Hungry for something different? Here are 10 Denver dishes that deserve a spot on your short list for end-of-summer eats.
1. Belgian Frites from Manneken Frites, hand cut, twice cooked, liberally salted and presented impossibly hot in a traditional paper cone. Doctor them up with an array of dipping sauces (including piri piri mayonnaise and a pomegranate barbecue sauce) and wash them down with a Belgian beer. Manneken Frites: 5616 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, 303-847-4357,
2. Gnocchi al Coniglio, with rabbit confit, leeks and gorgonzola at Panzano. Sauteed gnocchi is the crisp- soft backdrop for a deft dish showcasing rabbit’s faintly grassy character. Chef Elise Wiggins jubilantly juggles the rewarding flavors. Panzano: 909 17th St., 303-296-3525,
3. Beet Burger at The Kitchen Next Door, a robust veggie burger under a pile of onions cooked with a splash (not a shower) of balsamic vinegar, a mound of bitter arugula and a few crumbles of feta cheese. The Kitchen Next Door: 1035 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-542-8159,
4. Tacos al Pastor at Toluca Mexican Restaurant. The meat on these tacos is heady and richly seasoned, but, most important, it’s carefully and precisely sliced from its spinning spit-roaster. Fresh tortillas and toppings round it out. Popular local food blog recently rated this Westie gem Denver’s top al pastor vendor of the year. Toluca: 9165 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, 720-540-5649
5. Tomates Heirloom et Polenta from Bistro Vendôme, a bright, indulgent starter of robust tomatoes, a crispy cornmeal cake and Camembert. Follow with fish: Chef Dana Rodriguez has a way with seafood. Bistro Vendôme: 1420 Larimer St., 303-825-3232, .
6. Pistachio Pop at Spuntino. Creamy, nutty, sweet — a still-summery ice-pop counterpoint to all that fruit you’ve been snacking on. Warning: This flavor isn’t available every day. Call ahead, or pick another; you can’t go wrong with the innovative ice pop selection here. Spuntino: 2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0949,
7. Sesame Pockets at Tao Tao Noodle. Fans of Chopsticks China Bistro (which moved from west Denver to Aurora, before shuttering) will remember these little stuff-it- yourself sesame bread pockets served with sweet-savory morsels of pork or other stuffings, and a spoon. Make a lunch of these. Tao Tao Noodle: 10400 E. Sixth Ave., Aurora, 303-366-1761
8. Sticky Bunsat Wooden Spoon Cafe and Bakery. Though the bakery is open Tuesday-Sunday, the sticky buns appear only on weekend mornings, which is, after all, the best time to have them. Hit the joint at 8 a.m. for the freshest, still-warm buns. Wooden Spoon: 2418 W. 32nd Ave., 303-999-0327,
9. Bhel Puri at Linger, a surprising toss of puffed rice (puffed rice!), lentil noodles, nuts and vegetables, all tethered with a sweet-bitter tamarind chutney. Linger: 2030 W. 30th Ave., 303-993-3120,
10. Braised Beef Short Rib with cipollini onions and fresh horseradish at Ototo Den. Talk about contrast: Sweet onions, razer-sharp horseradish and velvety braised shortribs. This dish is a bold but careful exercise in accented layering, and it’s a keeper. Ototo Den: 1501 S. Pearl St., 303-733-2503,
Tucker Shaw. Email: tshaw@denverpost.com. Twitter: @tucker shaw
