Openings and Closings
SoCo residents are embracing the new neighborhood gourmet grocery
Farm to Market (1718 S. Congress, 462-7220). Owners
Peg McCoy and
Angela Atwood have created a family-friendly spot stocked with an inviting blend of convenience items (eggs, milk, etc.) and fine quality local products (Sass dressings, Sabor salsa, Le Marseillais pâtés, etc.) chosen by gourmet products specialist
Faye Greenburg. Look for a select assortment of artisanal cheeses, fine chocolates, beer and wine, and fresh flowers while a better selection of local and area produce is in the works... Speaking of SoCo, construction has finally begun at
Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress,
www.homeslicepizza.com). Go online to check them out and sign up for a free slice once the new joint opens in the fall... Despite a quiet, no-frills debut, midcity diners are finding their way to
Fino (2905 San Gabriel, 474-2905), the new venture from chef couple
Emmett and
Lisa Fox. Folks are buzzing about the tasty Mediterranean fare and the attractive new decor in the former Granite Cafe space... After months of anticipation, the Manor Road restaurant row finally has a new tenant. Taco lovers are lining up at
El Chilito (2219 Manor Rd., 382-3797) for takeout tacos, burritos, Mexican plates, coffee drinks, breakfast pastries from Russell's Bakery, sodas, aguas frescas, and paletas brought in from San Antonio. The festive new shop is open from 7am to 2pm six days a week, but the owners expect to expand the hours once school starts... Devoted fans of the authentic sliders, distinctive chili cheese fries, and good late-night conversation are disappointed to learn that
Reid "Reido" Nelson has lost his evening sub-lease on the
G/M Steakhouse (626 N. Lamar, 236-9887) as of the end of the month. Nelson would love to relocate, and his fans would likely follow, but no word yet on a potential destination... The summer's worst-kept secret was finally confirmed recently with a splash in the local business pages. After a long run in the Warehouse District,
Mezzaluna (310 Colorado) has closed. The space is under renovation and will reopen sometime later this year as a French bistro. Chef
Andy Sasser is busy redesigning the kitchen and menu and will be on the range when
Capitol Bistro opens.
Lucky 7
Drop into the
Roaring Fork (701 Congress, 583-0000,
www.roaringfork.com) and order up a "Lucky 7" cocktail in honor of
Lance Armstrong's historic seven victories in the Tour de France. The new signature libation is made with mango puree, orange and pineapple juices, Absolut peach vodka, and a splash of sparkling wine, garnished with a twist of lemon and a Livestrong wristband.
Hiatus
After operating their twice-weekly farm stand almost without interruption since 1992,
Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons, 926-4650) owners
Larry Butler and
Carol Ann Sayle are taking a 40-day hiatus to invest much needed time and energy on the infrastructure of the farm. "When the market is open, we spend four days a week just dealing with the market and then have the other three days to work the farm and do everything else we need to do. The really big jobs get put off, and now we have so many things that need taking care of," Sayle explains. Here's a partial list of the things they hope to accomplish while the farm stand is closed: clear some rotting trees leveled by the 2001 tornado to reclaim more land for cultivation; plant a small orchard (Asian pears, avocados, Meyer lemons); start building a new barn; move the kitchen garden and cover the newly discovered cistern; build another hoop house for growing spinach and salad greens; and get all fall crops in the ground early. Just listing all those projects makes me thankful writing about food is so much easier than growing it! The farm stand will close after market on Saturday, Aug. 20, and reopen on Saturday, Oct. 1.
