Callie Sumlin
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Articles by Callie Sumlin
The Comforting Soup I Crave the Minute It Feels Like Fall Original
Can a soup be both comforting and exciting? This creamy Thai coconut soup with vibrant aromatics answers this question with a definitive yes. When the temperature drops and I crave something hearty and warming yet still full of flavor, The Best Thai Tom Kha Soup hits the spot every time. Best of all? This recipe comes together in under an hour, meaning you’re never far off from a delicious bowl of soup. Read on to learn more about this soup, how to make it, and what makes it so special and delicious.
The 5-Ingredient Dish I’m Bringing to Every Party This Fall Original
Making barbecued ribs is traditionally a labor of love, taking hours of low-and-slow cooking over a smoker or grill until the meat is finally tender (and hopefully not dry or burnt). This Simple BBQ Ribs recipe delivers the same smoky, fork-tender, and succulent results in just a few hours, no smoker or grill required! Perfect for tailgating season, this crowd-pleasing dish comes together with just five simple ingredients after a bit of time on the stovetop and in the oven.
This Meatball Recipe Is So Good, Fans Make Triple Batches Original
Whether gracing a bowl of marinara-topped pasta or a crusty hoagie roll, a classic meatball is delicious and crowd-pleasing for a reason. And while all too easy to eat, making the perfect meatball can be a bit more finicky. There are scores of meatball recipes online, with varying binders (bread, breadcrumbs, eggs), moisture sources, and spice profiles. I’ve made and enjoyed many of them. But finding a go-to staple meatball recipe that works every time?
How Stone Cottage Studios Is Bringing Boulder Together Through Music
As the name suggests, Stone Cottage Studios is, in fact, a music studio. But it’s so much more. Father-and-son team Jamie and James Davis Maynard founded Stone Cottage Studios in 2018, transforming a detached stone cottage on the corner of their North Boulder property into a branded space for filming, recording and livestreaming. Courtesy of Kylee Maynard Jamie, who has called Boulder home since 1995, has always loved music.
The 10-Minute Cucumber Salad That Goes With Everything Original
Summer calls for quick, easy sides to pair with fresh-off-the-grill proteins and round out potluck spreads. If you’re looking for an incredibly simple and crowd-pleasing dish, look no further than Million Dollar Cucumber Salad. Made with just eight ingredients already in your fridge and pantry, it’s somehow both refreshing and hearty. The combination of crisp cucumbers and creamy ranch is versatile enough to pair with just about anything gracing your summer table.
Branch Water Is the 4-Ingredient Southern Drink You’ll Sip All Summer Original
A summer cocktail should be easy to make, refreshing, and undeniably sippable. Branch Water — a Texas-born cocktail that combines the bubbly-crisp refreshment of Ranch Water with smooth bourbon, fresh cucumber, and tangy grapefruit — certainly fits the bill. While bourbon might not be your first choice for a summer cocktail, Branch Water will make you reconsider the spirit. What Is Branch Water?
Summertime Nostalgia: 10 Activities That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Summer as a child is pure magic. Each of us has treasured memories of sun-soaked, adventure-filled days fading into warm, relaxing evenings. But why should kids have all the fun? We’ve rounded up nine activities that recapture those nostalgic summer feels—with a few adult-friendly upgrades. Fly Among the Treetops at a High Ropes Course Get the adrenaline pumping and capture the feeling of soaring through the air with a day at a high ropes course.
My Grandfather’s Simple Pasta Dinner I’ll Never Stop Making Original
Like many Italian American families, mine gathers for the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. The multi-course meal is thought to be inspired by the Southern Italian Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat until Christmas Day. While we tend to mix up the menu of fish and crustaceans every year, there’s one dish that we would never go without: My grandfather’s Christmas Eve Spaghetti, or pasta with anchovy tomato sauce.
Is This Instagram-Chic Clay Multicooker Any Better Than a Crock-Pot?
I’ve always found slow cookers to be better in theory than in practice. The idea of tossing a bunch of ingredients into a device in the morning and coming home to a delicious hot meal is undoubtedly appealing, but the reality often falls short. Too many times I’ve prepared a dish in a slow cooker only to end up with overcooked, mushy stews and braises that lack real depth of flavor. Plus, the promised convenience never felt worth the trouble of hauling the device out from the back of my cabinet.
Discover One-Of-A-Kind Treasures at Curio Consignment
Whether you're furnishing an empty place or just looking for a few new pieces to update a room, shopping for furniture and décor can be overwhelming. Big-box stores offer endless selections and inventory at the expense of soul and quality. Meanwhile, secondhand stores tend to be disorganized, requiring patience and dedication to find hidden gems.
How to Throw a Retro Fondue Party at Home Original
Every year when the leaves fall from the trees and the weather turns crisp, I haul my fondue pot out from the back of my kitchen cabinet, purchase a borderline obscene amount of Alpine cheese, and prepare to host one of my favorite gatherings of the year: a fondue party. Fondue parties are comforting and convivial, the perfect way to embrace the it’s-dark-by-5 p.m. season with soft lighting, cozy vibes, and a bubbling, communal pot of cheese at the center of it all.
This Baking Dish Is Officially My Dedicated Focaccia Pan Original
All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Focaccia is maybe the most easygoing member of the bread family. Because it’s cooked in a pan, there’s no need to fuss with shaping the high-hydration dough, and the soft open crumb makes it an exceptional sandwich bread and an ideal sidekick for dips and soups.
This Clever Tool Completely Changed the Way I Forage Wild Mushrooms Original
All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. The first time I experienced the gift of Boletus rubriceps—more commonly known as porcini mushrooms—was, fittingly, on my birthday. It was late August, prime porcini season at 10,000 feet in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Thanks to a generous monsoon season, the woods were flush with plump, red-capped fungi.
How to Learn About and Find Edible Mushrooms in Colorado
Thanks to Colorado’s new and growing cohort of healing centers providing psychedelic-assisted therapeutic experiences, magic mushrooms continue to dominate the news cycle. But interest in edible, culinary fungi has also mushroomed. According to Colorado Mycological Society president Alexis Murray, the club’s ranks swelled from 250 members to 2,000 during the pandemic.
Bubble tea is having a moment. What’s behind the current craze - and where to try it in Colorado.
Sweet, creamy tea swimming with chewy tapioca boba pearls — otherwise known as bubble tea — was originally invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, but it’s never been more popular in the U.S. That trend is in full swing here in Colorado, where Taiwanese franchises such as Happy Lemon and Gong cha have been popping up along the Front Range to satisfy thirsty customers. There are plenty of independently run homegrown concepts as well, with their own unique takes on the trendy teas.
17 Locally Owned Food Markets for International Groceries
When my husband and I moved to south Westminster in 2019, it was Valente’s Deli Bakery & Italian Market that made our new neighborhood feel like home—and not just because of the sandwiches made with pillowy house-baked bread that fueled us on moving day. Maybe it was the smell of simmering marinara sauce lingering in the air or the banter of the regulars as Dino Valente (grandson of founder Fred Valente) sliced their mortadella.
The Best Bubble Tea in Denver and Beyond
From independently owned outfits to franchises hailing from Taiwan and mainland China, the number of bubble tea shops across the Front Range has exploded in recent years. Even Starbucks is hopping on the bubble tea trend, hoping to capitalize on the surging popularity.
How to Create a Tinned Fish Board, According to Local Experts
Like many of us, Josh Pollack, founder of Bridge & Tunnel Restaurant Group behind Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen, Lou’s Italian Specialties, and Famous Original J’s Pizza, grew up eating canned fish. “I never thought of it as a gourmet thing,” he says, and indeed, most folks who grew up in the U.S. only think of bland tuna packed in water for dishes like casseroles and tuna salad.
3 Colorado Honey Brands to Buy Now
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Colorado bees are in trouble. Due to pesticide use, drought, and climate change, the Centennial State’s population of hive dwellers has declined 72 percent in the past 25 years—one of the steepest drops in the nation. That’s a problem, because these pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem and are responsible for one in every three bites of food we consume.
5 Shops and Restaurants That Prove Westminster Is More Than You Think It Is
Let’s be honest: Westminster has long struggled to establish a palpable identity due to its sprawling retail centers and copy-pasted neighborhoods. But thanks to its affordability and diverse population (relative to its neighbors), the city has become a haven for unique small businesses and art-focused attractions. Pickleball Food Pub 7647 W. 88th Ave.
The Best Burgers in Denver and Beyond
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! The meat-loving Denver metro area has more delicious burger options than we can count, from hulking steak-house-style stackers to classic thin-patty versions. To help you decide where to satisfy your next craving, we ate through scores of them to find our 31 favorites in and around the Mile High City, including 15 new additions this year. We hope you’re hungry. Looking for burger chains?
5280’s Spring Planting Guide
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! So you want to tend a garden this summer. The good news: Growing your own food and flowers is one of the most rewarding summer activities you can embark upon. The bad news: Thanks to Colorado’s short growing season and high-desert climate (read: low humidity, intense sunlight, chaotic weather), it isn’t exactly the easiest place to hone your green thumb.
Enjoy International Brunch at These 7 Local Restaurants
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! As much as we adore American-style waffles, Bennies, and bloodies, the Denver metro area has a bounty of restaurants, cafes, and bakeries producing early-day specialities from around the world. Whether you’re in the mood for Vietnamese coffee and pastries or a full English breakfast, there’s a spot in town to satisfy your appetite for international brunch.
23 of Denver’s Best Coffee Shops
Victoria Lam is always happy to see new customers at Tea Street, the three-year-old bubble tea shop she owns with her brother, Patrick. But there’s a major problem for some prospective patrons: the fear of not knowing what to order or how to interpret the menu. Lam hopes Tea Street’s participation in the first Mile High Asian Food Week will change that.
25 of Denver’s Best Coffeeshops
With a strong coffee culture, roasters galore, and a growing number of all-day cafe bars, Denver is decidedly a great city for coffee lovers.
Where to Get Bubble Tea in Denver and Beyond
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! From independently owned outfits to franchises hailing from Taiwan and mainland China, the number of bubble tea shops across the Front Range has exploded in recent years.
9 Best Locally Owned Food Markets for International Groceries
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! When my husband and I moved to south Westminster in 2019, it was Valente’s Deli Bakery & Italian Market that made our new neighborhood feel like home—and not just because of the sandwiches on pillowy house-baked bread that fueled us on moving day.
The 5280 Guide to Plant-Based Eating
Why choose just one thing at Vital Root? Photo courtesy of Vital Root From Denver’s top vegan and vegetarian restaurants to where to buy local alternative meat products (that are actually tasty), here’s our guide to better-for-the-earth bites in the Front Range. Sign Up For Our Newsletters All things Colorado delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up
18 of the Best Colorado-Made Plant-Based Products
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Colorado: home of the National Western Stock Show, a $5.3 billion livestock industry, and…a thriving community of plant-based innovators? Despite our carnivorous culture, the Centennial State is seeing a boom in meatless meats, as well as vegan cheeses, milks, snacks, and treats.
The Ultimate List of Denver’s Top Tacos
Perhaps because they’re infinitely customizable, tacos have captured our culinary hearts. We love that they’re just as good prepared by a street vendor and filled with cabeza or carne asada as they are gussied up in a restaurant with duck confit or octopus. We’ve tried them all—some 300-plus tacos between us—to find Denver’s best tacos. Editor’s Note: This is a living list of Denver’s best tacos, last updated on June 28, 2022. Did we miss your favorite? Email us at digital@5280.com.
The Ultimate List of Denver’s Top Tacos
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Perhaps because they’re infinitely customizable, tacos have captured our culinary hearts. We love that they’re just as good prepared by a street vendor and filled with cabeza or carne asada as they are gussied up in a restaurant with duck confit or octopus. We’ve tried them all—some 300-plus tacos between us—to find Denver’s best tacos.
The Best Places to Brunch in Denver
Local culinary pros have made this weekend ritual more fun—and delicious—than ever before. From the tastiest fried chicken to the fluffiest pancakes, here are our picks for the best brunch fare in the Denver metro area. Editor’s Note: This is a living list that was last updated on May 9, 2022. Did we miss your favorite? Email us at dining@5280.com.
Brunch Around the World at These 7 Local Restaurants and Bakeries
As much as we adore American-style waffles, Bennies, and bloodies, the Denver metro area has a bounty of restaurants, cafes, and bakeries producing early-day specialities from around the world. Whether you’re in the mood for Vietnamese coffee and pastries or a full English breakfast, there’s a spot in town to satisfy your appetite. If you love: Chinese food Go to: Star Kitchen on Mississippi Avenue for the best dim sum in town.
The Definitive Guide to Brunching in Denver and Beyond
This sugar-, salt-, caffeine-, and booze-fueled ritual has become more than just an excuse to day-drink bottomless mimosas. From where to take Grandma and the kids to decadent brunch buffets to 5280’s very favorite bites (and sips), consider this your guide to the best brunches in Denver. Want more? Attend the 5280 Brunch Event Taste sweet and savory offerings from local brunch hotspots featured on our lists; enjoy build-your-own bloody mary station; and groove to a live DJ.
The Best Italian Restaurants in Denver, Colorado 2019
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Judging by the wealth of Italian-inspired restaurants in the Mile High City—some old, many new—Denverites can’t get enough Italian food. But who’s serving the best of the best? We ate our way across metro Denver to determine which spots have the most al dente pasta, the creamiest risotto, the punchiest saltimbocca, and much more. Here, 5280’s list of the most delicious Italian fare in town.
The Full Circle Redemption Story Behind Little India Owner's Lil Coffea Shop
Robert “Bobby” Yoakum never set out to open Lil Coffea Shop. After eight years managing Little India Restaurants, Yoakum left in 2013 due to a combination of illness and burnout. He soon lost himself to drugs and alcohol, got caught up with the wrong crowd and eventually found himself in prison. After his release in 2019, Yoakum transitioned to a halfway house and found a job at a Jiffy-Lube.
5280’s Spring Planting Guide
So you want to tend a garden this summer. The good news: Growing your own food and flowers is one of the most rewarding summer activities you can embark upon. The bad news: Thanks to Colorado’s short growing season and high-desert climate (read: low humidity, intense sunlight, chaotic weather), it isn’t exactly the easiest place to hone your green thumb. That’s why it’s so imperative to start with a good foundation for your garden—and no, we don’t just mean healthy soil.
17 of Denver's Best Coffee Shops
Sweet Bloom in Westminster, one of the shop’s three locations. Photo courtesy of Sweet Bloom Eat and Drink Our destination-worthy picks for great beans, well-made drinks, friendly baristas, and cozy vibes in the Mile High City and surrounding ’burbs. By Callie Sumlin December 1, 2021 With a strong coffee culture, plus java shops and roasters galore, Denver is decidedly a great city for coffee lovers.
The Best Burgers in Denver and Beyond
The Tap Burger at Tap & Burger, a masterpiece crowned with crispy onions, Swiss cheese, French onion dip aïoli, and leafy lettuce and served with au jus for dipping. Photo by Kayla Jones Eat and Drink How many of these 26 tasty beef-and-bun combos have you tried?
Want Healthier, More Sustainable Cheese? Here’s How You Can Get Some
Heritage breed cows at Colorado Cow, the Kersey farm that produces milk for Haystack Mountain Cheese and Origin Milk’s products. Photo courtesy of Colorado Cow Eat and Drink A partnership between Origin Dairy, Colorado Cow, and Haystack Mountain Cheese yields local chile jack, brie, camembert, and more from regeneratively raised cows.
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Food Editor Patricia joined the 5280 staff in July 2019 and is thrilled to be writing about the Centennial State’s rich culinary scene. A Colorado native, she graduated in 2010 from the University of Colorado Boulder with degrees in journalism and psychology. In her spare time, Patricia loves cooking Thai and Chinese dishes with her mother and spending time with her husband, Gavin, and two cocker spaniels, Stella and Teddy.
The Grape Cluster
Colorado wine already had a distribution problem; COVID only made it worse. In 2017, Jayme Henderson and Steve Steese quit their sommelier jobs at Shanahan’s steakhouse in Denver and relocated to their newly purchased vineyard in the West Elks American Viticulture Area (AVA) near Hotchkiss. The couple was acting on a long-held dream of creating their own boutique wine label, which they named the Storm Cellar.
5280 Favorites: Where to Find Colorado’s Best Chocolate
Photo by Sarah Boyum Eat and Drink Our guide to the very best locally made bars, bonbons, and more to buy for your sweetie (or yourself). By Callie Sumlin, Denise Mickelsen, Patricia Kaowthumrong • February 13, 2017 Editor’s note: This story was updated in early February 2021 to reflect business closures, changes, and new brands. Chocolates are a foolproof Valentine’s Day gift, pleasing tastes both sophisticated and simple. But there’s a catch: It needs to be good chocolate.
Where to Find the Best Chocolate in Colorado
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Editor’s note: This story was updated in early February 2021 to reflect business closures, changes, and new brands. Chocolates are a foolproof Valentine’s Day gift, pleasing tastes both sophisticated and simple. But there’s a catch: It needs to be good chocolate.
Where to Get Bubble Tea in Denver and Beyond
The peach black tea at Tea Street. Photo courtesy of Tea Street Eat and Drink The Front Range is awash with spots to drink sweet, creamy, chewy Taiwanese boba. Here are a few of our favorites. By Callie Sumlin • December 14, 2020 I first fell for boba (also known as bubble tea or pearl milk tea, that magical Taiwanese combination of tea, milk, ice, and chewy tapioca pearls) when I was in high school.
The Age of The Neighborhood Restaurant
Some of Whittier Cafe's wares. On a normal Sunday afternoon at Whittier Cafe, every seat is packed for the free weekly Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The air in the small shop, located east of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, fills with conversation and the toasted-bread aroma of African coffee beans roasting over coals. Folks pass around a basket of popcorn as the ceremony leader doles out demitasses of strong black coffee during the leisurely two-hour event.
Master the Art of Whole Animal Butchery at Denver's First Meat Collective
Kyle Foster guides attendees through butchering a pig. Photo by Callie Sumlin Eat and Drink This local meat school connects home cooks to butchers, chefs, and farmers via hands-on classes and farm dinners. By Callie Sumlin • March 4, 2020 One bright Sunday morning in January, I found myself at Stir Cooking School in the Highland neighborhood, staring down at a very small, very pink chicken that was resting on a cutting board in front of me.
10 of Denver's Best Coffee Shops
Huckleberry Roasters inside the Dairy Block in downtown Denver. Photo by Victoria Carodine Eat and Drink Our destination-worthy picks for great beans, well-made drinks, friendly baristas, and cozy vibes. By Callie Sumlin • January 23, 2020 With a strong coffee culture, plus java shops and roasters galore, Denver is decidedly a great city for coffee lovers.
14 Local Gifts Your Food-Obsessed Friends Actually Want
From a natural wine club membership to cult decal glasses to artisan goat milk caramel sauce, we found tasteful options to fit every budget. By Callie Sumlin | November 22, 2019 Table of Contents Back to Main Gifts for Explorers Local Experiences Self-Care Gifts Fashionable Gifts for Him Fashionable Gifts for Her Home Goods Gifts for Foodies How to Give Back Colorful Gifts Budget-Conscious White Chocolate So Good You Will Rethink Everything You Know About White Chocolate Fortuna chocolates.
At Altius Farms in Denver, Sally Herbert Is Growing Aeroponic Produce
Department Sally Herbert's urban farm in Curtis Park uses less water and land to produce lettuce, arugula, and other greens for Denver's booming restaurant scene—and for your kitchen table. By Callie Sumlin • 5280 November 2019 At the intersection of 25th and Lawrence streets in Curtis Park, on the second story of a building—high above the millennials zipping around on electric scooters and the yoga warriors exiting a nearby studio—sits Altius Farms, an 8,000-square-foot aeroponic greenhouse.
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