Lunch Alert: Masterpiece Delicatessen

My friend Frankie alerted and turned me on to possibly one of the best little sammy shops in Denver: Masterpiece Delicatessen. Nestled at the top of the LoHi pedestrian bridge, this is not your New York-style deli. 

In a very airy and bright open space, Masterpiece Delicatessen seems to be run by a top-notch group of chefs who are constantly innovating and perfecting the deli sandwich. Other wares include crafty salads, rich soups, breakfast goodies, gourmet coffee, housemade desserts (yum), and overflowing plates of meats and cheeses. Whew! Top it off with a cooler full of artisan sodas and -- gasp! -- real rootbeer, and you've got a tasty lunch hour on your hands. 

Frankie and I went to Masterpiece Delicatessen for a quick Friday lunch; he's been raving about this place for a few months now. He ordered the braised beef brisket upon discovery that the Get-Right wasn't on the menu that day, but apparently there was no buyer's remorse. A thick serving of brisket spilled out the sides of a crusty baguette with crunchy pieces of Arugula (lettuce of choice in Denver, apparently) sticking out and sopping up some brisket-y goodness. Heaven on bread.

I chose only-slightly lighter fare: the Black Truffle Egg Salad Sandwich. Frankie isn't an egg salad fan, so I had all the tasty glory to myself that afternoon -- add in red onion, capers and romaine on toasty white bread and you have one egg sandwich that blows the rest of them out of the water. 

I now find myself making excuses to walk 15 blocks through Lodo to get my hands on other mouth-watering items, like the Roasted Vegetable Sandwich with zucchini, Piquillo peppers, caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, tomato tapenade, hummus and Manchego (wowza!). More reports to come, as I am on the hunt for that fabled Get-Right...

Masterpiece Delicatessen, 1575 Central St, Denver 303.561.deli

KCRW's Good Food

Love food so much you want to hear someone talk about it for a couple of hours? One of my favorite podcasts is Good Eats from KCRW in LA. Weekly journeys to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market are complimented by interviews with innovative chefs, culinary shop-owners, innovators and the like. With subjects ranging from how to cook fresh shell beans and sanddabs to the newest chocolate shop to hit Los Angeles featuring goat cheese chocolates to impassioned discussions about sustainable food products and local purchase habits. 

This is a seriously cool podcast to add to your repertoire, so check it out -- free knowledge about one of the best subjects I can think of!!

Check it out here!

Quote of the Day - Christopher Robin

"If there is ever a tomorrow when we are not together, there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think . . . but most important of all, even if we are apart, i'll always be with you." - Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

Not exactly food related, but a quote that touched me today.

Quote of the Day

What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?

--Lin Yutang

Table 6

14  November, 2008

The setting: Table 6 restaurant in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Downtown Denver. A small, intimate space with no more than 12 tables, a bright open kitchen, and a high bar area to enjoy pre-dinner drinks and start to dream of the meal to come. 

The table: the Doctor and I out for an evening of catching up, paired with great food and a snappy bottle of wine. Do we do it any other way?

The wine: In the mood for a Grenache/Syrah blend, the Doctor and I deferred to Sommelier Aaron Forman for his suggestion of an earthy wine to take the chill out of the cold night. A bottle of Acustic 06 Montsant, produced just south of Barcelona, gave us that earthy, woodsy bouquet we were craving, and continued to develop and open up throughout the meal for a really tasty bottle experience. 

The food: After much deliberation and negotiation (the foodie rules apply at this type of spot), the Doctor started with the Little Phillies and I settled on the Confit Fresh Bacon. As us food nerds typically do, plates were passed and "oohs" and "ahhhs" were the only syllables uttered for several minutes. 

The Little Phillies were reminiscent of home-cooked pot roast with just enough aged Provolone, grilled onions and Sriracha Aioli to whet the appetite for more. 

While the Little Philles were pretty smokin', the Confit Fresh Bacon may have been the winner for the evening -- served with bacon and date brittle and a chilled celery truffle curd, the 3x1x1" slab of pork belly sat next to a bed of arugula tossed in olive oil and lemon juice. The savory meat with sweet accoutrement incorporated with a touch of vague spiciness made for an excellent dish that night. 

Entrees were just as difficult to decide over, with yummy choices like Ahi Noodle Casserole with Orecchiette, Lobster Mushrooms, Idiazabal and Fried Shallot, or the delectable sounding Grilled Beef Hanging Tender served with Blue Cheese Bread Pudding, Spinach, Onion Ring and Red Wine Gastrique. 

In the end, the Doctor settled on the Chanterelle Chicken Pot Pie, a perfect example of gourmet comfort food ready to take you back to childhood. Only with better taste buds. I chose the Butternut Squash Ravioli, a sweet pasta dish complimented by a healthy dose of fennel, parmesan and parsley, and the dish took me back to New Orleans with its aromatic big flavors. 

Dessert was at the Doctor's recommendation: an order of Chocolate Beignets with Vanilla Creme Fraiche that literally burst with molten chocolate under a fork. A perfect treat to end the night. 

The verdict: I gave the Doctor quite a lot of grief throughout the night that the Denver dining scene was going to be a breeze for me; chains and Mexican joints were easy to conquer, and the city's people eat to live rather than the live to eat attitude inherent in New York and New Orleans. If Table 6 is a suggestion of meals to come, I cannot wait to discover all the fabulous, hidden food my new city has to offer. 

Quote of the day -- Richard Wilbur

All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of what we know.

-- Richard Wilbur

Quote of the Day -- Luciano Pavarotti

One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.

--Luciano Pavarotti + William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

New Zealand 2008 -- Cook N With Gas

Despite the odd name, Cook N With Gas turned out to be a foodie highlight of my trip. Nestled in downtown Christchurch (south island), this little gem turned out some spectacular dishes for JR and I. 

The interior was eclectic and meticulous all at once: the French bistro genre elaborated with vintage posters, awards, pictures, and general kitsch to create a visual jewelbox. 

Bottle of wine #1 was a Peregrine Saddleback Pinot Noir, 07 from the Central Otago, one of New Zealand's hot wine-growing regions right now. It turned out to be the perfect accoutrement to the meal that followed...

We started with prawn and whitebait fritters (whitebait is a delicacy in NZ -- it's a white sliver of a fish cooked in oil or baked with spices) served with a sweet relish that complimented the light, slightly sweet and subtle flavor of the fritters. 

My main dish was a seasonal vegetable tortellini, Italian interpreted by Kiwis. This dish was a treat: large green pastas filled with fresh spinach and pecorino romano cheese, surrounded by a bed of fresh, crisp asparagus, roast tomatoes, toasted walnuts and more delicious shaved pecorino romano -- yum yum yum! The dish also had hints of lemongrass and maybe even cardamom, but I was in foodie heaven because everything was balanced and complimentary, not a taste out of place. 

Dessert was a simple creme brulee topped with a clever "Gas" sugar sculpture. So rich we couldn't finish, especially not with the beverage we chose to accompany it...

The final component of our meal at Cook N With Gas was a bottle of dessert wine. Not just any dessert wine, mind you, but a late harvest riesling. Konrad & Co. Sigrum Noble #2 Riesling '04 was a super rich, tasty bottle, cut with Sauvignon Blanc. Even so, one glass was more than enough to cap of a fine meal. 

Quote of the Day -- Galileo

Wine is sunlight held together by water

--Galileo

Quote of the Day -- Mitch Hedberg

I like rice. Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something.

-- Mitch Hedberg

Quote of the Day -- Miss Piggy

Never eat more than you can lift

-- Miss Piggy

Tasty Meal Archives: Bouchon, June 2008

The setting: a lovely late afternoon lunch following the Napa Valley Wine Auction at Bouchon in Yountville

The table: ever-fabulous and energetic glamorous jetsetters: Sheana Davis, Leslie Owen, and myself 

The food: foie-gras terrine and East Coast varietal oysters

The wine: a lovely crisp bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse

A crisp decor welcomed a crowd of tourists and locals alike as the knowledgeable waitstaff guided us through a leisurely afternoon of sipping and munching. 

An added bonus: Bouchon Bakery is right next door for dessert. A latte and two flourless chocolate cakes later... time to nap and dream of more Thomas Keller goodness!