‘Elote’ Brussels Sprouts
Dos Santos , 1475 E. 17th Ave., Denver, dossantostacos.com
Elote, or Mexican street corn, is delicious anyway you slice it. Grilled corn covered in cotija cheese, lime, spices and mayonnaise, the ubiquitous Mexican street food favorite is growing in popularity across the U.S. While its served seasonally (the summer months) at Denver’s Dos Santos, the restaurant recently had a winter version on the menu, featuring the equally ubiquitous Brussels sprout. Charred sprouts were smothered in lime, salt, spicy mayo and cotija cheese. The entire dish was creamy and spicy, charred and tangy, all at once, happily washed down with a house marg. $5.00.
Ty Cobb Salad
Mad Greens, Several locations in Boulder County, madgreens.com
Fast casual restaurants have officially taken over the world, due in large part to their combination of freshness, affordability, convenience and healthfulness. Mad Greens checks all those boxes with their lineup of salads, bowls, wraps and more. We opted for their signature Ty Cobb salad recently, and left abundantly satisfied with the bowl of romaine lettuce, Southwestern chicken, avocado, bacon, red onions, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes and blue cheese dressing. A balance of textures, flavors and temperatures, this is a salad that you might find yourself craving. $10.
Bumbleberry Pie
My Mom’s Pies, 201 Murray St., Unit C, Niwot, mmpies.com
If you spot a pie made by Niwot’s My Mom’s Pies, you’re likely to stand above it and debate whether you should buy it or not. It’s too enticing to ignore. The flaky crust, the overflowing filling, the ramshackle crimping and hole punctures that let you know the pie really is homemade. Of course, we couldn’t pass over a recent pie encounter and snatched one of the bumbleberry variety. It’s a mix of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries and raspberries. Tart, sweet and juicy, the filling makes for a perfect partner to the buttery, flaky crust. Prices vary.
Cold Brew Vietnamese Coffee
Black Orchid Coffee, 148 E. Rogers Road, Longmont, blackorchidcoffee.com
The husband-and-wife team behind Longmont’s Black Orchid Coffee is raising the bar for pre-made, bottled coffees. Their cold brew Vietnamese coffee tastes as good as anything you’d find in a high-end coffee shop. Beans for the blend are sourced from the lush central forest highlands of Vietnam, and Black Orchid secured a custom blend from a supplier in the region after sampling hundreds of coffees on a visit. You’ll notice the smooth texture of the coffee, and taste its nutty, earthy and rich chocolaty flavors. Prices vary.
