Fat and Happy

I am one well-fed girl. I'm not kidding; there is a distinct possibility I may have packed on a few extra pounds over the weekend, thanks to the overabundance of amazing food at my fingertips (and lips.) That is the blessing and the curse of only being back in Denver for a long weekend. If I were there full-time, I'd have been much better at practicing moderation, but with only five days to cram in my favorite places, there was no time for prudence, of any sort. So this weekend became all about the food and drinks, and I dove right in. It started as soon as I hitched a ride from DIA, ceasing to end until my flight departed on Sunday evening. And despite feeling more than a little gross about myself right now, I am one (fat) happy girl. Belly rolls be damned, that was some good food. Thank heavens I'm active, because I ate enough to feed several grown adults over the course of my visit. But, believe me, it was all worth every extra crunch and extra mile I'm going to have to put in to make up for all of those extra calories.

All moaning and groaning aside, here's a synopsis of my dining escapades:

Pinche Taqueria - 1514 York Street -
Recognized as one of Denver's Top 25 Restaurants by 5280, and one of the 50 best new restaurants in the US by Bon Appetite, this small eatery completely won me over. So much so, I ended up eating there three times over the weekend; twice for happy hour and once for brunch. Yes - Their street tacos were that freakin' good.

Solera - 5410 East Colfax - This cozy eatery continues to be one of my favorite neighborhood joints. The ever-changing Mediterranean-influenced menu never disappoints. This visit, we stuck with a bottle of the house red and a big bowl of mussels nestled in a delicate tomato broth, the perfect remedy for a chilly, November night.

Parallel Seventeen - 1600 East 17th Avenue Parkway - I don't even like lychees as a fruit, but I'm obsessed with P17's lychee martini. Too bad it's not on their latest menu. Lucky for me, I was able to score the last one in the house that night. I imagine I won't be so lucky next time. The duck pot-stickers may just make up for that loss, though. I'm pretty sure they're my new Asian-fusion obsession.

Thin Man Tavern - 2015 East 17th Avenue Parkway - No visit to the Mile High City is complete without drinks at Thin Man. With its hipster crowd and low-key vibe, this Uptown bar is quintessential Denver. I've been bellying up to their bar since my early twenties and imbibing their infused-vodka martinis way before infused vodkas were the rage. I always give the bartenders creative license with my drinks, and have never been disappointed. This weekend's mixed berry vodka press was no exception - simple, effervescent, and perfectly un-sweet. Yum.

The Berkshire - 7352 East 29th Avenue - Every once in a while, Mouse totally surprises me and introduces me to a spot that is exactly my style. The Berkshire is just that place. Truth be told, he was drawn to this eatery for its unabashed love of swine, but I was taken in by their brunch menu. Any Sunday that begins with bottomless mimosas and lobster eggs Benedict is an excellent Sunday in my book. Delicious!