July was hot. Heck, it’s still hot, so we might as well heat up the insides too. For some reason spicy was the theme of the month, with fire coming from chicken sandwiches, salads, and sauces. As we visited old and new spots, favorite dishes still ruled while new bites also surprised and remained vigilant in the mind long after. Check out the top 10 best bites of the month, then go try it for yourself.
Chicken Sandwich at Split Lip, and Eat Place
Ever since chef Adam Branz started his spicy chicken sandwich shop Split Lip out of Ultreia during the pandemic, it’s been my top hot chicken sandwich ($15.50) in the city. With a balance of crispy skin, dry-ish spice, juicy meat, and a pile of tangy pickles, my love and I were reunited during Wingapalooza, which took place at Number 38 where the concept now lives. The said meal comes with slaw and pickles (I always get extra), and choice of heat level. The hot is hot, and definitely a 10-napkin affair. 3560 Chestnut Pl., Denver, splitlipeatplace.com
Charred Broccolini at Two Hands
There’s some vegetable magic going on at the newly-opened Two Hands in Berkeley. The Australian mini chain has taken the neighborhood by storm, serving an array of fresh, seasonal dishes reflecting flavors and styles found in Australia. We aren’t sure where the charred broccolini ($14) comes in, but it’s so good it doesn’t really matter.
First, the vegetable is lightly cooked, so it’s pliable but still maintains a bright green snap.The char on the outside mixes beautifully with a thin tahini and lemon sauce coating the dish. For more texture, a sprinkling of crushed almonds, and the largest, green olives I’ve ever seen get mixed in. 3985 Tennyson St., Denver, twohandshospitality.com
Cucumber Salad at Bistro King
Cucumbers may be the only thing coming out of my heat-wrecked garden right now, but as long as I can try and turn them into the cucumber salad ($9.98) we had at Bistro King in Englewood, it will be fine. Who are we kidding, I can’t replicate this spicy, savory, crunchy, and refreshing dish. Guess I’ll just have to go back and pair with some of the best chicken fried rice around. The only catch, the salad isn’t on the regular English menu, you have to request the Chinese paper one. 3542 S. Fox St., Englewood, bistrokingonline.com
Soup Dumplings at Ace Eat Serve
We recently had the joy of watching a day-in-the-life of chef Khamla Vongsakoun, who took over the Ace kitchen at the beginning of the year. One thing the chef did was create a new menu with light dim sum bites. While everything we tried was worth seconds, the Tom Kha Xiao Long Bao ($16) remained the highlight. Yes, these are soup dumplings. But inside is a mixture of spiced coconut broth, lemongrass chicken, and lime leaf. It’s the joy of having a dumpling and the flavor of Tom Kha soup all in one glorious bite. 501 E. 17th Ave., Denver, aceeatserve.com
Chocolate Cake at STK
Normally a dessert doesn’t land on my best bites list, I just don’t have a huge sweet tooth. But even after filling up during a recent brunch at this modern steakhouse chain, I still managed to polish off a giant slice of chocolate cake. In essence, it’s exactly what one wants out of a classic chocolate cake.
The cake part was dense yet light and moist. The frosting layers between, on the side, and on top was a rich chocolate ganache, not too sweet and almost like the inside of a fancy truffle. Steak or not, I would go to STK downtown just for this again. 1550 Market St., Denver, stksteakhouse.com
Roast Chicken at Carne
Yes, chef Dana Rodriquez’s new restaurant technically is considered a steakhouse, but hear me out. The Peruvian Pollo Asado ($21), yes, chicken, tastes remarkably good. It’s hard to perfect a roast chicken, but with a smoky adobo sauce coating the crispy skin, this half-bird version sings. Dip the tender chunks in a mild salsa fresca, and order a fried-caper-laced Caesar salad ($14) to compliment the dish. 2601 Larimer St., Denver, carne-rino.com
Crispy Holy Basil Chicken With Noodle at Suvipa Thai
After Shawn Bergin, owner of Bakery Four in Berkeley, recommended this 10-year-old Thai spot, we had to go and try his favorite dish, the Crispy Holy Basil Chicken with Noodle ($16.95). Made with chopped pieces of juicy chicken, diced bell peppers, green bean, onions, and plenty of holy basil, an herb used throughout Southeast Asia for flavor and its medicinal properties.
While all this goes lovely together, what really stands out is the pile of fried rice noodles at the bottom. These wide noodles get cooked, then fried as a bundle, so the edges remain golden and crackly while the inside is soft and sweet, perfect for soaking up the spices of the dish. 1015 S Federal Blvd, Denver, suvipathaifood.com.
Earl Gray and Lemon Cookie at The Brown Palace
Recently the historic downtown hotel got a little facelift, which also meant updating some of the food programs. Executive chef Kim Moyle decided one thing the property needed was a grab-and-go coffee and pastry program, all made in house.
What came out of that choice was a lineup of delectable treats. Some of the to-go options can also be found during the property’s iconic afternoon tea service. The light, buttery Earl Gray and lemon cookie may be one of them, only the shop serves them in a large cookie format, the perfect dessert to pair with an iced latte or cup of black coffee. 321 17th St., Denver, brownpalace.com
Lamb Chops at Elway’s Downtown
There’s something about a perfectly cooked lamb chop that you can pick up and take a big bite out of without the use of a steak knife. Such is the case at Elway’s in the Ritz-Carlton Downtown Denver. Sure, it comes with cheese to dip it in, but don’t bother. The lamb stands out on its own, with basic salt and pepper accentuating the juiciness of the dish. In a way, the meat tastes fresh, not gamey as some lamb can be, and so pliable one can munch on it caveman style. Find this dish dubbed Lamb Chop Fondue, and keep in mind it comes with three pieces per order. 1881 Curtis St., Denver, elways.com
Hong Kong Salted Egg Toast at MAKfam
Ug, can we ever stop talking about this Hong Kong toast from MAKfam? No. It’s so freaking good it won’t stop making my mouth water at the very thought. Officially dubbed Salted Egg Yolk Hong Kong French Toast ($10), the small plate features house-made milk bread, salted egg yolk custard, and condensed milk. Sounds simple, but the flavor profile melds sugar doughnut with umami-rich egg in a sweet-salty-savory masterpiece. 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver, makfam.co
