The battlefield is set. The appointed hour draws near.
A food fight is on the horizon: The first- ever Scotch Egg Eating Contest at Argyll (2700 E. Third Ave.).
On Saturday, a group of local food celebrities and hungry members of the public will challenge themselves to scarf down as many of the deep-fried pub treats as they can in seven minutes.
And since the throw-down is at Argyll, a Scottish-themed gastropub, the eggs will have a wee twist on the usual Scotch egg recipe of hard-boiled egg, encased in sausage and then fried.
“Most that you see at regular pubs are hard-boiled and served cold,” says Argyll owner Robert Thompson. “We put a little more love and care into ours.”
That means the Argyll championship eggs are soft-boiled and served with horseradish aioli for a little gourmet spin.
Denver foodies invited to the showdown include local food writers and editors, plus chef Matt Selby of Steuben’s (523 E. 17th Ave.) and Vesta Dipping Grill (1822 Blake St.). Thompson says that Selby is trying to bring along a few more chef pals, and Argyll’s own chef will step up to the table, as well.
The contest isn’t limited to the celebrity competitors, though. Anyone can test their mettle against the mighty eggs. The entry fee is $30 — steep, to be sure, but the money raised goes to Denver’s Sobriety House, a sober-living community and rehab resource for low-income substance abusers.
Time is short to sign up, however. Thompson says interested egg-eaters should give Argyll a call (720-382-1117) today to get on the list. They’ll finalize the roster of competitors at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Thompson says he hasn’t tested his own egg-eating limits. (Not yet, anyway.)
“I think that I could down 10,” he says, “But I don’t know if I could do it in seven minutes.”
The contest starts at noon Saturday.
Park it here.
There’s no shortage of bars in Denver’s Uptown neighborhood, but another just popped up on the 17th Avenue strip: Park and Co. (439 E. 17th Ave.) officially opened its doors July 19.
Housed in the former Bump and Grind Cafe space, Park and Co. offers a generous beer list and well-manicured wine selection, plus plenty of house cocktails.
Happy hours (daily, 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight) are hilarious, with deals on drinks like the “Blue Collar”: Pabst Blue Ribbon and Wild Turkey bourbon for $4. Or the “All-American,” Coors Light with Russell’s Reserve Rye for $5.
Food is a major focus too — not surprisingly, since Park’s part proprietor is Jean- Philippe Failyau of Larimer Square eatery Osteria Marco (1453 Larimer St.). Burgers are the main attraction, short-listed on one whole side of the menu. Dig the “New Yorker,” which is essentially the fillings of an entire Reuben sandwich piled on top of a 1/3-pound burger patty. Whoa.
Park and Co. also boasts a lengthy list of appetizers, from warm pretzels with cheddar fondue to gorgonzola-stuffed dates with bacon.
It’s the sort of place that strives to keep a down-to-earth neighborhood vibe — foosball, rock music, PBR, patio — but dishes out upscale comfort food with similarly upscale prices. Think of Ernie’s Bar and Pizza (2915 W. 44th Ave.) or LoHi SteakBar (3200 Tejon St.).
Park and Co. is keeping it classy so far, but with a couple of nods to letting-loose here and there. The list of $5 shots, for example.
Familiar face, sort of.
Here’s an interesting celebrity DJ: Tommy Lee. As in, Tommy Lee from ’80s pop-metal band Mötley Crüe. Apparently he fancies himself a “dirty electro house” DJ now.
See Lee and his partner in crime, DJ Aero, tonight at Beta’s (1909 Blake St.) Forever Fridays. Advance tickets are $10 at groovetickets. Ladies get in free, however.
