Where to Eat: Laramie

Mizu Sushi, which opened in Laramie this past January, is a welcome addition to the international cuisine scene in town. D and I have eaten there on several occasions, and have always enjoyed a great meal. The service is friendly and attentive; as soon as you accidentally drop a napkin on the floor, a new one is placed by your side. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors are rich. This time around, D and I visited Mizu along with my parents, who are in town this week. Though D and I typically share an order of sushi, tonight D branched out and tried a noodle dish. I stuck with my standard vegetarian sushi rolls. We started our meal off with a generous bowl of edamame. My parents opted to share an order of egg rolls to start off their meal.

{edamame}

{egg rolls}

Next, I had a bowl of miso soup (mmm, so salty and delicious!). Not a drop of soup was left in the bowl when I was done.

{miso soup}

D opted to have the shrimp and sliced pork vermicelli for his entree. The noodles came in a ginormous bowl; D nearly conquered the dish, though there was still a bit left over when he reached his food-intake limit.

{shrimp and sliced pork vermicelli}

I decided to be boring and got a typical order of cucumber rolls and avocado rolls. Unfortunately, they do not have tamago (sweet egg omelette) rolls (one of my favorites). I made quick work of getting the rolls into my stomach--and tested my ability to consume wasabi without completely clearing my sinuses at the same time.

{cucumber rolls and avocado rolls}

Mizu Sushi is located in a rather large building, with the sushi counter serving as a focal point against one wall in the middle of the space. The restaurant is decorated with a modern flair, and features tranquil colors and mostly muted artwork, though the back wall is dominated by a large separated mural of Katsushika Hokasai's "Great Wave Off Kanagawa" artwork.

Mizu Sushi

307 S Third Street

Laramie, WY 82070

(307) 745-3888

Open daily 11a to 9p.

Where to Eat: Fort Collins

{tasty leftovers}

Nine times out of ten when we decide to have dinner in Fort Collins we head to Taj Mahal. Though we now have an Indian restaurant in Laramie, we still find ourselves pulled in the direction of Taj Mahal when either of us get a taste for curry.

When it comes to ordering, we are quite boring, as we always get the same thing -- muttar paneer (fresh homemade cheese cubes cooked with green peas in a mildly spiced sauce). Sometimes we mix up our naan order however -- if we're feeling particularly ravenous we'll order naan stuffed with potatoes, cheese, or mixed vegetables -- otherwise we just get it plain. And, it goes without saying that we take an additional order to go so that we can enjoy leftovers the next day. So good!

The service at Taj Mahal is unobtrusive, courteous, and efficient. We've never had to wait for a table and the only time we've seen the restaurant super-busy was when we went there for dinner on New Year's Eve last year. Taj Mahal is consistently recognized as one of Fort Collins' best restaurants. It was given the "Best of Fort Collins" award in 2005 and 2006 by the Fort Collins Coloradoan, recognized as having the "Tastiest Cuisine" at the 1998 and 2001 Taste of Fort Collins events, and was named "Best Local Cuisine" by Tasty Fort Collins in 2008.

Taj Mahal Restaurant

148 W. Oak Street

Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 493-1105

Open daily for lunch (11a - 2:30p) and dinner (5p - 10p).

Where to Eat: Denver

{Via flickr}

D and I first visited Snooze following a recommendation from a friend who lived in Denver. We have since been back several times--and each visit is as delicious as the last. This little corner eatery, open for breakfast and lunch only, is THE place to go for Sunday brunch. Breakfast at Snooze was the icing on the cake of my birthday weekend in Denver this past weekend. When we ran past the restaurant around 10a during a morning jog around downtown, there were already tons of people waiting for tables. When we came back later around 12p, the wait time for a table was over an hour. Though we were starving, there was no question whether or not we would wait. We walked around the LoDo neighborhood (Coors Field is only a couple blocks' walk from Snooze), and the hour flew by.

On the weekend, Snooze is definitely hopping--during our recent visit the crowd skewed toward the hair-of-the-dog and hipster scene. Where's my washed-out vintage tee-shirt and funky sunglasses when I need 'em?

{leftovers from Snooze}

Snooze prides itself on sourcing ingredients from organic or local producers and everything that I've had there is delicious. Among my favorite things on the menu are the breakfast burrito (leftovers pictured above -- the burrito is HUGE) and the pineapple upside down pancakes (imagine pineapple upside down cake in pancake form -- yeah, yum!)

Snooze Eatery

2262 Larimer Street

Denver, CO 80205

Open Monday-Friday, 6:30a to 2:30p and Saturday-Sunday, 7a to 2:30p.

303.297.0700

http://www.snoozeeatery.com

And, oh, wow--they're opening a Snooze in Fort Collins this April! Such a close proximity to home could be dangerous.

Where to Eat: Denver

[via Flickr]

My birthday was this past Saturday and after a leisurely breakfast of a donut with chocolate icing and coconut from the local donut shop and a chai latte from the 'bucks, we packed up and headed out for my birthday treat--dinner and an overnight stay at the Vee Bar Ranch. We were looking forward to lounging around in our creekside cabin, which featured a fireplace and several cozy rocking chairs. Unfortunately, upon our arrival we found that they had overbooked the cabin, and we would instead be staying in a plain Jane lodge room. And nary a discount in sight. So . . . D and I decided it just wouldn't do, and a change in plans was set in place. We headed back home, did a little Internet sleuthing, and found a great deal on a hotel in downtown Denver. Instead of country livin', we would be spending my birthday in the Big City. No complaints from me!

On the two-hour drive to Denver, I used my handy-dandy BlackBerry to search for Italian restaurants in the area, and out of chance happened upon Panzano [warning: their website has music]. They had me at their motto: "Chi mangia bene, viva bene." (Those who eat well, live well.) A quick search on Open Table (my fave new app) told me that they had reservations available at 9:15p, so I snapped it up, and our dinner plans were set. We arrived in the city around 8p, checked into our room at the Westin Tabor Center (big room, nice view of downtown goings-on), slipped into our fancy clothes (or, I did anyway, D pulled on his cowboy boots), and headed out to the restaurant. As luck would have it, Panzano was literally just a few blocks away from our hotel.

For a Saturday evening (albeit a little late), the restaurant wasn't that busy, and we were seated immediately. A quick look at the menu via my BlackBerry earlier had looked promising; I was even more excited about the culinary possibilities after seeing that the entire back page of the menu was dedicated to extolling their dedication to local, organic, sustainable, and naturally-raised food products and other green initiatives. Definitely a restaurant right up my alley! Our meal was top-notch, and I would highly recommend Panzano to anyone visiting downtown Denver.

We started our meal with crespelle ai funghi, or mushroom-filled crepes. The leftover fondata sauce was excellent when sopped up by the house-baked bread.

For my entree, I ordered rosemarino tagliatelle, a house-made pasta infused with rosemary and served with dried cranberries, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, and a lemon emulsion. I think I may have to try to make something similar later this week. Really nice flavors and incredibly light. It's always nice when you finish a meal of pasta and aren't entirely stuffed to the gills!

Dustin opted to try the Bear Mountain skirt steak, served over faro with winter greens and house-cured pancetta, along with sauteed mushrooms and Gorgonzola cheese. He is now a little obsessed with this cut of meat (especially since we recently watched an episode of Barefoot Contessa that featured this same cut) -- I think we may have to try to source some from Wag's sometime soon.

For dessert we shared tiramisu (unfortunately we snarfed it down before I could get a picture) -- it was good, but admittedly not among the best we have had. One bonus was the garnish of chocolate-covered espresso beans. Yum! All in all, quite a nice way to celebrate my birthday!

Panzano
909 17th Street at Champa
Denver, CO 80202
303.296.3525
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (note: they also have a gluten-free lunch and dinner menu!)
http://www.panzano-denver.com/

Where to Eat: Laramie

Since I had today off due to Presidents' Day (yea, presidents!) I cajoled D into taking a long lunch (no break for the university!) and we headed out to eat at Sweet Melissa's. This restaurant caters to vegetarians and has a number of tasty options on its menu. Today, D and I both opted for the grilled wrap with roasted vegetables and basil walnut pesto. It was super-tasty and definitely hit the spot. Though we were too full to even think about dessert today, on previous occasions we have indulged, and I can definitely recommend their carrot cake. In addition to being delicious, the slice of cake that is served is also quite generous.

If you happen to stop by this spot for dinner, consider getting a cocktail before or after your meal (or heck, before AND after) at the Front Street Tavern, which recently opened next door to Sweet Melissa's. The bartender makes a heck of a mojito.

Where to Eat: Santa Fe

[Via TripAdvisor]

After exploring the plaza downtown and running some errands elsewhere in the city, D and I were definitely ready for a lunch break. I had one more restaurant on my mind to try -- Chocolate Maven Bakery & Cafe. We popped the address into our GPS, which made finding the place a lot easier. Its location, though not far off the beaten path, is a little random. Upon your arrival, you are apt to ask "Is this the right place?" given its industrialish warehouse location. But upon closer inspection you'll note the full parking lot and then spy the entrance surrounded by "Best of Santa Fe" awards. Don't be fooled by the warehouse atmosphere--once inside you are transported to a cozy bakery and cafe.

D and I were quickly seated in the cafe's upper level (reached by a winding staircase). The upper level is bright and airy (there was a nice breeze coming in through an open window) and the walls are covered in warmly-colored landscape art. Upon perusing the menu, the biggest question was what to order given the many tasty options.

D opted to go the breakfast route and ordered the Almond Raspberry French Toast. This entree was described as "two thick slices of freshly baked challah, batter dipped, then dredged in sliced almonds and griddled to golden brown, [and] served with raspberry-almond sauce" -- and its taste definitely matched its description.

I opted to go the lunch route. (As a connoisseur of grilled cheese sandwiches, my eye (and stomach) is often drawn directly to that selection if available!) I ordered "The Bistro" sandwich, a "French grilled cheese sandwich with Gruyere, apple slices, and grainy mustard grilled on our home baked, thick sliced sourdough levain." The sandwich typically also comes with either "naturally raised smoked ham from Niman ranch" or "vegetarian ham" -- however, I'm not that big a fan of ham, and the idea of "vegetarian ham" really doesn't sound all that appetizing to me. (As a vegetarian, I was never really into things that are supposed to taste like meat, given that being a vegetarian, I was actively choosing NOT to eat meat!) Anyway, though the blurry BlackBerry photo does it no justice, the sammy was delicious. And did I mention it came with rosemary garlic fries? Yum -- definitely need to figure out how to make those at home!

D and I managed to save room for dessert this time around. After looking through the dessert menu, we opted for the carrot cake. In addition, I ordered a delicious Mexican hot chocolate (the restaurant also offers hot chocolates made with American, Belgian, or Italian chocolates). The carrot cake was a-mazing:

It came garnished with a (tall!) puffed rice-sugar ornament and fresh cut strawberry. It was heavenly -- the perfect flavor combination to end our meal.

Like the other restaurants we visited in Santa Fe, Chocolate Maven pledges to use "no artificial flavors, preservatives, or synthetic additives; hormone-free, naturally-raised chicken, beef, ham, and eggs; unbleached, unbromated regionally grown flours; GMO-free certification on many ingredients; many seasonal ingredients from local farms and farmer's markets; and no hydrogenated oils. Ever." In addition, the restaurant now features farmer's market-inspired dinners.

Chocolate Maven is open daily for breakfast from 7a to 3p. Lunch is offered 10:30a to 3p Monday through Friday, and brunch is served 9a to 3p Saturday and Sunday. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday from 5:45p to 8:45p. In addition, high tea is available Monday through Friday from 3p to 5p.

It was really heartening to find a town with so many options for those seeking meals made with organic or locally-produced ingredients. We didn't even get to half the restaurants that participate in the town's farm-to-table program. I really hope I get another chance to visit this vibrant city and hit up several more of the great restaurants Santa Fe has to offer.

Chocolate Maven Bakery & Cafe

821 W. San Mateo Road

Santa Fe, NM 87505

(505) 984-1980

Where to Eat: Santa Fe

[Via flickr]

For dinner on Saturday night, we opted to hit up Cafe Pasqual's. This restaurant features a menu inspired by flavors of the Southwest, Mexico, and Asia. And of course, yet again I was excited to find that Pasqual's emphasizes the use of ingredients that are seasonal, fresh, organic, and naturally-raised.

Given the small size of the dining room and the cafe's popularity, reservations are recommended for dinner. Though we could have opted to take an earlier reservation by sitting at a shared table, we opted to dine a little later (at 9p) to ensure a private booth. (Though the folks seated together at the shared table seemed to have created quite a camaraderie together!)

[Secreto cocktail --- and note all the great fresh produce lining the bar!]

D and I began our evening by enjoying a cocktail at the Secreto Lounge located in the Hotel St. Francis. I enjoyed a Secreto cocktail, which featured muddled grapes, strawberry, organic rosemary, and red wine along with a few choice liquors. Long story short, it was delish!

[Via flickr]

Following our stop for cocktails, we continued down the block to Cafe Pasqual's. We were seated immediately and quickly dove into the menu after taking in the great decor. (Note the brightly-colored papel picado hanging across the ceiling in the above photo.) Everything on the menu looked so good! We started out by sharing a vegetarian tamale -- so spicy and good. For my main entree, I chose the enchiladas with sauteed chard, grilled zucchini, and jack cheese. The enchiladas were served with a grilled banana, fresh corn torte, and cilantro rice. I opted to have my enchiladas "Christmas-style" meaning it was served with both the red chili and green chili sauce. Oof! So much food. And SO good. I was definitely gulping down some water, though -- quite a bit of spice for me. But not distressingly spicy, just a nice kick. (A bite or two of the cilantro rice also helped calm the burn, too.) D ordered the organic chicken mole enchiladas which also came with cilantro rice, a fresh corn torte, and an orange-jicama salad. Long story short, after eating we were absolutely stuffed to the gills . . . and depressingly unable to even consider dessert. (Well, okay, we did look at the menu but nothing was able to overcome our extreme satiation!) Some folks at nearby tables did order dessert and everything looked quite tasty.

Cafe Pasqual's is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday from 8a to 3p, and for Sunday brunch from 8a to 3p. Dinner is served daily from 5:30p. Though not exactly budget-friendly, Cafe Pasqual's is perfect for a special night out. Dinner entrees range from $23 to $38. Breakfast and lunch entree prices are a bit kinder to the wallet.

Cafe Pasqual's

121 Don Gaspar

Santa Fe, NM 87501

(505) 983-9340

Where to Eat: Santa Fe

After taking a look at the menu and philosophy of Tree House Pastry Shop and Cafe, I knew I had to go there for a meal. According to the cafe's website, "[it] is an all-organic, vegetarian pastry shop and cafe with a menu based on the local agricultural products grown and harvested in and around Santa Fe" -- definitely right up my alley! Given that the kitchen closed at 3p on Saturdays, and was not open on Sunday or Monday, I had to make this cafe my first destination. I booked it straight there after arriving in Albuquerque. (Santa Fe is about an hour and a half drive north of Albuquerque.) There was a slight snafu when I discovered the directions I had printed out the night before were to the cafe's old address, but luckily Google maps on my BlackBerry helped lead me to the right place.

The cafe is located in the Lena Street Lofts, a new loft development that intermixes loft living with a variety of businesses, including several art studios. The cafe itself is located in an open and airy adobe building encompassed by floor-to-ceiling windows that allow in ample light. Cafe service is casual and low-key; you order at the counter and your meal is brought to you by a friendly employee when it is ready.

Tree House features a changing menu; daily specials are written on the chalkboard. I was starving upon my arrival, having only had a chai latte at the secret Starbucks kiosk in the Denver airport several hours earlier. For my lunch, I chose the local tempeh wrap -- a whole wheat tortilla filled with house-made hummus, seasonal veggies, lentils, marinated tempeh, and sunflower sprouts. The wrap was served with a lightly-dressed salad of mixed greens. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint, and was the perfect antidote to my rather-ravenous hunger.

In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, the cafe also offers a variety of pastries, including muffins, scones, croissants, brownies, and cupcakes.

The cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8a to 4p. During the winter months, the cafe is closed Sunday and Monday. Breakfast is served from 8a to 11:30a and lunch is served from 11:30a to 3p. Entrees range between about $5 and $14.

Tree House Pastry Shop and Cafe

1600 Lena Street

Santa Fe, NM 87505

(505) 474-5543