Montreal-style everything bagel with herbed chèvre
Woodgrain Bagels
2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E-1A, Boulder,
woodgrainbagels.com
You don’t know you need Montreal-style bagels in your life until a) you hear that term for the first time and b) try them. Woodgrain serves their bagels straight from a wood-fired oven, giving them a unique, enjoyable texture. They’re chewy, dense and moist on the inside, and crispy on the outside. The everything bagel with herbed goat cheese packs walloping flavor — the bagel’s toppings are fresh and pungent, while the cheese is pastoral and dank. Together, each bite brings more flavor and texture than you’d expect. Woodgrain opened to much fanfare several months ago, and the goods stack up. $4.
Gorgonzola gnocchi
Gondolier Italian Eatery
4800 Baseline Rd., A104, Boulder,
gondolieritalianeatery.com
Gondolier is a Boulder staple, renowned for its all-you-can-eat pasta nights. But the pasta isn’t only worthwhile for its quantity; dishes like gorgonzola gnocchi put a bold spin on the Italian classic. Chewy rolls of gnocchi are covered in creamy gorgonzola, creating a decadent bite. Fried kale, bacon and balsamic vinaigrette all complement the indulgent foundation — the kale is crispy and herbaceous, the bacon is smoky and rich in umami, and the balsamic adds a much-needed acid punch and fruit sweetness. It’s a scarf-able dish that is rich enough to pass as an entrée if it weren’t on the appetizer menu. Gondolier, by the way, is opening a Longmont outpost this fall, bringing its gnocchi, pastas and pizzas to points east. $7.
Peach cobbler
Wayne’s Smoke Shack
406 Center Dr., Superior, waynessmokeshack.com
Wayne’s is another Boulder County shopping center gem, tucked away between the Big Boxes in the Superior Marketplace. If you can’t find Wayne’s, just follow your nose. Wayne’s is serving up some of life’s simplest pleasures: smoked meats and hearty sides. Among these treats is Wayne’s peach cobbler — a dish that soars when treated as simply as possible. This cobbler is a taste of summer: crisp yet tender; fragrant, juicy, warm and filling. Wayne’s whips up a traditional Southern-style cobbler, with fresh, lightly seasoned fruit on the bottom, fluffy and moist sweetened biscuits on top. Light pressure with a fork reveals the airy pockets that make the biscuits so fluffy, then the gooey area where biscuit meets peach. It’s the only way to round out a meal of barbecue. $3.
Pozole
Comida Cantina
721 Confidence Dr., Unit 1, Longmont, eatcomida.com
Comida Cantina in Prospect is always a great place to grab a meal and a marg. So the next time you’re in the mood for something simple, hearty and delicious, order up a big bowl of Comida’s pozole. This bowl of green is an absolute meal all by itself. Comida’s pozole is verde rather than rojo and reminiscent of the style most often found in Mexico’s mountainous state of Guerrero. The combination of tomatillos, roasted chicken, hominy and serrano peppers is pretty much perfection, but toss in some lime juice and pickled onions (served on the side) and this Mexican staple takes flight. Cup $6, bowl $9.
