Posts Tagged ‘Denver’

14 Dec

Barcaccia, Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy

Posted by Val Penny in Restaurant Review. Tagged: , , , , .

icecream-3The first time I ever tasted roated chestnuts was in Larimer Square, Denver, Colorado, USA on a cold winter’s day when I was Christmas shopping with friends. The memory of that happy day and the smell of the chestnuts, is probably more palatable to me than the taste if the products! However, when I smelt the chesnuts in Piazza di Spagna and my husband offered to buy me some, I could not resist.We munched through the portion on a corner of Piazza di Spagna watching a wedding procession led by a bagpiper. It was fun, but quite surreal!

When we went back to Piazza di Spagna a few days later, it wasicecream-2 my turn to treat us and I went to the opposite end of the spectrum. We had double scoop icecream cones from the amazing gelateria that is Baracaccia.

The icecream from Baracaccia is not cheap, but the shop is in Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy, so you would expect nothing less. My husband chose strawberry and melon, I had chocolate chip and lemon. All were delicious, and it was a lovely end to the day, standing in Piazza di Spagna, people watching and indulging in delicious icecream. I highly recommend Baracaccia.

Valerie Penny

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24 Jul

High Mountain Pies, 115 W 4th St, Leadville, Colorado 80461, USA

Posted by Val Penny in Restaurant Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Our friends had put miles onto their truck and gallons into their tank taking us up over Independence Pass on a independence passmemorable trip from Aspen to Denver and we stopped at High Mountain Pies, Leadville, Colorado for a late lunch. We found High Mountain Pies high viewthrough a recommendation from a Leadville local. It was a good recommendation, everywhere else we passed was closed or closing! There is not much seating inside, so we sat outside in the sun.

The view from Leadville is beautiful. The historic city of Leadville is the Statutory City that is the county seat and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, USA. Leadville is situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet and is the highest incorporated city in the USA. It is a former silver mining town and lies near the headwaters of high frontthe Arkansas River in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and is a really interesting town to visit.

high inThe variety of choices on the menu was not wide. However, we chose from a selection of freshly baked pizza, salads, sandwiches and pies. They also offer the most enormous brownies I have ever seen! The toppings on the pizzas are generous and the tastes are strong and fresh. The staff are friendly and courteous but service was a bit slow. There is only one rest room, but it was high pizzaclean. Access for those who are disabled or mobility impaired was good.

If you are planning a trip through Leadville, you could do worse than stop for lunch at High Mountain Pies.

Valerie Penny

10 Jul

Tail Gate Tavern and Grill, 19552 E Main St, Parker, Colorado 80138, USA

Posted by Val Penny in Restaurant Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

tail frontMy husband and I joined friends for a wander around the town centre in Parker, Colorado, USA on a very hot summer afternoon in June. It is a delightful, traditional town and offers the best of two worlds: small town living within striking distance of the metropolis of Denver.

We stopped at the Tail Gate Tavern and Grill for a drink and to relax because it has a beer garden from which we could watch the world go by in the fresh air and the warmth, but shaded by the big blue parasols. The Tail Gate Tavern and Grill offers a wide tail outvariety of beers, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. It also serves American inspired food from breakfast until dinner and features live bands from time to time. Poker, karaoke, other diversions are also on offer in the saloon atmosphere.

tail drinksWe enjoyed our visit to the Tail Gate Tavern and Grill. Access for disabled people is easy and the restrooms were spotlessly clean. We were not rushed by the staff and the service was friendly, although a little slower than I would have expected, given that they were not particularly busy. We liked the Tail Gate Tavern and Grill  and look forward to stopping here again I am happy to recommend the Tail Gate Tavern and Grill.

Valerie Penny

 

22 Jun

Carrabba’s Restaurant, 14760 W Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado, USA

Posted by Val Penny in Restaurant Review. Tagged: , , , , , , .

My husband and I are lucky to have many good friends in and around Denver: some we have known over 40 years. carrabas outOn a recent visit our much loved friends Dean and Jo treated us to dinner at Carrabba’s Restaurant in the Lakewood area of Denver. What a lovely evening!

carr outCarrabba’s is a chain restaurant with a difference. It was set up in Texas by two brothers of Sicilian heritage and has maintained the standards they established. The veal and steak dishes are renowned and the pizzas individually prepared. It offers wines sourced from across the world. Each is individually chosen to pair with one of their dishes. Dean is knowledgeable about wine and chose a delicious full-bodied red wine for the table. They also serve a house wine, carr soupTerraMare that is well received.

 

The group of six of us were shown to our table in the bustling, Italian restaurant. The service was friendly and chattycarrabbas in but as efficient as you would expect in the USA.  When our own conversations paused for a few moments, we chose our meals. Choices of starters varied from salads and soups to a phili-cheese steak sandwich. Portions were generous and the dishes very tasty. The dressing on my salad was light but very good.

carr saldFor our main courses our groups choices varied from veal and steak to pizza, pasta and fish. Each of the dishes were excellent and the servers were solicitous without interfering with our conversation.

It was amazing that any of us had any space for desert, and perhaps we did not, however,carr steak some of us did choose a sweet. The ice cream and desert dishes were varied and very good.  The meal ended with coffees and teas.

We had a lovely evening and a delicious meal at Carrabba’s. Restaurant Access is good for carr puddindisabled people too and I highly recommend Carrabba’s Restaurant.

Valerie Penny