TWO OF CHICAGO'S FINEST MC'S

Kanye and Common are gonna blow away the competition this year...


Common-The Game


Kanye West-Can't Tell Me Nothing

VENICE RISTORANTE

I love Italian food. There's nothing like a fritto misto that brings you to the Amalfi coast. Grilled meat with a splash of lemon, olive oil and herbs that is the essence of Florence. A great thin crust pizza Margherita that carries the noisy scooters of Naples. Or, just an artichoke deep fried in olive oil that brings you to the steps of the Coliseum. But, most importantly, Italian food is about treating the freshest, local ingredients very simply to elevate it's essence. It's not about bucket-sized bowls of overcooked pasta drowned in red sauce and garlic. It's about balance and capriciousness that creates harmony. It has the ability like no other cuisine to transport you to the forgotten memories of a trip through Italy.

Venice in LODO has this ability, and that is what makes it special.

AFTER THE PARTY IT'S THE AFTER-PARTY

Deanna's Birthday Pub Crawl x Meary's BBQ x Jet Hotel x After Hours = Too many drinks to the dome piece...


Just in case you got lost and couldn't find the sea of pink outfits along Broadway, you could follow the itinerary



The birthday girl. Fergie would call her 'glamourous'





Question: What are they staring at?

Answer:






Another backyard banger; the cops even came because of noise complaints. Maybe they thought it was Prom...



I think they're all huddled around the table for a science project or something...





The Jet bouncer said no sneakers next time...These are worth more than your Banana Republic suit jackass. Dress codes really grind my gears. If I see another dude rockin his suit jacket with jeans I'm gonna kill myself. Don't you know the grown and sexy movement is over?









We ended up at Jane's where we sipped cocktails and threw pudding snack packs across the street at the nighttime security guards. Retarded, yes. Fun, yes.





Obligatory T. Bell run. Oops, sorry stomach.

MUD BUGS

If you've never been to a good 'ol shrimp boil, I suggest you venture down past the Mason-Dixon Line to a good party or get on Google ASAP. It's a great way to dine on a warm summer evening with lots of friends. This one was brought to you by Ashley and Ryan in conjuction with Ryan's 26th birthday.

Usually, you'd throw everything on a long, newspaper covered table, but a big bucket'll do too.




Clean up that cob, Helmstaedter.


And, somehow a 12 on 12 flip cup game broke out.

THE FRESHNESS

Most places don't put as much thought into the drinks as the food, but one exception is The Keg. I usually don't like corporate chains, but The Keg is doing things right. Their 'fruity' drinks are all made using freshly squeezed juice, and I mean fresh to order. Our crowning favorite is the Greyhound. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when the juice doesn't come out of a little blue can.

OH SNAP

Guess who's bizzack...


Ten days early. Ready for weekend action. See you in the funny pages!

LABOR OF LOVE

Fruition on East 6th Avenue has been hailed by most of the local critics as the best new restaurant in Denver opened within the last year. I haven't eaten out enough to actually know, but Fruition is exceptional and one of the better dining experiences I've had in town. Described as upscale comfort food, the kitchen uses traditional French methods to twist regional American cuisine. The menu changes with the seasons to utilize the freshest ingredients.

The space is quite small, but intimate, comfortable and clean. It feels like someone's home.

The maitre'd and proprietor, Paul, was warm and welcoming, as if he invited us himself. The overall service was very pleasant; Our waitress was not the most personable, but professional. The crew was attentive, unobtrusive and timely.

Here's a quick rundown of our meal:

Appetizer: Potato Wrapped Oysters Rockerfeller, Lardons, Spinach, Pea Puree--I probably could have eaten 50 of the small, crunchy, briny, sweet packages without hesitation. Especially good, was the pea puree. Just the sweet essence of peas that perfectly describe the season.

Entree 1: Pinenut Crusted Petrale Sole, Braised Baby Artichokes, Lemon-Truffle hollandaise--Perfectly cooked and properly seasoned. The sole was moist and fresh and the hollandaise gave the right amount of acidity to cut through the fish and nuts. It's a bowl-licker.

Entree 2: BBQ Pork Shoulder, Celery Root Slaw, Cornbread Cake--The pork was buttery, smoky, sweet and juicy. The most important element was that the pork was served very, very hot. The flavor of braised/slow cooked meats become muttled if served under temperature, but this was hot to the last bite. The crisp slaw gives a good contrast and reminds you of a North Carolina pork sandwich while the cornbread puts you back in grandma's kitchen. My only complaint was the BBQ sauce tasted a little generic.

Dessert: Chocolate Cupcake Tasting--Three cupcakes with different frostings, vanilla and coffee ice cream and caramel sauce. It was good, but nothing to call home about. The cupcakes would have been better if served warm. The ice cream was subtle--not too sweet, and the hazelnut frosting was the most interesting. It'll satisfy your chocolate urge but nothing orgasmic.

Overall, the meal left something to be desired--in a good way. I want to go back and try every dish. The menu is focused with just a handful of choices per course which makes me wonder what else is up Alex Seidel's sleeve. Every dish seems refined, balanced, interesting yet very familiar.

But, the question remains: What does Fruition do for Denver? It helps solidify Denver as a culinary town. Nothing revolutionary, just proper. Denver needs more places like Fruition, where things are done right; A focused menu where everything is cooked perfectly, seasoned properly and served in a comfortable, elegant, professional environment. Denver has so many interesting neighboorhoods and organic, homegrown restaraunts will make this city pulsate. Less PF Chang's, less Maggianos, less Ruth Chris'. Fruition is not trying too hard, not trying anything crazy, just creating beautiful plates. It's a stepping stone toward Denver's culinary future.

TOUGH COOKIES

I left my precious camera in a cab. I'm guessing the chances of recovery are slim-to-none, and slim just walked out of the building. I'm sure it's sitting under some glass counter in a pawn shop on Colfax right now and my cab driver has a new set of cotton candy air fresheners and fuzzy dice. Or, he's showing all his cabbie friends pictures of me and my friends and laughing at how rediculous we are. Anyway, I dropped another 3 bills on a new Panasonic Leica with a scheduled delivery of May 22. Until then, I guess I'll have to entertain my eight friends that probably read this blog with jokes, social commentary, short stories, hai-ku's and YouTube clips...You'll just have to use your imaginations.

By the way, the Banana Slugs begin their Summer softball season in the Men's D-Comp league tonight. Wish us luck.

MINT JULEPS, HORSES, BIG HATS

10am: Vodka shot
12:30: Shot, screwdriver, three beers deep
1:00: Party bus to Kentucky Derby Party at the Botanical Gardens
1:30: Pete gets in with counterfit ticket
2:00-4:00: Blacked out
4:10: "I STUNT ON RICH PEOPLE"
4:15: Apparently throwing $20 bills at people
4:30: Get in a fight in front of Port-a-Potties
5:30: Lose camera in a cab, hence no pictures from the day
8:00: Blackout #2 at Wash Park Grill
10:30: Passed out in bed


How was your Saturday?

Fuck Me...