Muy yum
My Neighbor Felix opens (for brunch, too), Sofia's Antojitos expands + more food & drink news
Back in early July, I foretold the coming of My Neighbor Felix at The Promenade Shops at Briargate.
Do you like how I made that sound like I read the future from tea leaves or something, instead of a press release I was sent? (Yeah, me too. Makes me sound smart and important, like “this guy really knows his stuff.”)
Anyway, to briefly recap: It’s the fourth location for the brand, with the other three spread between LoHi Denver, Boulder and Centennial. MNF’s a sister outfit to Viewhouse. If features “cuisine inspired by all seven regions of Mexico,” and the outfit makes a sizable sustainability pledge.
I missed an initial media preview a couple weeks ago while I was out of town, so I did a make-up visit for brunch this past weekend. (A media rep comped my meal, though I tipped accordingly and spent a good deal of time speaking with staff, gathering notes.)
I don’t want to strike a formal review tone here, as it was mere days into the restaurant’s opening and too early to nitpick — though I will say MNF gave me little reason to criticize anything. It was pretty impressive overall. I look forward to returning for lunch and/or dinner sometime.
Nick O’Maley, the location’s sous chef, told us that the menu was created by chef Jose Guerrero. He’s a graduate of Puerto Vallarta’s Alberto Perez Gonzalez Restaurant Group and part-owner of ViewHouse according to 303 Magazine. The menus are mostly uniform between locations along the Front Range, with minor differences accounting for location sizes; Centennial’s is the largest, though ours doesn’t feel small at 6,300 sq. ft. that includes a 1,200 sq. ft. patio. O’Maley says this Springs spot will still bang out around 500 covers all-day, at present.
When I ask for specific names and such on the sourcing (to check the sustainability claim), he cites Beeler’s Pork, RedBird chicken and Aspen Baking Company and says they get whole Alaskan fish that they break down in-house (making family meals with the scraps). He also mentions grass-fed beef from Kansas procured via US Foods, which doesn’t exactly jive with what’s on the website (which notes Denver-based Frontiere Natural Meats and pork from Corner Post Meats, which has itself listed as dormant presently.) So I’m not sure if there’s been updates, if he was misinformed, or if anything’s slightly greenwashed (I hope not), but I’m always on guard for that. (Best as any of us can police without watching what inventory comes in the back door.)
Anyway, I also came to learn that Denver Beer Co. brews exclusive Viewhouse and MNF beers, and I get a few taster sips of the 1858 IPA, Peach Buzz Blonde Ale and Que Pasa Lager. They’re all good but the latter’s our favorite; it finishes with a clean cucumber taste.
Some other highlights:
• Interesting tortilla chips: the house goddess chips made with hibiscus (which gifts a pink/purple color) cinnamon and agave, we’re told.
• A kick-ass Muy Fuego Hot Sauce (made and bottled by MNF) with no BS preservatives or crap ingredients, leading off with morita and pequin peppers.
• Really delicious cochinita pibil as an add-on to our grain bowl.
• Steady cocktails, balanced, not oversweet and offering ample top-shelf options.
• Tequila shrimp tacos, rightfully recommended by several staff, as one of their favorite items. They’re adobo marinated with jalapeño-avocado coleslaw, cilantro crema, cotija and fresh radish and cilantro.
• The over easy eggs bleeding yolk down our smoky black bean chorizo-potato flautas. We don’t normally order flautas on menus; we’re glad we did here.
• Cinnamon donut holes for dessert with quality dipping sauces: a chocolate, caramel and house churro cream.
Be a big jerk with us
If you haven’t yet made one of our monthly collaboration recipes with Gather Food Studio and Ranch Foods Direct, September’s special offers a great entry point with the Big Jerk Pork Chops with Tropical Rice. It features Gather’s Big Jerk seasoning blend and Callicrate pork chops, plus island essences from mango and pineapple. I gleefully scorched my mouth via the included habanero pepper. Cinnamon and coconut round out an overall dynamic flavor. Hit either of Ranch Foods Direct’s retail markets for necessary supplies and never say that Chef Cook didn’t warn you to “Always read the recipe. TWICE! And don’t forget to SEASON EVERY LAYER!”
Bites and bits
• Kudos for this recent headline, Vice: Why Do Men Keep Fingering Food?
• Congrats to Bread & Butter Neighborhood Market for earning a Downtown Colorado Springs Downtown Star Award at Sept. 22’s 2023 Annual Breakfast. The assembled crowd gave a sympathetic murmur when presenter Susan Edmondson (President and CEO at Downtown Partnership) reminded folks that B&B opened its doors just before the pandemic shutdown in spring, 2020. But co-owners/co-founders Stacy Poore and Aubrey Day showed remarkable resiliency in growing the business ever since (and curating a commendable array of local and Colorado-made products).
• Sofia’s Antojitos has opened a second location at 4037 Tutt Blvd., expanding from their original 1035 N Academy Blvd. eatery. That’s in less than two years of being open in the Springs. I gave the spot a favorable writeup in the Indy back in July, 2022. You should drop by either location if you’ve never been. There’s a cup of churros over ice cream with your name on it.
• As I learned from a coupon magazine in my mailbox this week, the former Rancho Alegre at 1899 S. Nevada Ave. is now under new ownership, with a new menu, under the new name Mexico Real. (Yes I used the word “new” three times in that sentence. How do you feel about it?) And apparently there’s a 3802 Maizeland Road Mexico Real location as well, occupying the former Carniceria Las Lomas? At least that’s on the website. This is all news to me, I’ll have to look more into it, soon.
• The former Tejon Eatery, which I didn’t love when I first reviewed it around this time a couple years ago (and which closed in Oct. 2022 and which served an inexplicable $19 pastrami sandwich), has become Avenue 19. It currently hosts Go Fish Food Truck (now in brick-and-mortar form) and an entity named Taco Trouble. I have to say that name gives me pause, failing to establish immediate trust in expectation. Then again, the overall enterprise is coming from Phil Duhon (partnered with John Goede, who’d partnered with Perry Sanders on the Antlers and Mining Exchange hotels). Duhon also owns Burnt Toast. (Which isn’t how I like mine served, of course, so these are edgy names everybody, clearly… ahem.) Anyway, according to reporting in the Gazette, “The bottom floor of the food hall will feature a full-service sports bar and the upper floor will include a wine bar that will serve craft cocktails and charcuterie boards.” Read that article for further details, including live music plans. The spot’s on my planning calendar to check out soon.
Creativity, art and business collide at Local Relic
My laugh-out-loud moment when I read Ryan Hannigan’s writeup on Local Relic Artisan Ales’ 8th anniversary:
These days, the question of Green Man doesn’t come up any longer, save for a snarky beer blogger who also told Local Relic that they’d be making flagships in no time, almost a decade ago.
Yes, I’m that snarky beer blogger, and yes, I’m happy to be completely wrong about their business model.
I love that Ryan totally owns his poor prognostication and I can imagine Jeff Zearfoss’ playfully smug satisfaction in reading it. (Ryan later told me: “If you can’t admit you’re wrong, you can’t grow.”)
Anyway, I’ve quoted from a random spot deep in the story, which is actually quite insightful about Local Relic’s unique approach to brewing. “… their beer releases wander between concept and ideation, style and improvisation, tradition and experimentation. And it works,” writes Hannigan. Give it a read by clicking the above link. (And yes, by now you know The Carter Payne hosts my Third Thursday Sip with Schnip events and offers perks to my subscribers; that’s your transparency note 😇).
The Carter Payne continues to celebrate its anniversary week with nightly events through Sept. 24, to include rare, barrel-age bottle releases. Also catch the newly launched Whole Hog Wednesdays series.
Upcoming events:
• Sept. 22-Oct. 7: Ongoing Oktoberfests, including the one above👆. Via Focal Pint.
• Sept. 22-24: Fuel & Iron Food Hall hosts a Chilebration as part of the weekend-long Chile & Frijoles Festival. Find food and drink specials, giveaways and more, with guests Walter’s Brewing Co. on Sept. 22, Distillery 291 on Sept. 23 and Breckenridge Distillery on Sept. 24.
• Sept. 23: Food To Power hosts its Harvest Celebration and fundraiser. $35 tickets include two drink tickets and samples from food vendors (with vegan and vegetarian options available) plus access to farm tours and live music.
• Sept. 23: Hold Fast Coffee Co. hosts its seasonal drink launch party. Catch $3 pumpkin pie lattes, cardamom vanilla lattes and spiced apple chai in addition to a free coffee tasting in their roastery.
• Sept. 23: Fossil Craft Beer’s Collaboration Shandy Release Party with Rocky Mountain Field Institute.
*Featured event*
• Sept. 24: Taste of OCC. Congrats to the winner of our ticket giveaway: Side Dish paid subscriber Matt S. Yes, I’m aware that’s my own name, but I assure you I have my own pair of tickets, and that other Matt S. is a real person. He introduced himself (and a couple cute kiddos) to me at last night’s Sip with Schnip event. I asked his favorite OCC spots and he said: “I'm a simple guy and have had many buffalo wings with beer at Mother Muff’s. That said, Paravincini’s makes Italian food better than even my mother. It's not sacrilege to say that since I took her there and she agrees! But then again, the best pizza I've had in my life is from Pizzeria Rustica, with that ricotta-stuffed crust. I should probably stop there before I make a bulleted list.”
• Sept. 28 to Oct. 1: Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort hosts the Folk’n’Flannel Festival & Fundraiser for UpaDowna. Catch craft beers and spirits in addition to food trucks.
• Sept. 28: Seasonal Supper Soirée with Sivar at The Well.
• Sept. 29: Dead Man’s Brewfest at Weidner Field.
ParticSchnipation awards
Parting shot(s)
In round 3 of our Bar Battle series at Tipperary Cocktail Parlor (inside Folkore Irish Pub) Tipperary bartenders Zach Long and Jacob Pfund competed against 503W bartenders Elias Alayon and Zach Sherwood. Before you have to ask: Yes, at one point we had a “Battle of the Zachs” where Sherwood knocked Long out of competition. (Though Long was later vindicated by an audience-choice cash prize.)
Tipperary’s Pfund took down 503’s Alayon in their round with a gorgeously presented Tres Generaciones tequila/coffee liqueur/mole bitters cocktail in a copper cup with lemongrass garnish and a burnt sugar “caviar.” (Pictured in the middle, above.)
Then Sherwood avenged his fallen coworker by besting Pfund in the final fight with a Negroni spin — despite a very fun fire show by Pfund, who lit emptied teabags which floated skyward like mini lanterns. Which, if you’re keeping up with me, means 503W indeed came in and beat up Tipperary on its own turf. (Ouch). But hey, look at the guys all happily embracing in the above image and you’ll remember this is all a friendly competition to spotlight bartender talent across the area. (Make cocktails, not war, man!) That’s what Tipperary co-owner Sean Fitzgerald speechifies about elegantly to kick-off each battle as a co-presenter and industry champion.
Judging with me again this month were our event sponsors: Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits rep David Stahl and Tayna Rivkina with Beam Suntory. The challenge spirits for this Bar Battle were Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whisky, Tres Generaciones reposado, and Sipsmith Gin.
Bar Battle Round 4 will take place Monday, Oct. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at host-site Tipperary Cocktail Parlor, although they’ll be sitting this round out as winners 503W compete against District Elleven. (In December, after The Archives joins the fray and more battles ensue, Tipperary will have another chance to be victorious in a winners’ round, as they did win a round back in August.)
“Thank you to Suntory and all the brands who believe in the next wave of bartenders in the industry and want to work with us to promote more camaraderie behind the bars,” wrote Tipperary co-owner Inez Fitzgerald in a Facebook post.
Woo!! I'm glad you checked it out. I think I need to make my way back up as a guest to enjoy your top picks.