TO EAT ... AND EAT ... AND EAT MORE
A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

September 5, 2003

THE 16th ANNUAL UPTOWN SAMPLER

"We lived for days on nothing but food and water." - W. C. Fields

"Uptown, the area between Broadway and York, Colfax and 23rd Avenues, has a grand history. In its day, its residential architecture was among Denver's most fashionable. Today, much of this impressive collection remains as beautifully renovated homes, offices and entertainment facilities".

The above quote is part of a commentary on the history of Uptown. If you plan to attend the Uptown Sampler next Tuesday evening, September 16th, (as G and I and a thousand or so others will) you'll probably read this, and lots more, about the history of this lovely section of town, also known for its renowned architecture.

The Sixteenth Annual Uptown Sampler, at a bargain price of $20 to sample foods of almost 20 different restaurants, will bring G and I to our favorite section of town. The Cultural Connection Trolley running back and forth along the route will allow your feetsies to rest after doing lotsa walking from Grant Street to Downing with mega stops in between. The order of the day will be to stuff, slurp and walk, stuff, slurp and walk. The deal is that the restaurants will provide samples of their food gratis, but will charge a modest fee for beverages. This year, with almost 20 eateries ranging from small neighborhood cafés to upscale eateries along the route, the sampling will be terrific. Food sampling will be from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. The fab dessert sampler and free entertainment will start at 8:00 pm and go 'til 10:30 pm.

The featured performer will be the one and only David Booker and the Alleygators. Joining David will be some of the area's finest entertainers including The Dirty Laundry Dancers, and …(drum roll, please) the Amazing Gyro. This year there will be a "walking" fashion show along with a super silent auction. All this will take place in the beautiful Temple Event Center (1595 Pearl Street). Desserts will be provided by West City Perk, The Cone Zone, Tammy Davis' Sweet Rockin' Coffee, Bump 'n' Grind, Full Measure Bakery, and Marczk's Fine Foods. With the exception of Sweet Rockin' Coffee, desserts will be available only at the Temple Event Center starting at 8 pm. SRC will serve desserts at both the Temple and at their store. Let me tellya. If you ain't sampled Tammy Davis' magnificent chocolates or other pastries, you ain't lived. Her chocolate-covered cherries are 2-die-4.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at all area King Stoopers stores and on the day of the event, Tuesday, September 16th at all participating restaurants. Prices are $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the event. Dessert Sampler only, $15 at the door. You can also get tickets online at www.uptownonthehill.org. Call 720/205-6506 for additional information. There will be free parking at the Temple Events Center. Net profits for the event will go to Ronald McDonald House and Wyman Elementary School.

So here's the lineup for the grub, including the desserts.

Avenue Grill, 630 E. 17 Ave, 303/861-2820
Shrimp and prosciutto flatbread; and wild mushroom strudel. GM Shelly McCandless has supported this event for many years and the food has always stood out above the rest. This is a great eatery for lunch and dinner as well as a fun place for late nite sippin' and slurpin'. Tell 'em The Fox sentcha.

Bump n' Grind Café, 439 E. 17 Ave, 303/ 861-4841
A fun selection of house special desserts. It's a surprise.

CityGrille, 321 E. Colfax Ave, 303/861-0726
Chef David Minty is again doing his popular special mini buggers on mini rustic buns, along with his famous green chili They's gonna be great. This restaurant gets lotsa accolades for their buggers and all the other grub. The prime rib is unbelievable and they have some of the best green chili in town. Shucks, the whole menu is fab as well as the service. If you like the mini buggers you can order them any nite after 10 pm. A buck a piece. Called "Baby Buck Buggers". Or maybe Buck Baby Buggers. Sold by the ones. Kitchen is open 'til midnite during the week, 'til 2 am on Friday and Saturday.

Cone Zone, 1438 E. 22 Ave, 303/894-8838.
Ice cream desserts as in: key lime pie (a frozen version of Florida's favorite, made with ice cream and other) stuff. Also they will be serving Mochaccino bars, tropical sorbet cake and (ooooh) banana split bombe (candied walnuts, bananas and hot fudge sauce layered with chocolate and vanilla ice cream). . Fact is, muh new diet is the Modified Atkins: meat, salad, and ice cream.

Full Measure Bakery, 1730 E. 17 Ave, 303/329-8290.
Brownies with chocolate ganache and pistachio biscotti bites. Hello? Brownies? Chocolate? I'm there!

Galaxy Grill, 1700 Vine St, 303/399-1700
I can't wait to hit this place. They gonna serve chipotle-honey glazed pork medallions; Prince Edward Island mussels over linguini; and hand-battered calamari with caper aioli and marinara. Yo!

Las Margaritas Cantina, 1035 E. 17 Ave, 303/830-2199.
This popular Mexican eatery will serve a sampling of their most popular enchiladas and sauces. They will also have specials on margaritas and beer.

Marczyk Fine Foods, 770 E. 17 Ave, 303/894-9499.
Samples of unknown items in unknown portions of an unknown nature. Should be really good, doncha think?

New York on 17th, 837 E. 17 Ave, 303/837-8887.
Assorted sangies and pizza. Ooh, this is a good place. Aside from all their other fine typical New York deli sangies and desserts, they have the absolute finest tuna salad in town. Really good pastrami and other stuff. Don't know what they're serving but it's sure to be fantastic.

Painted Bench, 400 E. 20 Ave, 303/863-7473.
They are going to serve samples of house specialties and munchies. Or, they will figure out what they will serve after press time. And they're next door to Tammy Davis at Sweet Rockin' Coffee.

Pasquini's Pizzeria Uptown, 1336 E. 17 Ave, 303/863-8252.
What else would a pizzeria serve? Not tuna sangies! This local franchise of the maavelous Pasquini's on South Broadway is almost as good as the original. They're gonna do pizza and bruschettas.

Randolph's (in the Warwick Hotel), 1776 Grant St, 303/861-2000.
This fabulous hotel/restaurant will offer (are you ready for this?) smoked trout pate, pablano marmalade, water crackers, roasted veggie platter, carved buffalo New York strip (steak), Salmon Wellington, spinach tomato, goat cheese, and petit desserts. Yo!

Strings, 1700 Humboldt St, 303/831-7310.
At press-time the chef plans an assortment of munchies and drink specials. If you don't think it's gonna be great, you're nuts. And you shouldn't waste your time and 20 bucks to come to this event. Cuz anything Noel does will be super. Yo!

Sweet Rockin' Coffee, 414 E. 20 Ave, 303/318-9788.
Diss Iss Tammy Davis' joint. Maavelous sangies, croissants and desserts up the ying-yang. Several goodies will be offered at the store, while desserts aplenty will be served at the Temple Events Center. A pizza panini, focaccia bread sangies, mini-cookie tray, macaroons and mini croissants will be sampled during this event. Actually the desserts are gonna be so good, Tammy doesn't even know what she's gonna surprise you with.

Tavern Uptown, 538 E. 17 Ave, 303/830-9210.
A new place, they'll be doing an assortment of food and drink specials.

West City Perk, 1426 E. 22 Ave, 303/863-7789.
Are you ready? Cakes, cheese cakes, and more cakes. Yo!

Are you full yet? You may not be, by the time you make the rounds, so don't forget the Dessert Sampler at the Temple Events Center (1595 Pearl Street) after you're done walking and/or riding the trolley.

If you want to donate to the silent auction (in exchange for free tix), or you just need more info, call 720/205-6506, or go to www.uptownonthehill.org. You can't miss this foodie happening.

Cya.