Metro Denver’s food scene has never been as vibrant as it is today, something The Denver Post’s food writers and the rest of the staff of The Know understand. That’s why we’re out on the town as much as possible. Each month, we’ll provide you with recommendations about a few of the dishes we tried over the previous weeks. Want to hear about them early? Subscribe to the Stuffed newsletter, where we introduce one of these dishes every Wednesday.
Leven Supply
What did not make the final cut of my report on Leven Supply, a new cafe and market that opened in January, was its tiramisu ($8). Much like an elephant remembers everything, so do I each time I eat a slice of this dessert. Leven’s sponge cake was moist with espresso and layered with whipped labneh, a creamy cheese substitute for the usual mascarpone. Dusted in chocolate and with a squiggle of chocolate sauce, it was a tiramisu I will remember fondly.
300 E. Alameda Ave., Denver; eatleven.com/supply
Middle State Coffee
As much as I hate to admit it, the holiday season brought out my large, somewhat dormant sweet tooth. After losing a sports bet to my wife, I took us to breakfast at Middle State Coffee’s location on Santa Fe Drive in early January. The space is designed for maximum efficiency, the metal eating surface snaking compactly around the cafe’s two levels.
The menu is also efficient: One of the few breakfast options is a waffle featuring a different menagerie of toppings each season. I’m fairly confident last fall’s waffle was blueberry-themed. This winter, it was a chocolate chip special dripping with whipped cream, syrup and butter.
212 Santa Fe Drive and 2622 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; middlestatecoffee.com
Wok Spicy
Wok Spicy, which opened in the former Twin Dragon space last year, prepares flavorful and comforting Szechuan-style Chinese food. On a cold and lonely evening the Friday after the New Year, we pivoted into one of their booths for dinner. We ordered two meat dishes (the best: pork belly in dry wok), stir-fried cabbage and eggplant in garlic sauce. I’d never had eggplant served this way, cut in large chunks and tossed in a garlic sauce that wasn’t overpowering, along with morsels of mushrooms, onions and other crunchy veggies. We had plenty of each dish to take home and devour as leftovers the following day.
3021 S. Broadway, Englewood; wokspicy.com
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
You may be thinking: Why did they serve the saimin in a plastic takeout container? I don’t know, but I slurped it up anyway. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is a familiar chain to anyone who has visited Hawaii and returned yearning for the island’s casual fare. Musubi with SPAM is a classic treat, but my last visit to Oahu introduced me to saimin, a noodle soup with a light, clear broth. L&L makes it with SPAM or fried chicken katsu. Take me away!
Locations in Denver, Aurora, Boulder and Colorado Springs; hawaiianbarbecue.com
