Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller won’t talk trash about restaurants.
In her 27th edition of the Gabby Gourmet Restaurant Guide, which just hit bookstores, select restaurants and cooking stores, Gabs continues that tradition.
“I try to give people an idea of the place, and do not write up negative reviews,” she said.
Instead, she bestows “pig” ratings on restaurants. To die for, the highest rating possible, means, “An absolutely divine experience, and we believe they are Colorado’s over-the-top spots for dining.”
Five pigs: “This is the creme de la creme for the very best restaurants in the area.”
Four pigs: “Some deliciously top-notch eating places.”
Three pigs: “Fun places to dine.”
NR or no rating: “Restaurants are too new to rate or are markets.”
And she tosses in a half pig for restaurants who are in between a solid number of pigs.
Making the coveted to die for cut this year were: Barolo Grill, D-Bar Desserts (which also serves savory fare), Elway’s Cherry Creek, Elway’s in The Ritz-Carlton Denver, Frasca Food & Wine, Fruition, L’Atelier, Linger, Mizuna, Rioja, Root Down and Shanahan’s.
For the second year, Gabby includes a “Gabalicious” list, “highlights of her favorite selection of dishes from the best and brightest of the area’s culinary creators.”
At Solera, for example, she recommends the Thai style calamari. At Z Cuisine, the duck cassoulet is simply Gabalicious.
What keeps her from putting the pigs out to pasture after all these years?
“Because things change so much, and I think having a book to give you the location, hours, reservations, cross streets, price, etc., is a special thing to have all in one place,” she said. “I hope people like the reviews, but the information is super anyway.”
Ambria auction
Ambria, the restaurant that recently closed on 16th Street and Larimer, will auction off about a third of its equipment in an online only bidding process, beginning at 5 p.m. today.
An inspection of the merchandise will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the former restaurant, 1201 16th St.
Principal owner Steve Halliday is in negotiations to lease a new smaller space with parking. He plans to reopen Ambria when the lease is signed.
“We’re only selling one-third of the stuff, and all of the kitchen equipment, if possible,” Halliday said. “I don’t want to do another build-out. I am looking for a restaurant where the owner has had enough.”
More details on the auction at http://www.rollerauction.com/auction/41216_AmbriaInternetOnlyAuctionbrfon.asp.
Follow the bouncing ball
Do you have what it takes to be Denver’s Top Table Tennis Champ?
Starting Tuesday, Ace, the ping-pong parlor from the owners of Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben’s, will host a weekly Table Tennis Tournament from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
All matches will be singles, and registration will begin at 6 p.m. at Ace, 501 E. 17th Ave. Tournaments will be limited to 16 participants, and prizes for the weekly winner may include bar tabs, gift cards, swag and more.
Dates, times and prizes may vary, so check the Ace website, www.acedenver.com, or call the restaurant at 303-800-7705 for further details.
24-hour diner dining
Tom’s Urban 24, the 24-hour diner on the corner of 15th and Larimer, opens Wednesday, but I got a sneak peek during a press luncheon last Friday.
The Semple Brown-designed space is ’60s funky with round booths reminiscent of Snooze further down the street on Larimer and 22nd.
Tom’s menu is eclectic with everything from pizza to burritos to pho. LoDo’s only 24-hour eatery was the brainchild of founder Tom Ryan, who also started the Smashburger chain.
The restaurant serves breakfast from 5 to 11 a.m. (till noon weekends), lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (noon to 4 on weekends), dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. and late night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Reservations are available at www.opentable.com, and valet will be offered at the Capital Grille valet stand.
More information: www.tomsurban24.com.
Scary shot
Kind of scary that I didn’t know this, but I was recently informed that Halloween originated in Ireland as a pagan festival celebrated by Celts, who called it “Samhain”, Gaelic for “end of Summer”.
Since that’s where all of the ghoulish craziness began, why not start your merriment at The Celtic Tavern with a JagerMonster? The $3.50 shot is Jagermeister with a RZO floater. RZO, pronounced “rizzo”, is a Kava-based relaxation drink that is naturally orange in color, fittingly making the shot black and orange. The Celtic Tavern has two locations, one in LoDo at 18th and Blake and one in Littleton at Riverside Downs on Belleview.
Mad for Mondo
Mondo Guerra, the Denver designer who reached national acclaim as the winner of the first Project Runway All-Stars, will be the attraction during a special wine hour with him from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at Hotel Monaco.
Mondo will be available to mingle and take pictures with guests or discuss the latest fashion trends.
In addition the hotel is offering a Monaco Loves Mondo package for one night only on Nov. 2. It includes a deluxe guest room, valet parking and an exclusive Mondo tote bag filled with a pair of Mondo’s Sock it to Me socks along with a couple of his favorite Colorado-made products
In support of Mondo’s favorite charity, Denver Colorado Aids Project will receive a $10 donation for every room night booked. The package can be booked at: www.monaco-denver.com.mondmn_specials.html by using the code MONDO. RSVPs for the wine event only can be sent to sales@monaco-denver.com.
Sign of the Times
At a Conoco station on York Street and Sixth Avenue: “You need a flat tire like a hole in the tread.”
Eavesdropping on Facebook after Saturday’s Oregon-CU game: “In what bizarre-o, rock-paper-scissors world does duck beat buffalo … 70-14?”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
Comments are closed.
Leave a comment