Photography: Harrison Warters Photography
Ladies and gentlemen, munchkins and meme lords, food fanatics, and Instagram insomniacs, it’s time to brace your taste buds and your eyeballs for a Technicolor tour de force of food porn. As we say goodbye to winter’s dark, brooding dishes, we welcome spring’s vibrant and life-giving creations, served up by chefs and mixologists like culinary Van Goghs. Our first stop? Adrift Tiki Bar, a haven of edible hedonism.
As self-proclaimed connoisseurs of culinary masochism, we can’t help but drool over tantalizing images of food and drink that leaves us famished and forever yearning. And let me tell you, Adrift has mastered the art of food porn like a saucy chef in a steamy kitchen.
Take its spring cocktail, the Long Days Coming. This luscious libation is a sun-kissed vision in a glass, promising longer days and warmer nights. Meanwhile, the Ume Mami Daiquiri flirts with us from beneath its purple orchid garnish, as if to say, “I know I look divine, darling, but I’m just here to party.” And party we shall, sipping on this stylish concoction until the last glamorous drop.
But what’s a drink without a dish to match? Enter the Poke Nachos, a glorious collision of color and taste, with crispy wonton chips decked in layers of blushing pink tuna, vibrant purple pickled onion, and lush green avocado. Each bite-sized beauty seems to wink at us, coyly inviting us to get better acquainted. It’s a dish that straddles the line between edible art and tantalizing appetizer, leaving us torn between hanging it on the wall or indulging in its splendor.
The Loco Moco Meatloaf is retiring during the warmer months, but fear not: its warm-weather cousin is here in its place. The Loco Moco Smash! Burger features two house-made beef and chorizo patties seared and smashed to perfection, adorned with freshly sliced cheddar cheese, tonkatsu sauce, micro greens, furikake, spicy kewpie aioli, and a fried egg, all served on a Hawaiian bun. It comes with Volcano Fries and chili aioli and after surviving the 14th coldest winter in Denver history—and the record goes back 151 years—you deserve some pretty delectable comfort food.
Food, you see, is a universal language. It sustains us, comforts us, and brings us joy. Indulge in it—the real stuff and the digital equivalent. Food porn is our way of peering through the keyhole into the deliciously decadent world of others, whether we’re seeking inspiration for our own meals or living vicariously through someone else’s mouthwatering moments. It’s the intimate tango between our eyes and our appetites, an illicit thrill that leaves us craving more.
So, as we sashay into this season of fresh flavors and kaleidoscopic colors, let’s raise a glass to the irresistible allure of food porn. In this world of meticulously crafted morsels and drinks, there is no shame in being a devoted voyeur. So here’s to Adrift and all the other culinary artists who bring life to our screens and our senses.
Adrift Tiki Bar
218 S Broadway, Denver
@adrift | adriftbar.com
Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Cia Ciarro, Dolin Genepy, Gran Classico and Peychaud’s Bitters are the perfect companions to help keep you warm during those brisk Spring sunsets.
Madre Mezcal, Herradura Silver Tequila, Amaro di Angostura, Ginger Liqueur, honey, and lime are shaken together to nourish your soul.
Santa Teresa, Lemon Hart 151, and Magdala serve as the base for this boozy punch that’ll instantly remind you that more sunshine is on its way…
Santa Teresa, cassis, lime, pineapple, mint, demerara, and angostura bitters are blended together in our take on a Missionary’s Downfall. Taste the passion!
Plantation 3 Star, Ume Plum Liqueur, lime, and pineapple juices invite you to bask in violet wildflower meadows, soon to come!
