Ruth Tobias
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Articles by Ruth Tobias
Chef Andrea Frizzi Wows Denver With a New Italian Concept
“The name comes from chi non risica, non rosica, which means, ‘If you don’t take a chance, you’re gonna regret it,’” explained chef Andrea Frizzi when I sat down with him recently in an as-yet-unfinished dining room less than a mile from his much-missed prior venture, Il Posto. “To do this, I risk everything. I believe that if you want to be successful in any business, you have to be delusional.
How Edwin Zoe Reclaimed His Chinese-American Roots in Boulder
Crab rangoon. Sesame chicken. Fortune cookies. To millions of people raised on takeout across the U.S., they all taste like childhood. But not to Edwin Zoe of Boulder’s Michelin-recommended Zoe Ma Ma as well as Pearl Poké and Denver’s Dragonfly Noodle. Growing up in the Midwest, where his father ran a Chinese-American restaurant, he thought they tasted—well, phony.
First-Rate Resorts for Ten Types of Travelers
Personality is destiny, they say; it may well be destination too. Booking the perfect vacation is a matter of addressing your desires and owning up to your idiosyncrasies: Are you a thrill-seeker, a health nut, a hedonist through and through? Do you aim to challenge yourself, treat yourself, or just let yourself be? Whatever the case, there’s a resort for that.
East Coast vs. West Coast: A guide to ordering oysters in Denver
Shucking oysters at Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood. When you go to a raw bar in Denver (or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter), you’ll typically be offered a selection of East Coast and West Coast oysters identified by name and place of origin.
Blossom by SYC Blooms in LoHi
Talk about a whole vibe. With its tea garden–inspired dining room awash in rose and jade hues beneath a floral ceiling sculpture, Blossom by SYChas been ushering in throngs of influencers, scenesters, and looky-loos clamoring for the perfect selfie backdrop from the instant it opened in LoHi in late July. “All the pretty girls want to come in here, take pictures, and have birthday parties,” joked owner Shuang (Sherry) Crossland.
La Vie en Rose Wows Denver in a Sparkling Debut
La Vie en Rose opens soon in RiNo. | Photo by Armando Martinez Originating in Paris in the early 20th century, the Art Deco movement roughly coincided with the beginning of the Jazz Age in the United States. Its modernist, geometric aesthetic was therefore a natural reference point for Nocturne, the jazz and supper club Nicole and Scott Mattson opened 11 years ago in Denver—not least because “that industrial look matched up with RiNo so well,” said Nicole.
Soda Club Brings a Triple Threat to Denver
Between the plethora of pasta joints, the new wave of natural wine bars, and the surge in plant-based spots that have made a mark on the Mile High City in recent months, it was only a matter of time before the three trends converged. Enter the triple threat we’ve all been waiting for: Soda Club.
New Restaurant Rōmyō Brings the Intrigue of Itameshi to Denver
Rōmyō opens soon in Denver, bringing a Japanese-Italian mash up. | Photo courtesy of Bonanno Concepts Fearlessness may be Frank Bonanno’s most under appreciated trait. In the 19 years that I’ve been covering Denver’s dining scene, I’ve witnessed him introduce more concepts and pioneer more trends than perhaps any other chef in town. He was among the first, if not the first, to offer housemade charcuterie and cheeses, to usher ramen into the mainstream, to revive the Prohibition-era speakeasy.
Make Way For the Mile High Maize Movement
“Without corn, there’s no country.” At Milpero, the Fonda Fina Hospitality Group’s astonishing new dining destination in RiNo, chef-partner Johnny Curiel likes to welcome the guests seated around the counter with that famous slogan. It’s more poetic in Spanish—sin maíz no hay país—but it resonates throughout the 16-course tasting nonetheless.
Boulder’s New Cinq à Sept Brings a Nonchalant Chic to Dining
Leave it to the French to turn everything into a double entendre. Cinq à sept, or “five to seven,” loosely translates as “happy hour.” But in addition to denoting an after-work get-together over drinks, the phrase can also refer to a romantic rendezvous. (Hey, some hours are happier than others.) How apropos, then, that it’s now the name of a new French bistro.
Mickey’s Top Sirloin Remains Constantly Great, Even After 60 Years
Welcome to #TBT, or Throwback Thursdays, where we revisit some of the Denver metro area’s tried and true restaurants that have become institutions. For example, Mickey’s Top Sirloin, which has served Denver for over 60 years. Over time, these places have weathered the shifts in our city’s restaurant landscape.
Morso Opens in Boulder With Irresistible Little Italy-Inspired Dishes
In turbulent times, comfort food makes a comeback: That’s common knowledge because it’s common sense, economically and emotionally speaking. The spate of casual pasta joints opening across town in recent months is a perfect case in point. From Florence Supper Club to Johnny Bechamel’s to Boombots, there’s nothing like a good old plate of carbs to soothe the soul without totally wrecking the wallet.
The New, New, New Saigon in Denver
Avid Denver diners may know that chef An Nguyen, who owns acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant Dân Dã in Aurora with her sister Thao, previously ran the likewise laudable Savory Vietnam in Athmar Park. They may know that another Nguyen sister, Thoa, operates Bánh & Butter Bakery Café just steps from Dân Dã on East Colfax Avenue, and that still another, Thu, oversees New Saigon Bakery & Deli on a stretch of South Federal Boulevard known as the Little Saigon district.
Where to eat before you see a show in downtown Denver
With eight venues and nearly 6,800 seats to fill, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts has a regular stream of performances for theatergoers of all tastes. But deciding where to eat before the show can be a constant struggle. While the recent exit of Church & Union and its pre-show prix fixe menu may pose a slight bump in that road, the downtown dining scene is diverse enough to satisfy a wide variety of tastes (and budgets) within a 15-minute walk of the Arts Complex (tops).
On dads and drams: How the Coors family gave whiskey a shot
It’s Father’s Day weekend, which means it’s time for a myriad of published guides to the best whiskeys for Dad. Here in Colorado, we have a unique father-and-son whiskey origin story of our own straight from “one of America’s most enduring beverage families” — Pete Coors and his son, David — who in 2021 expanded into distilling with the Coors Whiskey Co. Its first product was the Five Trail Blended American Whiskey.
The Easy Vegan Team Debuts Mother Other Restaurant in Denver
What kind of a name is Mother Other for a restaurant? An ingenious one, if you ask us, juxtaposing intimacy and intrigue, comfort and nonconformity. Turns out that’s just what executive chef Alexi Mandolini and beverage director Taylor Herbert—the pair behind The Easy Vegan who will open the vegan venture in the Baker neighborhood on June 27—aimed to convey when they came up with it.
Chef Takeover: Less Is More for Urban Farmer’s Jessica Biederman
Jessica Biederman, executive chef at Urban Farmer in LoDo, considers the culinary arts “a career field that really chooses you.” Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, she went to college with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, but that vision soon changed. “I would put cooking shows on in the background while I was studying,” Biederman said. “And I started to put the books down and watch the food.
Where to Drink Wine Right Now
We know where to get really good wine in Denver. | Photo courtesy of Corsica The most esteemed wine experts in the world will freely admit there’s always more to learn; the world of viticulture is so vast, complex, and ever-changing that even they can’t master it all. That’s no reason for the average wine drinker to get discouraged. On the contrary, it should be a liberating reminder that wine exists first and foremost to be enjoyed. This guide is designed to help you do just that.
How Columbine Steak House Became a Famous Denver Institution
Welcome to #TBT, or Throwback Thursdays, where we revisit some of the Denver metro area’s tried and true restaurants that have become institutions. Over time, these places have weathered the shifts in our city’s restaurant landscape. For example, Columbine Steak House & Lounge, an institution that’s been favored by locals for decades.
Where to Go for the Best Diner Grub in Denver
What are the best diners in the Denver area? To answer that question, you have to ask another one that’s tricker than it seems: What’s a diner? Most would agree that a diner has to be casual and inexpensive, and it has to serve breakfast. But does it have to serve breakfast all day? And what else should the menu include? True-blue American comfort food goes without saying, but what about, say, gyros and kabobs, given the history of Greek restaurant ownership in the U.S.?
Wellness Counter is All About Intention and Great Sushi
Since opening in 2019, Wellness Sushi has made a name for itself as Denver’s premier (not to mention only) purveyor of 100% plant-based Japanese cuisine. Now chef-owner Steven Lee and his wife-partner, Phoebe, are expanding to Boulder, but their new venture, Wellness Counter, is what you might call a whole different animal. For one thing, rather than a fast-casual operation, this Japanese restaurant (which opens May 16) will be a more upscale affair: table service, full bar, and all.
Madeline Comes to Fruition in Denver, Literally
When Fruition opened in the Cherry Creek neighborhood in 2007, then–Denver Post dining critic Tucker Shaw raved about chef Alex Seidel’s “elegant, refined comfort food . . . steadfastly traditional in its soulfulness, strictly classic in its execution, thoroughly modern in its outlook.” That reputation stuck until it closed in 2025.
Savor the Best of Masa and Mole at Milpero
In just over two years, chef Johnny Curiel and his wife-partner, Kasie, have made a mark on Denver’s dining scene as major as any in recent memory. From Alma Fonda Fina to Mezcaleria Alma to Alteño as well as Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder, they’ve been at the forefront of a city-wide movement that’s transforming our understanding of Mexican cuisine. And now, the couple, who also owns Spanish concept Mar Bella Wine Bar, is about to embark on their most ambitious venture yet.
Where to Find Soft-Serve Margaritas, This Summer’s ‘It’ Drink
Is there anything better than a frozen margarita on a hot summer day? Well, maybe. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo — and patio season, for that matter — the classic Mexican cocktail has gotten a glow-up. Cold, creamy, and thick enough to eat with a spoon, soft-serve margaritas are a new phenomenon that went viral on social media a couple of months ago and are now beginning to make a splash (or maybe a splat, given their consistency) right here in Denver.
Dining Out With Randi Kleiner: Toasts, Tastes & TV Magic
Zaidy’s Deli & Bakery comes about as close as Denver gets to the kind of old-school delicatessen found all over New York City and Los Angeles (think Katz’s and Canter’s). So it was a fitting place dining with Randi Kleiner, the co-founder and CEO of SeriesFest, a celebration of independent episodic storytelling, or in other words, TV series. It’s the kind of festival you’d expect to find in New York or L.A. Instead, since 2015 it’s been a Mile High City staple.
Hop Over to Odd Rabbit, a New Japanese-Centric Spot in Boulder
We’ve all heard the phrase “odd duck” in reference to an eccentric person, but what in the heck is an Odd Rabbit? Thanks to chefs Christopher and Ariana Teigland of Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee glo Noodle House, we’re all about to find out. After all, that’s the name of their sophomore venture, a sushi-centric Japanese restaurant set to open in Boulder on April 30.
Denver’s West Highland Can Now Wake Up With Paperboy
Picture the break of dawn in Anytown, USA, in a bygone era: the sun rising over a clapboard house, a rooster crowing, the clink-clink of milk jugs in a carton on the porch, the thunk of a rolled-up newspaper hitting the screen door. In naming his daytime eatery “Paperboy,” founder Ryan Harms aimed to give it just that sort of nostalgic aura, envisioning “a place where you can slow down and have an easy start to the day, a place where you can be known,” in his words.
An Eater’s Guide to Denver
– Welcome to the Land of Literally Elevated Cuisine – Where to Start: Eater Denver’s Top Maps – Dining Neighborhoods to Know In and Around Denver – Denver Glossary of Terms – Get in Touch That famous lamb. Those Palisade peaches, Olathe corn, and Rocky Ford melons. That ubiquitous green chile. The ever-flowing beer. Anyone who still claims there’s no such thing as Colorado cuisine just hasn’t been looking hard enough. This guide to its capital city will show you where to find it at its very best.
Uchiko, the Hottest Denver Opening Serves Up Japanese Fare
The name Uchiko translates as “child of Uchi,” which clearly indicates that, like all children, this newcomer to Cherry Creek shares various character traits with its parent, RiNo sushi destination Uchi. But children are also very much their own people, and Uchiko too stands on its own.
The Best Restaurants in Uptown Denver: A 2026 Field Guide
According to the City and County of Denver, Uptown doesn’t exist; the official name of the neighborhood bordered by Broadway to the west, 20th Avenue to the north, Park Avenue and Downing Street to the east, and East Colfax Avenue to the south is North Capitol Hill. But it exists in the hearts and minds of the locals who live, and, more to the point, eat and drink within its confines.
The Best Restaurants in Denver, Colorado
Cutting-edge chef’s counters, the best sandwich shops, and everywhere to eat in Denver, according to a local expert Ruth Tobias has been covering the worlds of food and beverage since 2000. Based in Denver, Colorado, she is currently managing editor at The Tasting Panel and The SOMM Journal. Welcome to the Eater 38, a seasonally updated guide to restaurants that represent the growth and ingenuity of Denver’s culinary community.
The 38 Best Restaurants in Denver
Visit another Eater city site From cutting-edge chef’s counters to the best place for a hoagie Ruth Tobias has been covering the worlds of food and beverage since 2000. Based in Denver, Colorado, she is currently managing editor at The Tasting Panel and The SOMM Journal. Welcome to the Eater 38, a seasonally updated guide to restaurants that represent the growth and ingenuity of Denver’s culinary community.
The Best Romantic Restaurants in Denver
Granting that any old place can seem romantic to a couple in love, it remains the case that some venues are more conducive to a successful date night than others. The setting may be the most important factor — a dining room with lots of two-tops, mood lighting, and just the right music at the right volume is obviously preferable to a sports bar.
The Best Restaurants in Denver for Big Groups
Spacious settings, communal tables, and big energy; heaping platters, brimming baskets, and bubbling pots — when it comes to group dining, size matters. In one way or another, these 17 Denver-area restaurants aim to please a hungry crew, whether they’re primed for a casual chow down or prepped for an upscale night on the town. Read More Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.
26 Best Sushi Restaurants in America to Book Right Now
Photograph: Time Out/Patricia Kelly YeoSushi Kaneyoshi Chef at Counter Photograph: Time Out/Patricia Kelly Yeo Feast on super-fresh sushi and sashimi, matched with top-shelf sake, at the best sushi restaurants in America Monday August 12 2024 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Contributor: Time Out editors Advertising Sushi has infiltrated the American palate in such a deep way that it’s now sold in deli cases in rural grocery stores—and you can find a California roll in many gas...
The 24 Best Restaurants in Boulder, Colorado
Nicknamed “the People’s Republic” by locals, offbeat Boulder was once a haven for beatniks and hippies. Today, it’s a thriving refuge for the globe-trotting elite and urban professionals, though that original woo-woo energy is still in the air. At the center of it all is the University of Colorado, drawing students from every corner of the Earth and swelling the local population of 105,000 by the tens of thousands when school is in session.
On Its 100th Anniversary, Delicato Family Wines Looks Back—and Forward - The Tasting Panel
by Ruth Tobias Every January, the Indelicato family gets together to make sausage—400 pounds’ worth. “We use the original recipe from my grandfather Gaspare and my [great-]uncle Sam, and we make it in the same basement . . . that it’s been made in since the house was built in the ’50s,” explains Delicato Family Wines CEO Chris Indelicato. “Friends and neighbors come, and everybody has one task that they sort of evolved to do over time, and it’s a really good time.
Owners Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch Celebrate Rioja’s 20th Anniverary By Downsizing
What does the end of an era look like? On August 2, the Denver hospitality community found out when chef Jennifer Jasinski and co-proprietor Beth Gruitch announced sweeping changes to their restaurant group, Crafted Concepts. Not only would they be closing Stoic & Genuine, their ten-year-old seafood spot in Union Station, on September 1, but they’d be transferring ownership of French institution Bistro Vendôme and Iberian eatery Ultreia to partners Tim Kuklinski and Adam Branz, respectively.
The Bodega Spirit: Exploring the Estate-Grown Wines of Argentine Producer Doña Paula
“Our biggest assets are our vineyard [and] the way that we work with the soil,” says Doña Paula marketing manager Federico Ontanilla.
Doing Some (Catfish) Noodling?
The icon indicates free access to the linked research on JSTOR. “The deeper you go, the darker it gets,” journalist Ruth Tobias writes. And while this could apply to lots of things, Tobias is describing noodling, a method of hand-catching fish. It requires the would-be catcher to get in “partly or fully in your river, lake, or pond of choice” to trap the fish, usually catfish, “in their nesting holes or under brushpiles, jamming your arm through their mouths,” Tobias writes.
A SPARKLING SUPERBLOOM
Even by California’s high standards, the Scharffenberger Cellars estate in the Anderson Valley town of Philo is bucolic. Gently rolling hills surround the vineyards, walnut and pear trees grace the lawn in front of the winery, an English-style garden flourishes at the entrance to the tasting room, and blackberry bushes line the path to a redwood grove in the middle of it all.
A Denver Dining Guide to the Food and Drink Scene
That famous lamb. Those Palisade peaches, Olathe corn, and Rocky Ford melons. That ubiquitous green chile. The ever-flowing beer. Anyone who still claims there’s no such thing as Colorado cuisine just hasn’t been looking hard enough. This guide to its capital city will show you where to find it at its very best.
An Eater's Guide to Denver
Build full-body strength and boost your stability with this six-move workout for beginners One of the hardest things about starting to exercise is knowing where to begin. Fortunately for you, Fit&Well is here to help. This simple workout …
The Best Restaurants, Bars, and Cafes at Denver International Airport (DEN)
Between the art installations that have launched 1,000 conspiracy theories, the al fresco leisure activities out on DEN Plaza, and that ringtone-worthy train jingle, the Denver International Airport (DIA) is more entertaining than your average travel hub — and that’s no less true of its dining options, both present and upcoming.
Safta - Restaurant Review
What's the story with this place? RiNo was already making headlines as one of the nation’s hottest F&B neighborhoods in 2018 when it scored not one, not two, but three coups in the form of James Beard Award–winning arrivals: Texas’ Tyson Cole (see: Uchi), New York–based partners David Kaplan and Alex Day (see: Death & Co.), and New Orleans mega-star Alon Shaya.
33 Best Restaurants in Denver
Read full article The city's dynamic dining scene may be young, but its resources are not. The oldest part of the Library of Strahov Monastery, the Baroque Theological Hall, was established between 1671 and 1674, making the establishment one of the oldest—and best preserved—historical libraries in the world. Appropriately named the Long Room, this space is located within the Old Library at Trinity College.
33 Best Restaurants in Denver
The city's dynamic dining scene may be young, but its resources are not.
33 Best Restaurants in Denver
USA TODAY Celtics' Larry Bird steps up in Lakers' 'Winning Time': Meet the actor playing the NBA legend The wild story of how Sean Patrick Small got to play Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird on HBO's "Winning Time," and score in Season 2. InStyle Penélope Cruz Wore the Fanciest Version of Summer 2023’s Comeback Shoe This isn’t your average flip-flop. InStyle My Summer Is Booked With So Many Birthday Parties — Here’s What I’m Wearing Shop picks from Free People, Madewell, Cos, and more.
Noble Endeavor - The Somm Journal
by Ruth Tobias Before potential can be realized, it has to be recognized. Case in point: Argentina. The raw materials on which major wine regions are built were always there, but it’s only been in the past 30 or so years that visionary producers have paid them the sufficient attention and respect required to transform the country’s industry into a world-class powerhouse. Among those pioneers is Paul Hobbs, founder of Viña Cobos.
Where to Celebrate Special Occasions in Denver
With outstanding tasting menus, steak dinners, trophy wines, and more, these spots were built for celebration by and Jan 18, 2023, 12:38pm MST by and Jan 18, 2023, 12:38pm MST Frasca Food and Wine Denver is a famously casual town, but it’s still got an abundance of options when a birthday, anniversary, reunion, or career milestone calls for celebration.
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