Cauliflower Chorizo Tacos
City O’ City, 206 E. 13th Ave., Denver, cityocity.com
Located about a block from the state capitol, City O’ City is a vegetarian and vegan paradise in the heart of Denver. These cauliflower chorizo street tacos are delicious, whether you’re normally a carnivore or not. The cauliflower is cooked to perfection — not too crunchy, not too mushy — in a pungent chorizo spice mix that lingers on your taste buds long after the last bite. The chimichurri slaw adds both freshness and crunch, while the vegan sour cream adds the right amount of creaminess to each bite, while not overwhelming the palate. Served on corn tortillas, these vegan tacos are also gluten-free. $10 for four, $2 each during Happy Hour.
Pepperoni Pizza
Original Pizza, 1300 W. Midway Blvd., Broomfield, originalpizza.us
Now depending on where you are in Boulder County, getting out to Broomfield’s Original Pizza could be quicker than getting through Boulder during rush hour. Either way, you should get out to Original Pizza. Hands-down, no-exaggeration, this is one of the best New York-style pies you’ll find along the entire Front Range, and we’d guess it’d stand up to a lot of what you’ll find back east. It starts with a crust that’s crispy and slightly blackened underneath, but that is irresistibly chewy. Then, a bright tomato sauce heaped generously on the pizza is cut by a cheese blend that’s creamy and a little sharp. The pepperoni just gilds the lily. $18.
Thai Spicy Mango Tofu
Panang Thai, 1001 S. Public Road, Lafayette, panangone.com
When we’re craving fresh, inventive Thai food, Lafayette’s Panang Thai is a go-to. Its blending and balancing of flavors and textures is unparalleled, as demonstrated in the Thai spicy mango dish. It’s a mélange of sautéed onion, tomato, fresh mango, baby corn, bamboo and zucchini, all atop rice with your choice of protein — we chose crispy tofu. It’s sweet, spicy, savory, salty — everything you want in a rice dish. $9.95.
Monster Mash
High Hops Brewery, 6461 CO-392, Windsor, highhopsbrewery.com
The madmen at Windsor’s High Hops Brewery came up with another fun seasonal beer. The pumpkin pie porter is full of pumpkins and dark malts, plus baking spices like clove, nutmeg and cinnamon. It’s a little sweet, a little nutty and very roasty. Lactose is added to mimic a fresh dollop of whipped cream on top. That creates a smooth mouthfeel. Careful, it packs a punch at about 9 percent alcohol by volume. Prices vary.
