SALT’s DIY Cocktail Menu

 

The Cocktail Element menu lets you design your own drink

“Anything sangría,” the well-dressed man behind the bar at SALT the Bistro {1047 Pearl Street, Boulder; 303.444.7258} responded when we asked him for recommendations on a refreshing summer drink. But unlike most craft cocktail menus, choosing a drink from the Cocktail Element menu at SALT isn’t as simple as randomly choosing the menu item with the most intriguing name. It’s advertised as a “personalized cocktail invention.” SALT’s DIY cocktail menu employs a three-part ordering system created to encourage customized drinks and the exploration of new cocktail combinations. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Select a spirit. Choose from high-quality and often locally made vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon, or Scotch liquors.

Step 2: Select a house-infused simple syrup. Using fresh ingredients, and all made in-house, the simple syrup offerings range from commonly used simple syrups like vanilla, cucumber, mint, and lemongrass, to unique infusions like strawberry-basil, blood orange-rosemary, chipotle, and ginger.

Step 3: Select a style. Options include French 75 (sparkling wine and lemon juice), gimlet, sour (Rickey), cocktail, fizz (Collins), or an Old Fashioned. Cute images of the glassware for each option will help you identify the kind of style you’re looking for.

Taking a cue from the talented cocktail chemist behind the bar on our trip, we opted for a sangría-style drink made with vodka and strawberry-basil house-infused simple syrup. Not only was the color and presentation of the drink visually stunning, but you better believe it was delicious and downright thirst-quenching on a hot Colorado day.

Find out more SALT’s cocktail program here: saltthebistro.com.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer ​

Wild Woods Brewery Brings the Best of Camping to Boulder

 

Wild Woods Brewery is ideal for Boulder's beer and outdoor enthusiasts

For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s a real sadness that hits when a camping trip comes to an end. A gloomy feeling sets in when the campfire has been extinguished, the car has been repacked, and the beautiful mountains that have served as a temporary home become nothing more than another photo on your Instagram feed.

But the best parts of spending quality time in the outdoors don’t necessarily have to end once you hit that on-ramp heading eastbound on I-70.

Wild Woods Brewery. Photo credit: Tyra Sutak.

Enter Wild Woods Brewery, a charming nano-brewery located in the up-and-coming foodie district of East Boulder. From the second you set foot inside this craft brewery, you can tell that the owners of this popular neighborhood watering hole have a passion for the great outdoors; just check out the various tree branches that decorate the walls, and the names and flavors of each brew. Stepping inside Wild Woods is like stepping into the back-country, surrounded by lush trees with a blue sky above and a cold brew in your hand.

Belly up to the bar at Wild Woods and take a moment to appreciate the handcrafted wooden bar and the woodsy hues of the place. If the camping experience for you is defined by those gooey, messy campfire smores, then order a pint of the Smores Stout. Made with cocoa nibs, this sweet and roasty beer measures in at 4.9-percent ABV, making it a sessionable beer to enjoy in the tap room—or out of a growler on your next camping trip. The crisp and hoppy nose on the Treeline IPA makes you feel like you’re breathing in a breath of mountain air first thing in the morning. And the smoky but smooth flavors in the Campfire Red Ale will have you telling your favorite campfire stories to all of the other patrons in the bar.

When you visit Wild Woods, you might even be lucky enough to enjoy a pint of the River Rock Brown ale tapped from the cask. And keep an eye out on the Wild Woods Facebook page for official release dates for the Ponderosa Porter and Treeline IPA in 22-ounce bombers—the brewery’s first packaged beers since their inception in 2012.

By Tyra Sutak | Online Contributor 

Tips for Backyard Burger Grilling

 

Inspired by Rueben’s Burger Bistro in Boulder

Photo credit: ruebensburgerbistro.com

Bust out your “kiss the cook” apron and get out the ground beef and buns, it’s grilling season! When it comes to grilling up the best backyard burgers this summer, try taking a page from the folks at Rueben’s Burger Bistro {1800 Broadway, Boulder; 303.443.5000}, one of the top burger joints along the Front Range, for their tips for backyard burger grilling. Since opening their doors in 2010, this Boulder burger joint has mastered the perfect burger set-up, and here are a few reasons why:

• They focus on the ingredients. In your quest to cook up the perfect patty, make sure you start with the best ingredients. Rueben’s only uses 100-percent all natural Colorado beef— and trust us, you can taste the difference.
• They let you build your own! Rueben’s menu has a whole page devoted to burger options, but instead of issuing standard burger menu items, they let you build your own. Pick your protein, pick your bun option, and pick your sauce— then pair it up with one their 16 cycling-themed “toppings” combinations to finish it all off.
• Think outside the sesame bun. One of Rueben’s offerings that keep diners coming back for more is their signature pretzel bun. The pretzel bun elevates the entire dish and offers a steady and secure vehicle for your burger patty, condiments, and vegetables to come together as one.
• Add a homemade sauce. At Rueben’s, people dig the fry sauce on everything. But burger aficionados are also ordering up one of the many aïoli options offered on the menu. This includes a roasted garlic aïoli and a chipotleaïoli, which both add a nice touch of flavor to any burger dish.
• Don’t forget the sides. Instead of regular old potato chips or french fries, offer up some tasty alternative options for your guests. Along with their hand-cut french fries, Rueben’s also serves up some very popular sweet potato fries, a side salad, and beer battered onion rings.
• Serve it with a cold beer. Unlike Rueben’s, you might not have 42 beer taps from which to serve your guests, but that’s okay. Stock up on a couple of options, serve ‘em cold, and you’re bound to have some happy people!

Check out Rueben’s Burger Bistro’s full menu:http://ruebensburgerbistro.com/menu/.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer

Juice Away Your July 4 Guilt at Zeal

 

Juices and cleanses that will make it all better

It’s not your fault; we totally get it. It was the smell of those juicy burgers on the grill. And the cooler stocked full of ice-cold beer. That checkered tablecloth topped with sweet treats, and those adorable little red, white, and blue jello shots that seemed so harmless. The Fourth of July holiday weekend owned you, and your liver and stomach have joined forces in a pretty serious revolution against the rest of your body ever since. For those pour souls in the Boulder area suffering through a post-holiday weekend hangover, help isn’t far away.

Inside the vibrant dining room of Zeal – Food For Enthusiasts {1710 Pearl Street, Boulder; 720.708.6309} is a magical fountain of natural elixirs concocted to cure whatever ails you. This downtown Boulder eatery and juice bar is known for their organic, cold-pressed juices, which are all made in-house–some are even served straight from the tap. (Check out Zeal for happy hour from 4-5:30 p.m for $5 juices on tap.)

Order a glass of one of Zeal’s Red, Yellow, Green, or Orange juices made with fresh organic ingredients like ginger, kale, spinach, pineapple, beets, and an assortment of other healthy produce. If you can’t decide on a color, grab a juice flight for $8 and enjoy short pours of all of Zeal’s juice offerings.

If smoothies are more your style, Zeal has a variety of options featuring their freshly made juices plus a variety of other healthful ingredients like honey, cacao nibs, and peanut butter. Get your body back on track with a Green Alkalizer ($8.25) made with spinach, kale, avocado, ginger, chia, cinnamon, dates, green juice, almond, and hemp or coconut milk. If you really went hard over the week, it might be best to order the Delightful Detox ($8.25). The combination of spinach, green apple, cucumber, celery, parsley, ginger, lemon, and coco water might just save your soul.

If you need more than one glass of juice to counter all of the holiday weekend fun you had, Zeal also offers one-day ($70) or three-day ($180) juice cleanse packages from their pals at Boulder-based Conscious Cleanse. The juice cleanses are meant to give your digestive system a rest and to provide your body with nutrients, live enzymes, and minerals needed to detoxify your body and help you feel your best—just in time to celebrate all over again this weekend …

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer ​

Meadow Lark Farm Dinner Tickets on Sale

 

Secure tickets for an August dinner beginning July 6

Colorado’s Front Range is dotted with fields of rolling farm land, pumping out fresh produce and other goods that eventually end up for sale at farm stands, weekly farmers’ markets, and in the kitchens of Colorado restaurants committed to supporting local farmers.

With so many accessible farms in the area, it’s no surprise that the popularity of farm dinners is on the rise. And thanks to businesses like Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, they’re highly in demand this summer. Created in 2008, the mobile eatery hosts community-style dinners in the fields at a handful of local farms like the Lyons Farmette, and east Boulder’s Cure Organic Farm and Munson Farm.

Using fresh ingredients sourced from the host farm for the evening, Meadow Lark creates and serves five-course meals under the brilliant colors of a Colorado evening sky. Along with a menu inspired by the day’s harvest, guests also get the chance to share a meal and a personal farm tour with the farmers who grew the bounty served on their plates. If you’re looking for a true farm-to-table experience, this is definitely it.

Meadow Lark Farm Dinners are held every Thursday and Saturday evening from June through September. Reservations are made in a lottery fashion, with each month’s lottery lasting 24 hours, after which time 42 lucky diners per dinner will be awarded a dinner invitation. The ticket price per person is $125 and wine pairing suggestions and arrangements are available for an additional fee.

The lottery for Meadow Lark Farm Dinner’s August season opens up Monday, July 6. More info on making reservations and Meadow Lark Farm Dinner’s can be found at farmdinners.com.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer