’s Taqueria Spices up East Boulder

September 6, 2013 by

Pica’s Taqueria Spices up East Boulder

picas_food

Pica’s is one of the amazing places that is helping East Boulder to make a name for itself. The taqueria is located in a strip mall (which follows my theory) at Arapahoe and Conestoga, across the parking lot from Ozo Coffee and across the street from Dizzy’s Donuts.

Pica’s is in the corner of the shopping center, giving the restaurant a spread-out feeling and a sweet back dining patio. With reasonable prices and a friendly environment, Pica’s is the real deal.

Trent, Pica’s owner and chef, can frequently be found working in the kitchen or running food out to tables and talking with customers. His toddler son can also be found often running around the restaurant.

With the success of his first restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Trent decided to bring to Boulder a high-end taqueria featuring quality ingredients and unique updates to traditional Mexican food.

picas burrito

Photo credit: Pica’s Taqueria

I’ll be honest. I’ve been spoiled by the tacos at Pica’s. Maybe it’s the creamy lime cabbage coleslaw on the grilled shrimp tacos or the pineapple in the tacos al pastor, but it’s been difficult ordering tacos elsewhere. And if you’re not as taco-crazy as I am, there are plenty of enchiladas, burritos and quesadillas on the menu to choose from as well.

The drinks at Pica’s complement tacos nicely. In addition to making their own horchata and margaritas, Pica’s offers Mexican beers, watermelon juice (!) and Mexican Coke. So whether you feel like getting a buzz or not, they have you covered in the beverage department. They also have a happy hour Monday through Saturday. The only bad news is that Pica’s is closed on Sundays. By Tara Cahilman, Yourboulder.com

 

John Marcotte

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Pho Real: Boulder’s Best Pho

August 18, 2013 by

 

Pho Real: Boulder’s Best Pho

By  YourBoulder.com

boulder pho

Ask a CU Boulder student and it’s likely he’ll say that pho is more than a food — it’s a remedy. But I’ll get to that.

Pho is a well-known and well-loved Vietnamese dish, a giant bowl of piping-hot liquid heaven.  It’s deceptively simple – a light, briny beef broth with flat rice noodles and slices of steak, served with an array of toppings and condiments you can add as you wish.  There are few culinary joys like hanging your head over a giant bowl of pho and taking a deep inhale – it’s like a sauna full of gingerbread men.  It truly has rejuvenating qualities, it does wonders for your sinuses, and it’s a blessing when you have a cold.

Don’t worry about nailing the pronunciation – many mistakenly say it like “foe” but it’s more accurate to say “fuh.”  To be technical, there is extra emphasis on the end, like “fuhAH.”  But even if you can’t grasp the cadence of spoken Vietnamese, everyone will know what you mean.  Many who sell it around here will kindly pronounce it “foe” so you don’t feel weird about it!

So where can you get it in Boulder?

The Vietnamese community in Boulder is very small, but there’s an abundance of pho in town.

Chez Thuy
2655 28th St  Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 442-1700 

Chez Thuy is perhaps the most well-known, often recognized by the Boulder Weekly’s “Best of Boulder” and a very popular local destination.  It can get very busy, and complaints about the apathetic service are only exacerbated during their hectic lunch and dinner rushes.  Priced around $9 for a “medium” bowl, their pho definitely does the trick, but it’s hardly the best thing on the menu.

Viña Pho & Grill
1630 30th St
(303) 444-1809 

Viña Pho & Grill is a great place you should go if you aren’t too rushed.  The sizes aren’t as gargantuan as other restaurants but it’s big enough to fill most stomachs, and many locals swear by their method.  Priced at a little over $7 for a small bowl, Viña is definitely worth a taste.

Black Pepper Pho

2770 Pearl St
(303) 440-1948

With more of a modern approach to Vietnamese cuisine, you can expect a clean dining experience and great service at Black Pepper Pho.  The pho itself doesn’t stand out far beyond the other bowls and grill options, but it should be noted they take good care of gluten-free customers.  Purists may not approve, but especially if you pair it with one of their delicious Boba tea options, it’s tasty enough to get a non-believer started.

May Wah
2500 Baseline Rd.
(303) 499-8225

May Wah is tucked away in a big Baseline shopping center and has a reputation for solid Chinese fare.  It’s easy to get lost in their giant menu, but their $8 pho is competitive with Chez Thuy and offers just about every protein combination you could ask for.  They may not be pho specialists but they certainly have a few loyal customers.

Kim’s Food To Go
1325 Broadway St
(303) 442-2829

One of the best-kept secrets in town is the pho from Kim’s Food To Go.  Often overlooked in reviews because of the storefront’s “shack” aesthetic and the lack of indoor dining, its appearance easily belies the quality of the food.  It’s by far the best Asian option on the Hill.  And not only is it one of the only places in town you can find real Hanoi pho, but it’s definitely the best bang for your buck – at a flat $7 for a giant bowl, it’s very tough to beat!

Pho Basil
3280 28th St.
(303) 444-1226

A newcomer to the block, Pho Basil has picked up a lot of steam with daring Chinese dishes and a prominent 28th Street location, but has not made much of its namesake.  There is plenty of delicious food here but the pho is not quite worth the $8 (and it doesn’t help they are known to add your veggies for you).

You & Mee Noodle House
1311 Broadway St.
(720) 214-0585

This seems to be a good place for college students on a budget without a real appreciation for a bold bowl of pho.  The condiment bar allows you to customize your bowl to whatever extent you wish, but you’re going to need it to cover up the bland, canned broth.  However, if you’ve only got $6 in your pocket, it may just be enough to satisfy cravings.

 

 

John Marcotte

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Boulder Family Fun

July 14, 2013 by

Boulder Family Fun


Breakfast: Start your morning at a local favorite family spot, Turley’s Restaurant. 2805 Pearl Street, 303.442.2800.

Mid-Morning: Spend the morning exploring:

  • Boulder’s wildlife on a nature hike with Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks Talks & Walks, 303.441.3440.
  • Climbing rocks and animal statues on the Pearl Street Mall, 303.449.3774.
  • Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour, 4600 Sleepytime Drive, 303.581.1202.
  • Boulder Fish Observatory, located behind the Millennium Harvest House.
  • Boulder Creek Path, which spans 5.5 miles through the center of town.
  • Kids’ Fishing Ponds, East of 6th St. on northside of Boulder Creek.

Lunch: Stop along the Pearl Street Mall at one of the many family friendly cafés and eateries:

  • Old Chicago’s – 1102 Pearl Street – 303.443.5031
  • BJ’s Pizza Grill – 1125 Pearl Street – 303.402.9294
  • Pasta Jay’s – 1001 Pearl Street – 303.444.5800
  • Walnut Brewery – 1123 Walnut Street – 303.447.1345
  • Rio Grande Mexican – 1101 Walnut Street – 303.444.3690
  • Ben & Jerry’s – 1203 Pearl Street – 303.444.5725

Afternoon: Visit one of Boulder’s local attractions:

  • Gateway Park Fun Center for go-carts, mini-golf, batting cages, videogames and more! 4800 28th Street, 303.442.4386.
  • Cool off in the Pop Jet Fountains on Pearl Street Mall, 303.447.3774.
  • Rent Bikes or Rollerblades to cruise on the Boulder Creek Path.
  • Visit Boulder Skate Park, 30th Street & Arapahoe. 303.443.4474 Ext. 216.
  • Take a plunge in Boulder Reservoir, 51st Street. 303.441.3461.
  • Have fun at the outdoor ice skating rink at One Boulder Plaza (Nov-Feb), 13th Street & Canyon Boulevard, 303.209.3722.

Evening: Dine at one of Boulder’s family establishments:

  • Dark Horse – 2922 Baseline Road – 303.442.8162
  • Red Robin – 2580 Arapahoe – 303.442.0320
  • Lazy Dog Sports Grill – 1346 Pearl Street – 303.440.3355
  • Backcounty Pizza – 2319 Arapahoe – 303.449.4285

After Dinner:

  • Watch street performers on the Pearl Street Mall; entertainment for the entire family, 303.449.3774.
  • Enjoy a star or laser show at Fiske Planetarium, CU campus, 303.492.5002.
  • Watch your favorite movies at the Boulder Outdoor Cinema, 1750 13th Street, 888.881.FILM.
  • Dance to live music with Bands on the Bricks on the Pearl Street Mall, Wednesday evenings during the summer months, 303.449.3774.

Read more here

 

 

 

John Marcotte

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Boulder Restaurants

May 21, 2013 by

Boulder Restaurants

The dining scene in Boulder is as exciting and diverse as the community itself. Restaurants in Boulder feature cuisine from around the globe, including Mexican, Asian, Italian, and of course, contemporary and continental American. From organic, local establishments featuring “farm to table” food to elegant restaurants offering lavish dishes prepared by award-winning chefs, the quest for a memorable meal ends here. Every type of food and every sort of atmosphere can be found on one of the local menus in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder’s residents know how to enjoy themselves. Numerous local breweries, outdoor cafés, and intimate restaurants line the streets in several of Boulder’s unique districts and neighborhoods. Delicious green cuisine and organic delights can be found everywhere: the Pearl Street Mall, Twenty Ninth Street Retail District, and both North and South Boulder. The Hill District, adjacent to the University of Colorado, is another happening area in which to sample Boulder’s lively nightlife scene and check out some of the locally-brewed craft micro beers that Boulder is famous for.

Denver’s 25 Best Restaurants — Five of them are in Boulder
Boulder Creek Winery — Watch a 6-minute video on this award winning winery

Courtesy of www.bouldercoloradousa.com

 

 

John Marcotte

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Boulder Restaurants

May 19, 2013 by

Boulder Restaurants

Boulder might be the top food destination in Colorado. Here’s why…

  • Bon Appetit magazine called Boulder America’s Foodiest Town in 2010.
  • The Wall Street Journal called Boulder the “Best small city for great meals” in November 2009.
  • Bon Appetit wrote “Boulder is officially bursting at it foodie-seams” in June 2007.
  • The Denver Post wrote “Boulder still has the best food per square mile in the state” on August 20, 2008.
  • Individual restaurants and bars in Boulder also continue to rack up the accolades, including three Food & Wine mentions – 50 Best Bars in America in 2011 and 2012, America’s Best New Bars in 2011, and the Top Sommeliers of 2012 – and Travel + Leisure’s Best Italian Restaurants in the U.S. for 2012.
  • There are 19 breweries in town and five wineries – including the best self-guided wine tour in the state.
  • Boulder is also home to master sommeliers, a cooking school, the state’s best farmers’ market and most importantly, people who love to eat.

Foodies know that food is a great way to experience a community’s distinct lifestyle. The suggestions in this guide give you a peek into living like a local in a way that is fresh and all about food. So, what are you waiting for? Visit Boulder and check out the chefs’ suggestions. If you like them, I hope you’ll stop in their restaurants to give them a full report. They’d like to hear from you!

Here are more food & restaurant recognitions:

 


 

John Marcotte

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