A new salad restaurant concept recently signed a lease for their second Colorado location which is planned to open later this year in LoDo.  Choppers Custom Salads, based out of the DTC, will open in a 2,300 SF location at the base of the 1755 Blake development.  You will be able to pick one of four types of lettuce (romaine, iceberg, spring mix & spinach) and up to four ingredients (“choppables”) which will then be chopped up (it would appear by a mezzaluna) and served with one of twenty dressings. 

They charge $5.50 for a small and $6.50 for a large with extra ingredients and some “choppables” costing more.  They also have featured salads like “The Colorado Cobb”, “The Ninja”, and “The Chopper”.  I think it is great that LoDo is getting a new fast casual dining option for its many employees and residents.  I will be interested to see how it stands up to Mad Greens and Green Fine Salad Company.  Location wise they will have the salad market cornered for the foreseeable future.

H Burger CO will hold their grand opening on February 10th.  When I first posted about this new restaurant back in October, the name on the liquor license application and on their window sign was H Burger Lounge.  They have a website up now and you can get a preview of their menu here.  Their home page says they open on the 8th, but on Facebook they just posted that it will be the 10th.  I think the Chinois Chicken Salad, Sweet & Spicy Wings and Truffle-Parm Fries all look good - they will have a full bar as well.

On Saturday night we were guests at a wine tasting presented by Yelp at Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria located at 410 E. 7th Avenue in Capitol Hill.  We have frequented Lala’s (previously Sparrow) since they opened.  We have been for brunch, dinner and most recently their late happy hour.  The same team that operates Govnr’s Park Tavern around the corner opened Lala’s in September of 2008.  I have enjoyed witnessing their progression over the past year into a fun place that is often packed and serves good food at reasonable prices.

The room quickly filled up but there was never too long of a wait at the bar or the two wine tasting stations.  Our first passed appetizer that we sampled was “Roaring 40’s blue cheese and strawberries wrapped with a chive” which was a nice way to begin.  We tried the Lunetta Prosecco from Italy as our first wine.  It was clean, fresh and something I would serve at a brunch or party at home.  Next we tried the Matua Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand which was hands down my favorite - it was more on the fruity side (grapefruit and grass with good acidity) than others I have tried.

Next we sat down at the bar to sample a new cocktail called “For the love of Root” which was smooth and not too sweet.  Root is a new liqueur that is only available in Philadelphia - they brought in a couple of cases for the event.   They combined muddled orange, cardamom seeds, lemon zest and Root with splash of soda and served it on the rocks.  As the evening progressed we got to try “Crispy Speck topped with sweet potato puree, toasted pepitas and balsamic drizzle” and “Smoked salmon stuffed pinwheels with arugula pesto mascarpone with black sea salt.”

We also tried the Delas Cote du Rhone from France, Filus Malbec from Argentina and Mas de la Dame Grenache Syrah from France.  For dessert there was an assortment of bite sized truffles; Ancho chili cocoa, amaretto cookie crumb and lavender sugar (totally awesome).  They have a large front patio and the weather was nice enough to hang out and enjoy our wine.  We had a great time and it was fun to experience Lala’s in a party atmosphere like this. 

A new Toronto based, fresh food concept plans to open later this year on the 16th Street Mall.  Freshii is taking over the currently vacant former 980 SF Colorado Collection location at Republic Plaza.  Started in 2005, the concept opened with lines out of the door and has expanded throughout Canada.  Just recently, they entered the U.S. market with a location in Chicago.  Downtown Denver will be the first Colorado location with others planned in New York, Washington D.C. and Houston.  Their vision, simply stated is: Fresh Food, Custom Built, Fast.

“Freshii is focused on becoming the most convenient choice for healthy and fresh meals and snacks served quickly in a cool, clean, and environmentally sustainable setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between.”

Their lunch menu has a lot of options including salads, bowls, wraps, burritos, soup and even frozen yogurt.  A nice feature is the ability to custom build your selection and know the nutritional value of each one as you go.  Along the sustainability route they purposely open smaller stores to minimize their impact on the environment, buy from farms with environmentally responsible growth methods, use packaging made from corn or potatoes and even let you bring in your own bowl to use (they wash it for you).  I like that they have a BBQ Chicken Salad on the menu and that they educate consumers using a rating system indicating which choices of dressings/toppings are the healthiest. 

Today is was confirmed that phase two of the re-development of the former Olinger Mortuary site in the Lower Highlands is moving forward.  Developer Paul Tamburello and his partner Stephanie Garcia secured $2.1 million in private financing for the project from investors after they were unable to get a traditional bank loan.  This is the same team who a few years ago completed phase one that now is home to LoLa, Vita and Little Man Ice Cream.

Having been to LoLa and Vita many times I am very excited about the possibilities of what will occupy the 18,000+ SF building located at the corner of W 30th Ave. & Umatilla.  Already confirmed is a restaurant that will take up half of the second floor (approx. 5,500 SF) and have a huge rooftop patio underneath the giant Olinger sign - very cool.  Since this building is about 40 ft taller than the one housing LoLa and Vita, the views of the Downtown skyline will be stunning.  The chef and concept of the restaurant are TBD. 

Other plans for the site include a plaza in between the buildings along 30th and around Little Man that would be a community gathering place that could be programmed for movies etc.  A 7,800 SF ground floor space could be split into two or be occupied by a single tenant - possibly a market.  Phase one of the project served as a catalyst for this neighborhood and it will be exciting to see this site evolve in the coming months.

This year Denver Restaurant Week will actually be two weeks running from February 20th through March 5th.  As a foodie and restaurant junkie, I look forward to this time when I can enjoy my favorite places and try out some new eateries without spending as much.  I hope that with two weeks it will be somewhat easier to get reservations but some places are a challenge no matter when it is.

I checked out the list of participating restaurants and the only real disappointment I have is that Fruition chose not to participate.  I am sure they have their reasons, but I feel it is a glaring omission.  I was hoping Twelve would be on the list as well.  I am happy to see that a couple of Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group locations, Bistro Vendome, Rioja and Frank Bonanno’s spots are all participating.  I had better make my reservations ASAP or all of my first choices will be booked.

On Friday night we had a late supper at the Avenue Grill located at 17th & Washington in Uptown.  We have enjoyed the Avenue for the better part of decade, celebrating many special occasions, anniversaries, etc.  The Avenue is a “San Francisco style neighborhood bar and grill” that opened back in 1993.  My favorite entree on their menu is the “Chinatown Pork Chop” which is served with a hot mustard drizzle, wasabi mashed potatoes and their vegetable spring rolls.

Lately, we have we have been arriving around 10pm to settle in at their bar to enjoy a few cocktails and a couple of their appetizers.  While there were no specials on drinks or food, it continues to be a ritual that we really enjoy.  This time a new appetizer caught our attention, “Fondue Style Smoked Cheddar with Porcini” that was served with grilled flatbread and an assortment of vegetables.  We also selected their “Togarashi Spiced Calamari” (crusted with semolina and seven spice and siracha aioli) and “Chicken and Spinach Pot Stickers”.

The fondue was amazing and we quickly ran out of things to dip into it, the flavors were bold and smokey - an overall nice surprise and something we certainly will order again.  The calamari is consistently delicious as are their pot stickers.  We found a couple of martinis (they have blue cheese stuffed olives) to be the perfect accompaniment to our late night supper.  I like have dining options like this as an alternative to our traditional 8pm reservation scene.

Downtown Denver is getting a Smashburger.  Long rumored to be looking for a suitable location, they will be taking over the former 2,164 SF Christopher & Banks space at the Tabor Center in between Ling & Louie’s and the future location of Mellow Mushroom.  I have not been to one yet but I am excited they are going to be Downtown. 

Smashburger is a fast-casual restaurant that has its headquarters in Denver that opened their first store in 2007.  Their core concept is that they take fresh, never frozen 100% Angus beef that is then smashed, seared and seasoned on the grill.  If you don’t want beef they also offer “smashchicken” and a ”smashsalad”.  Along with an assortment of sides including “smashfries” they offer Haagen-Dazs Milk Shakes or Malts and Root Beer Floats.  Construction is already underway and Smashburger will open for business this summer.

Mellow Mushroom, a pizza restaurant based out of Atlanta, will be opening their second Colorado location in Downtown Denver later this summer.  Located at 1201 16th Street, on the ground floor of the Tabor Center, they will be taking the long vacant 6,402 SF space right at the corner of 16th & Lawrence.  This is exciting because it will mean that soon the entire block will have all of its retail spaces filled and as a result generate a huge amount of pedestrian activity in that part of Downtown.

Founded in 1974, Mellow Mushroom offers salads, pizza, calzones, deli hoagies, grilled hoagies and a wide selection of unique and local beers.  I look forward to trying their “Funky Q Chicken” (BBQ Chicken, Cheddar Cheese, Caramelized Onions, and Bacon) or “Buffalo Chicken” (Hot Buffalo Chicken, Caramelized Onions, Bacon and Mozzarella Cheese) pizzas and you can also build your own.  I previously toured the space when it was just a concrete box and I think Mellow will fit in the space nicely.  It will be cool to have a unique, slightly funky, sit down restaurant where you can grab a pizza and some beer right on the Mall.

I recently found out about a couple of things that make me want to re-visit Rioja again sometime during January.  Our last visit was during La Piazza Dell’Arte back in June for brunch.  Through the end of the month during lunch they will be bringing back their “Main Lobster Club Sandwich with applewood smoked bacon, arugula, beefsteak tomatoes, aioli and house made crispy vegetable chips“.  For dinner they are serving “Carnaroli Risotto with Main lobster, mascarpone, asparagus and lobster bisque“.  I am huge fan of lobster so I am going to try and get back to sample both.

Another fun thing they are doing is “Tuesday Sips & Snacks“.  During January if you stop by any Tuesday after 5pm until close you can sample four wines that are paired with four themed bite-size snacks for $15.00.  I missed last night but on the 12th they will have “wines of Spain“, on the 19th they will have “pinot posse” and to wrap up on the 26th they will feature “the sauvignons“.  I really hope they do more specials like this throughout 2010 and think it is a great way to kick off the New Year.