Last week’s snowfall either made you feel blessed to have the moisture or gloomy as you long for spring to take a firm hold.  Whatever your take, these restaurants have rolled out their spring menus and should whet your appetite for fresh, seasonal fare from some of Denver’s finest.

1515 Restaurant in LoDo offers fresh, approachable flavors that with their unique twist, using molecular gastronomy to offer fine dining in a new light.  What to try?  Bison Two Ways, with “Ginger Beer” Braised Short Ribs and Sous Vide Steak with butternut squash mousseline, root vegetable succotash and horseradish foam.

Coral Room in Highland has just promoted long-time sous chef, Greg Lyons, to executive chef.  It’s easy to see why when perusing their mouthwatering new menus for both lunch and dinner.  What to try?  Vegetable Udon Bowl with seasonal vegetables, peanuts and Thai-ginger soy sauce.

Central Bistro & Bar in Lower Highland has seen chef Matt Selby sprinkle its menu with tasty magic since he came on board earlier this year. Sit on the patio and watch the beautiful people stroll by while sipping on a housemade gin and tonic. What to try?  Crispy Skin Chicken with Morel mushrooms, fingerling potatoes and English pea ragout.

ChoLon hasn’t completely reworked their already fresh and fab menu, but they do have several new additions to honor the season.  What to try?  Lobster Saigon Crepes with asparagus, mushrooms and lettuce cups.

Coohills, link the only downtown restaurant that sits along Cherry Creek and boasts a beautiful view of the Wewatta Bridge, has one of the largest and most comfortable patios in which to enjoy crazy colorful sunsets. What better way to take in their spring menu and sip on one of Colin Dart’s creative cocktails? What to try?  Cape Cod Scallops with grapefruit, strawberry, cucumber, prosciutto and wild cress (pictured below).

Opus in Cherry Creek North has a menu that is French inspired with a creative twist.  You can sit in their dining room with old world charm or soak in the sun on their patio.  What to try?  Beef Cheeks with fennel, orange and olives. 

Tables chefs Amy Vitale and Dustin Barrett’s cozy Park Hill restaurant with a charming picket fence-enclosed patio screams “spring”! What to try?  Shetland Island Salmon with radish-spring pea has, chimichuri-cucumber yogurt sauce and a crab and pickled radish salad.

The Ballpark nieghborhood gem, Trillium, not only has updated their menu for spring, but they’ve also launched a new happy Hour menu just in time for Rockies season. What to try?  Braised “Never, Ever” Colorado Lamb Shank with root vegetables, Danish blue cheese polenta cakes, “living” watercress and lemon gremolata.

Chef Tom Coohill has created a bit of a stir with his candid interview about marijuana with Ricardo Baca for The Cannabist.

Now with marijuana being legal in Colorado, the chef and owner of Coohills restaurant admitted he has used pot, just not while cooking.

Tom Coohill told The Cannabist, the marijuana website for The Denver Post: “I cannot work high. I’ve never tried it, but I just don’t function well when I’m smoking. You know, handling knives and everything … I don’t wanna say I’m clumsy, but I think it could be dangerous and I’d cut myself or burn myself. I couldn’t likely make a grilled cheese.”

To read more, visit www.thecannabist.co/2014/03/19/interview-chef-tom-coohill-pot-workplace-rock-club-bedroom/7279/)

If this story gives you the munchies, you can check out Coohills’ new Taste of France prix fixe menu series.  Each month features a different region in France and for April they’ve chosen a culinary tour of Normandy.  Three courses for $35 plus tax and gratuity.  For the April menu, visit www.coohills.com/reservations/special-events.

Beginning today, Coohills, the French-inspired eatery at 1400 Wewatta, will be doing a monthly prix fixe menu called “Taste of France” that will focus on a new region every month.

Each week will be a different three-course menu for $35 per person, not including tax and tip.  For March, the focus is on Lyon.

Coohills menu may be French-influenced, but it’s Colorado grown. The restaurant, co-owned by spouses Tom and Diane Coohill, partners with local and regional farmers for fresh produce, fish, poultry and meats.  All of the breads and desserts are made in-house from scratch.

Here’s the March menu lineup:

March 3-8: Saucisson “en croute” – warm lentil salad; Chicken “Coq au Vin” – pommes puree, lardon, mushrooms, onion; Coussion de Lyon – chocolate ganache, marzipan.

March 10-15: Gratinne Lyonnaise - Lyon-style onion soup; Loup de Mer Quenelle - Mediterranean sea bass, Champagne sauce; Tart de Grand-Mere – caramelized apple tart, vanilla ice cream.

March 17-22: Lyonnaise Salad – crisp farm egg, bacon, garlic, Dijon vinaigrette; Entrecote au Vin Blanc - strip steak, Boulanger potatoes, white wine, shallot and tomato; Negus Cake - chocolate cake, whipped cream, chocolate sauce.

March 24-29: Asperges Grillee Soubise - grilled asparagus, puree of braised onions; Légumes Gateau – crisp vegetable cake, spring mushrooms, peas, sunchoke, truffle vinaigrette; Marjolaine “Fernand Point” - chocolate, hazelnuts, cream.

For reservations, go to www.coohills.com or call 303-623-5700.

Tom Coohill, chef/owner of Coohills  at 1400 Wewatta St. has been invited to compete in Iceland’s Food and Fun Festival. He has accepted and will attend.

The festival takes place in Reykjavik from Feb. 26 through March 2, and includes 13 guest chefs and finest restaurants.

Coohill is paired with Rub 23, a restaurant that specializes in ingredients from Icelandic fishermen and farmers and serves a wide selection of sushi.

The other food element of the festival is the chef competition, which takes place on the last day. The chefs compete by creating three courses from Icelandic-only ingredients.

Fellow chef, Jennifer Jasinski, a “Top Chef Masters” contender and chef/owner of Rioja and other restaurants, will be serving as a judge at the festival, adding another Denver connection to the event.

Chef Coohill said he is elated about being asked to compete in the Food and Fun Festival, partly because he and his wife and business partner, Diane, have made strong bonds with the Icelandic chefs who have come to collaborate in the Coohills’ kitchen.

In the two years since Coohills opened, the restaurant has been selected to host Icelandic chefs for the national “A Taste of Iceland” event, part of a promotional campaign sponsored by Iceland Naturally.  In Denver, the Taste of Iceland dinners are culinary collaborations between Coohill and an Icelandic chef.  In 2012, Coohills welcomed Hakon Mar Orvarsson and in 2013, chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfússon, captain of the Icelandic Culinary Team.

“Working with both chefs Hakon and Thrainn over the past two years has been an amazing experience.” Tom said, adding, “Joining forces with other chefs in the kitchen is one of the great joys of being in this business and now, to be invited to Iceland to compete with 12 extremely talented chefs, is humbling and extremely exciting. I can’t wait to cook and create.”

Chef Coohill studied under masters of French cuisine and opened the famed Ciboulette restaurant in Atlanta in 1992. Ciboulette was praised for its modern French fare, featured in “Gourmet” and named to “Esquire Magazine’s” list of Top 25 Restaurants in the country. Chef Coohill was invited to be a guest chef at Cordon Bleu in Paris and The James Beard House in New York City.

Tom Coohill, owner and chef of Coohills, is headed to Iceland to compete in a cooking challenge.

Coohills restaurant at 1400 Wewatta is hosting a Rock the Earth event from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 12, which will celebrate local food fanatics such as chef/co-owner Tom Coohill, former chef for The Grateful Dead Charlie Ayers, Root Down and Linger’s Daniel Asher, Bob Blair. chef/owner of Fuel Café, Justin Brunson of Old Major and Masterpiece Deli and Troy Guard, owner of an ever-growing restaurant empire including TAG.

This event will feature six courses of locally sourced cuisine, local brews courtesy of Great Divide Brewing Company, wines donated by Infinite Monkey Theorem and cocktails from Roundhouse Spirits.

In addition, there will be music by Denver’s own DJRusso and a silent auction of music memorabilia, art and donations from local businesses.

Tickets are $85 per person in advance; $125 at the door depending on availability. Go to http://www.rocktheearth.org/joomla/.

Take a bite out of LoDo during the annual LoDo District Inc.’s LoDo Bites tasting event from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21.

An anticipated 1,500 participants will sample snacks and sip drinks from a host of different restaurants in Lower Downtown.

Holly Barrett, executive director of LoDo District Inc., said, “This event is terrific because it gives people from all over Denver and beyond the chance to try up to 26 different restaurants in one night. They’ll get a snapshot of the restaurants’ atmosphere and cuisine, and it’s a great opportunity for LoDo restaurants to really shine to a crowd that might not normally stop by.”

The participating restaurants are: 1515 Restaurant, Ambria Food & Wine, Backcountry Provisions, Bistro Vendome, The Celtic Tavern, Charlie Palmer’s District Tavern, Chloe, Common Grounds, Coohills, Euclid Hall, Fado Irish Pub, Fogo de Chao, H Burger Lounge, Howl at the Moon, Keg Steakhouse & Bar, The Kitchen, MCA Cafe, My Favorite Muffin, Red Star Deli (Studio F), Tavern Downtown, Toppings, Vesting Dipping Grill, Wazee Supper Club, The Wine Loft, Wynkoop Brewing Company and Zydeco’s.

Tickets are $40 per person or $45 the day of the event, free run 5.0 +3 femmes if available, at www.lodo.org/lodo-bites and at Wines Off Wynkoop (1610 16th St.). I can tell you from personal experience that this is a great event for the price. Some restaurants (the smart ones) really put out a great spread.

Girl power

Girl Scouts of Colorado is announcing the 2012 inductees into the esteemed Women of Distinction program in the Denver metro-area during a private reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the home of 1997 Woman of Distinction Barb Grogan.

This year’s seven honorees were selected by their peers and chosen based on their contributions to the community. The women of Distinction commit to supporting Girl Scouts of Colorado and serving Girl Scouts today.

The 2012 Women of Distinction are: Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, vice president of government and external relations, Kaiser Permanente Colorado; Peg Bradley-Doppes, vice chancellor for athletics and recreation and Ritchie Center operations, University of Denver; Juanita Chacon, realtor, Re/Max; Tricia Downing, disabled athlete and spokeswoman for Challenged Athletes Foundation; Melba Johnston, community volunteer and lifetime service to Girl Scouts; Denise O’Leary, corporate director, US Airways; Maren Stewart, president and CEO LiveWell Colorado.

The women will be publicly honored at the Women of Distinction Thin Mint Dinner on Oct. 23 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. More information: Amy Myers at amy.myers@gscolorado.org. Tickets at www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/women-of-distinction-denver.

Blue Bonnet sonnet

Gary Mobell, owner of the iconic Blue Bonnet Cafe at 457 S. Broadway, threw a tasting party for press recently to try out some new additions to the menu.

Coming soon or on the menu now: gazpacho, ceviche with gluten-free chips, strawberry basil Margaritas and cucumber fire roasted jalapeno Margaritas, root vegetable latkes with salsa bar Autumn salad, rosemary and lemon Margaritas, sun-dried tomato rajas house tamales, signature winter tacos, family style rice and beans, ginger lime Margaritas, pumpkin flan, Mexican popsicles and sopapillas.

Build a burger

Greenwood Village-based Red Robin opened its third Red Robin’s Burger Works location in Colorado on Monday at 2700 Arapahoe Ave., on 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder.

Burger Works features some classic Red Robin burgers, free run 5.0 femmes but also gives guests a build-your-own-burger option with a variety of toppings including sautéed portabella mushrooms, beer mustard onions or Thai chili ketchup.

Eavesdropping on a woman to her husband after running into a friend: “Friends don’t let friends wear gaucho pants.”
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.

Cat lovers can grab a kitty by the tail during Tails of the Painted Cats 2012, an auction and purr-fect dinner and gala July 28 at Lakewood Country Club to benefit the Cat Care Society.

The pretty kitties, created by juried artists, are on display at various galleries and businesses in the Tennyson Street Cultural District during July.

Event emcee is Ed Greene, CBS4 weather whiz. Auctioneers are Warren and Terri Smith of Two for the Show Auctions. Individual tickets for the gala are $75. air jordan 3 New this year is a $100 patron ticket to a private VIP meet and greet prior to the dinner where Greene will sign the 2013 “weather cat” painted cat.

The silent auction at the gala will include a Tower of Wine with 36 bottles (including pricey French labels and Marilyn Merlots) that attendees can bid on in addition to the Painted Cats.

Check out the Painted Cats online at: http://www.catcaresociety.org/paintedcats.html, and bid in advance at http://bidonacat.blogspot.com.

Tickets for the July 28 gala dinner and auction are available at:https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e5rymoroc74ec81a&oseq or call 303-239-9680, ext. 19.

Relief for fire victims

The Salvation Army will collect cash, check, credit card and gift card donations for Colorado fire relief efforts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Peet’s Tea & Coffee inside the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 16th Street and Court Place.

Denver’s the Curtis – a Doubletree by Hilton will hold a lemonade stand from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday to raise money for the Mile High Red Cross to help support the victims of the wildfires currently raging throughout Colorado.

Hotel guests and the general public are invited to stop by the Curtis, at 1405 Curtis St., and cool off with a large lemonade (with or without vodka) in exchange for a donation to the Mile High Red Cross.

“These fires impact all  of us because we all love living in Colorado and understand what an amazing place it is,” said the Curtis general manager JoAnn Elston. “We hope that the community comes out to help us raise money for our fellow Coloradans, many of whom have lost so much.”

Not camera shy

9News reporter and anchor Kirk Montgomery may be better known for his dishy celebrity gossip than for being a shutterbug, but the camera kid is July’s featured artist at Sketch Food & Wine, 11 West First Ave., Denver.

The exhibit’s opening night party is at 7 p.m. July 10 with a suggested $10 donation at the door to benefit the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation. Each donor will receive a complimentary glass of Sketch’s own Patria Rosso red wine.

Montgomery’s photography exhibit, Urban Life: Not just a place – an attitude,  will be on display and available for purchase till the end of July. The downtown Denver dweller describes his work as “Denver…like you’ve never seen it. Gritty. Urban. Abstract. Home.”

Follow the beat to Coohill’s Beats on the Creek

Coohills, one of Denver’s hottest new restaurants, air jordan 4 is hosting Coohills’ Beats on the Creek Tuesday Summer Concert Series starting July 10 with ’80s cover band The Asteroids.

Doors open at 5; music from 6 to 8:15 p.m. The concert is free; food, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase on the bridge. More information: coohills.com, www.facebook.com/coohillsbeatsonthecreek or e-mail events@coohills.com or call 303-623-5700. Proceeds benefit The Greenway Foundation.

Coohills is at 1400 Wewatta.

Eavesdropping on two women at Elway’s concert on the patio series: “I just saw your friend who drives me crazy.”

“Is there only one?”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” debuting 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.

What does an iconic musician wear to receive the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama? If you’re Bob Dylan, you don a Rockmount Ranch Wear solid white Pima cotton shirt with black diamond snaps under your tuxedo.

Third-generation Rockmount boss Steve Weil spotted the shirt in photos showing the President putting the purple ribbon around Dylan’s neck during the May 29 ceremony where 12 other folks were also air max thea femmes given the nation’s  highest civilian honor. Click here to see a photo of Dylan, the shirt and the president.

“There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music,” Obama said during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Dylan, who turned 71 last week, has been making musical statements and entertaining for 50 years.

Big bite

Mark your calendars for LoDo Bites: Sip, Sample, Stroll, a night of sipping and snacking at more than 15 participating restaurants from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21.

At each stop along the route, restaurants will serve tastes of their cuisine, with some offering wine and drink specials and desserts.

Participating eateries so far include Bistro Vendome, Celtic Tavern, Coohills, District Tavern, Euclid Hall, The Tavern Downtown, Vesta Dipping Grill, Wynkoop Brewing Co. and Zydeco. Check out the facebook.com/lododistrict page for added eateries.

Tickets: $40 in advance; $45 after Aug. 17 at 303-628-5428 or at lodo.org.

Ballgame bash

The Colorado Restaurant Association Mile High Chapter’s annual Tailgate Party with the Colorado Rockies is a rousing pre-game pep rally with beer and burgers starting at 3 p.m. June 12 under the tent at Coors Field Lot B before the Rockies take on the Oakland A’s.

Enter the festivities on the north side of Coors Field. There’s parking next to the party site for $12. The baseball game begins at 6:40 pm.

Ticket prices: $25 for the party and game ticket; $15 for tailgate only; $75 for the party, swankier seating section and a $10 ticket toward food and drink at the stadium. E-mail tickets orders to cratailgate@hotmail.com by Friday.

Project props

Roughly 800 posh people donned their black tie duds and gathered at the Hyatt Regency Colorado Convention Center May 30 for the 51st annual Downtown Denver Awards Dinner where six projects were air yeezy 2 lauded for their impact on downtown.

The winners, selected by a jury, were:

* Clyfford Still Museum for contributing to the cultural vibrancy and international recognition of downtown.

* 14th Street Project Downtown’s Ambassador Street for completing an extensive streetscape and enhancing the pedestrian environment.

* 1099 Osage for maintaining economic and cultural diversity of the La Alma by completing the first building in the mixed-income development.

* History Colorado Center for building a state-of-the-art museum and helping preserve Colorado’s history.

* Denver Pavilions for bringing the first H&M store to Colorado.

*USA Pro Cycling Challenge for attracting more than 250 spectators to downtown and bolstering the local economy.

Eavesdropping on a wife to her husband during a barbecue: “I was a mail-order bride.”

“Yeah, I’ve been looking everywhere for the receipt to get a  refund!.”

Rockmount Ranch Wear, the snap-front shirt manufacturer with a retail outlet at 1626 Wazee, had a truck-load of attention from musicians, Hollywood types and a glossy magazine last week.

Cowboys & Indians, a top-notch Western lifestyle publication, features Eric Stonestreet from the popular TV sitcom Modern Family wearing a lot of Rockmount shirts in the June issue.

In the opening line of the nine-page magazine spread, powerlins ii Stonestreet says that he “loves Rockmount” and that his personal wardrobe includes several shirts.

The article features him in a wide cross section of Rockmount’s collection including a shadow plaid, check, stripe and solid shirt.

Stonestreet came into Rockmount’s LoDo flagship store when the show debuted and bought a shirt-load of shirts.

“We love it when talented people appreciate what we do,” said Rockmount president Steve Weil. “Our secret weapon as a small family business is when celebrities help promote the brand because they are into it. These are not paid endorsements and mean a lot more because they are their personal taste.”

Also indulging in Rockmount last week were the Black Keys while on tour in our state, the British band Arctic Monkeys and folks who where shopping for Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter in town for a charity concert for Denver Academy.

Eric Stonestreet in a Rockmont shirt.

Brunch bunch

Solera on East Colfax and Grape and Coohill’s on 14th and Wewatta tested out new brunch menus Sunday on friends and family. Both restaurants will debut the breakfast-lunch meals on Mother’s Day Sunday.

Our crew started at Solera where we nibbled on the buttermilk pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup; the Solera scrambler with foraged muschroom creme fraiche, grilled bread and shaved black truffle; the breakfast burrito with smoked pork, sweet corn, crispy potato and house-made green chili and Croque Madame, the French classic sandwich with ham, Swiss cheese, apricot mostrada and sunny side up egg with sauce Mornay.

Then we bellied up to a four-top at Coohill’sfor a spicy bacon Boody Mary, beignets with strawberry orange syrup, prosciutto benedict, brioche BLT and the omelet du jour with asparagus.

Both brunches are worth some munches.

Hudson home hears more pitter patter

Denver jobs guru Andrew Hudson (former spokesmodel for Mayor Wellington Webb and Frontier Airlines), and his wife, Christine Marquez-Hudson, welcomed baby No. 2 Mateo Lucas Hudson to their happy home on April 30.

Mateo (Spanish for Matthew) was born at 9:24 p.m. at Sky Ridge Medical Center. Big sister Julia calls her baby bro “Matato”, as in potato.

“It’s a great name if he’s a jazz musician or if he’s the Broncos QB (or both!),” boasts proud papa Andrew. “He does have great bass playing fingers.”

Andrew reports that mom and baby are doing fine, powerlins ii femmes with plenty of sibling doting from Julia and half-brother Nick.

“It’s hard to describe all the emotions you go through when you welcome a new child into the world,” Andrew says. “Very overwhelming and then you immediately jump into the hard work of taking care of a baby and figuring out the new rhythm your life is now in.”

Mateo Lucas Hudson’s first picture.

It takes a village

Before I ventured to Sonoma County wine country last week on behalf of Inspirato, the Denver-based luxury vacation club, I rounded up a posse of stylists and on-camera consultants to ready me for the trip to videotape segments to promote the magnificent Manzanita house in the Mayacama Resort above Healdsburg that is available for Inspirato members.

Denise Snyder at Mariel in Cherry Creek North helped me pick out a camera-worthy wardrobe, the venerable Denver’s 7 anchor Bertha Lynn gave me on-camera pointers and Pamela Grieve-Stromberg from Posh the Salon tamed my tresses so that Eden, the on-site hair and make-up pro from Brush Salon in Healdsburg could get me ready for my close-ups (but not too close).

I want to also thank Katherine Strauss at Inspirato for the assignment and video producers Tom Hoch and Justin Dersham from WinkInc., a Denver-basedmulti-media production company. We had way too much in the name of “working”.

Eavesdropping on a woman on Facebook: “One would like to think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly.”

My Facebook page has moved. Be sure to like it! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.