Considering it’s our job to eat, we sure taste some amazing foods. Why limit the coverage to a feature when we can round up the top 10 “best things we ate” of the month. In May the line up includes a pizza to crave, a show-stopping Caesar salad, lamb tacos, and more. Read the full list here.
Lamb Tacos From The Bindery
May was Lamb Jam Restaurant Month, where various chefs around town featured a special lamb dish on the menu. For chef Linda Hampsten Fox, that included gorgeous lamb tacos served with salsa macha, mole, queso, and charred onion crema. The $14 plate balanced umami with crunch and chew, a memorable item indeed. 1817 Central St., Denver, thebinderydenver.com
Mushroom Nuggets From Samosa Shop
Last summer chef Dave Hadley debuted fried mushroom nuggets at the City Park Farmers’ Market. They proved so popular, fans can now get the battered and fried lions mane bites any time at Samosa Shop’s newish outpost. The restaurant resides inside Hell Or High Water bar, and guests order food from a take-out window at the back of the room. A large order of nuggets runs $10, and includes curry leaf aioli and hot honey. They are tasty both fresh and hot, and even cold the day after. 1526 Blake St., Denver, samosashopco.com
Italian Sandwich From Leven Deli Co.
It’s no secret that Leven Deli makes some of the best sandwiches around. While the pastrami Reuben remains a signature item, we deviated this month and ordered the Italian. For $17 this beauty gives you all you need in the dish, including hot capicola, genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, arugula, pickled onions, and banana peppers. All this comes on a house-made baguette, and with two sides. 123 W. 12th Ave., Denver, eatleven.com
Pain De Mėture From Corsica
At first glance, the pain de mėture doesn’t sound exciting. But order it and you’ll see why it shouldn’t be missed. The original dish comes from Gascony, France, and features cornbread baked with cabbage leaves in a cast iron pan. In this case, the sweet cornbread is cooked under a collard leaf and accented by honey and chilies. It’s a $7 bite that pairs great with a glass of fizzy natural wine. 2801 Walnut St., Denver, corsicawinebar.com
Mochi Donuts From Kuluka Boba
Why choose one mochi donut when you can have all of them? That’s exactly what we did upon entering Kuluka Boba in Westminster, with no regrets. The flavors change each week, and currently that includes blueberry-lemon, mango-ube, black sesame, and more. Highlights of our last visit consisted of strawberry-matcha, chocolate-hazelnut, and churro flavors. But now we feel the need to visit again and get this week’s donuts. 6030 W. 92nd Ave. Suite 300, Westminster, kulukaboba.com
Bucatini From Olive & Finch
Recently chef Mary Nguyen started dinner service at her Cherry Creek location of Olive & Finch, and we are so glad she did. On the menu diners will find a superb rendition of bucatini, featuring whipped ricotta and spicy bread crumbs. The presentation proves lovely, but it’s when you messily mix it around that the flavors truly meld to perfection. 3390 E. 1st Ave., Denver, oliveandfinch.com
Caesar Salad From Hey Kiddo
Personally, Caesar salad is one of my favorite foods, and the version coming out of Kelly Whitaker’s Berkeley restaurant is one of the best. What makes it stand out is the addition of anchovies blended into the dressing, and pistachios to add a pleasing crunch in lieu of boring croutons. The $12 small plate can easily be shared, or act as the main dish of your meal. 4337 Tennyson St., Denver, hk-oy.com
Green Beans From Noodles Express
There’s so much to love at Noodles Express over on South Colorado Boulevard, but the green beans stand out. Pan fried in spicy szechuan oil with ground pork, the green beans maintain a fresh snap while also soaking in the heat. At $18.95 it might sound pricey for vegetables, but the pile of food delivered to our table could have easily fed two as the whole meal. 703 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, no website
Diavolo Pizza From Redeemer Pizza
After the first slice of the Diavolo from Redeemer Pizza, I knew my pizza cravings would never be the same. Laden with jalapenos, yellow peppers, pepperoni, soppressata, and a calabrian red sauce, it’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, spicy, and chewy. At $27, it’s a good deal for something that makes one so happy. 2705 Larimer St., Denver, redeemerpizza.com
Dry Pot Chicken From MAKfam and Panda Bao
It’s not every birthday one of your favorite restaurants collaborates with another stellar operation to create a szechuan-themed feast. But lucky for me that’s just what happened with MAKfam and Panda Bao on May 1. All the dishes sampled that night were great, but the dry pot chicken really stood out. The $17 dish featured lotus root, celery, onion, peppers, and of course, the chili-coated chicken. If only it was available all the time. 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver, makfam.co
