Colorado welcomed its first Bitty and Beau’s Coffee this past fall. While there are many coffee shops to choose from, Bitty and Beau’s, now open on Pearl Street in Boulder, stands out for a great reason: radical inclusivity.
Read MorePicture this. You’re an American abroad in Europe. After eating plate after plate of delicious, wholesome food, you’re missing that all-American artificial dining experience. And then you see it, those gorgeous golden arches: McDonald’s.
This isn’t actually how I ended up at French McDonald’s (or MacDo). The real story is that I didn't realize that literally everything would be closed on Armistice (Veteran’s) Day and good old McDonald’s was my only option if I wanted to eat dinner. However, I had been wondering how the French version of this American classic fast food joint would compare and I’d finally gotten my opportunity.
Photo by Madelynn Loring
The first thing I noticed was that the ambiance of MacDo is much different in France than in America. The restaurants are kept cleaner, the staff is dressed more formally, and there is often a second story for additional seating space. France is also generally more environmentally conscious than the U.S., and French McDonald’s is no exception. If you dine in, you are not given a lid or a straw for your drink unless you specifically request it. Then, once you drop off your tray, there are 4 separate bins to dispose of different kinds of waste (from left to right: liquid/ice cubes, food waste/paper napkins, non-recyclable trash, tray covers). You are expected to clear your own tray like in the U.S., but you will receive some dirty looks if you neglect to sort your trash.
Photo by Madelynn Loring
The food is also a different story in France. Their menu seems to have all of the US classics, including the Big Mac, McChicken, Fillet-O-Fish, and McNuggets, but there are also plenty of French additions, including various salads, wraps, and the McBaguette, a baguette sandwich with cheese, lettuce, hamburger patties, and various sauces. I found the quality of this sandwich to be superior to the sandwich options in the U.S. The patty was similar, but the lettuce appeared more fresh, and the bread is actually baked on site. The quality of the fries was similar to that in the U.S., but that's nothing to complain about in my opinion.
Photo by Madelynn Loring
The other large difference I noticed in the food was the offerings of the McCafe. The French McCafe offers a large array of viennoiserie (the pasty class to which the croissant belongs) that are not available in the U.S. They also do not tend to offer savory breakfast items, as breakfast in France is almost exclusively sweet. They do, however, offer several types of donuts, which are not available in the U.S. chain, but are stereotypically an American food. My best guess as to why MacDo might offer donuts is because it is viewed as the prime location to get American food. As far as the quality of the MacDo donuts goes, I have definitely eaten worse donuts, but I have also had better, especially in France where all baked goods tend to have remarkable quality.
Photo by Madelynn Loring
The only way that MacDo falls short of American McDonald’s is the price. For my meal I paid €13.45 (around $13.80 with the current exchange rate). For the French equivalent of a Big Mac meal (burger, medium fry, and drink), you’d find yourself paying €12 ($12.45), instead of the typical $8 price in Colorado. However, given the increased quality of the food, and the fact that MacDo employees are paid a living wage unlike McDonald’s workers in the U.S., I’m not complaining about the bill.
Though I’m not dying to head back to MacDo, as there are generally better options available for the same price (when it’s not a public holiday), I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and would not count it as a loss if I ended up there again.
Ground beef and potato empanada with Tequenos (Venezuelan cheese sticks).
Photo by Madelynn Loring
I discovered Empanada Express Grill in the same way I have discovered a number of restaurants: I was planning on going somewhere else (Himalayan Spice to be exact), but something came up. In this case, the Himalayan Spice kitchen was closed for maintenance. So, I turned to my best in a decision-making crisis, Google Maps, and just five minutes north was a quaint-looking Venezuelan restaurant. We decided to give it a shot, and, as is often the case on Tennyson Street, Empanada Express Grill did not disappoint.
In my experience, you can tell how good the food at any restaurant will be by the decor, and the traditional clothing and artwork lining the walls prepares you for exactly how delicious the food will be. The plates are huge, and loaded with beans, rice, and a Venezuelan entree of your choice. Regardless of whether you go for an arepa or an empanada, you will not be disappointed. The filling is beautifully seasoned, and the dish is cooked to perfection.
Shredded beef arepa with beans and rice
Photo by Madelynn Loring
Additionally, they have a large vegetarian selection, so most anyone will be able to find an absolutely remarkable meal that fits their dietary needs. The only exception to this is if you are a lactose intolerant person who actually respects their lactose intolerance. Each dish is filled or topped with cheese, which is delightful if you are a dairy lover like myself. However, if a spoonful of ice cream sends your stomach into fits, you might want to skip out on this grill in favor of something less dairy heavy. But who am I to tell you what to avoid? For a more relevant opinion, I consulted my lactose intolerant friend who says that Empanada Express Grill is worth the stomachache.
Chicken empanada with beans and rice
Photo by Madelynn Loring
Should you choose to embark on an empanada expedition, here are some tips to make your Express Grill experience go smoothly. As it is “where the locals eat'', the staff primarily speaks Spanish. Thus, it is a good idea to brush up on your restaurant vocab before you go, or go with a Spanish-speaking friend, as I did (though neither of us knew she was going to be translating for us). Secondly, the cost of a good empanada is often oil stains, something I learned the hard way through the marring of my favorite cream-colored sweatshirt. Dark clothes are likely the better choice for your meal. Finally, the restaurant prefers you pay in cash, so it is worth stopping by an ATM on your way to avoid the hassle, especially if you do not have a card that you can tap to pay.
Overall, my experience at Empanada Express Grill left nothing to be desired, except for perhaps that Regis’s global section could compare to this absolutely delightful restaurant. Though it may be unassuming at first glance, Empanada Express Grill is sure to impress regardless of whether you planned to end up there or not.
The fact that I ended up in Himalayan Spice Indian Cuisine was a total accident. My sister had just helped me move in for the spring, so we headed down Tennyson Street for brunch at the Denver Biscuit Company. It's a delicious restaurant, but given its promotion on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, everyone knows that. Thus, we chose to dodge the hour-long wait and give the little restaurant two doors over a shot. And I am glad we did. While Denver Biscuit Company may be popular, Himalayan Spice is a hidden gem.
The environment is warm and welcoming, with attentive wait staff and quick service. And the food? I will not go into a discussion about Regis’s cafeteria (that is a dissertation for another time), but I am often left feeling the need for authentically good, well-rounded cooking, and I know that I am not alone in that. The good news is that the solution is just a five-minute drive down Tennyson Street. The menu is packed with different traditional Indian dishes, all bursting with warmth and flavor. The restaurant also boasts a large vegetarian/vegan menu with gluten free options, so it is the perfect destination for groups with a variety of dietary needs. Additionally, they have spice levels indicated on the menu so you don’t find yourself with an under-spiced or inedibly spicy dish given your tastes. They operate on a 1 to 5 spice level: 1 being mild, 2 being medium, 3 being medium-hot, 4 being hot, and 5 being Indian hot. I, as a slightly-but-not-terribly pathetic white person, prefer medium hot for my curry, whereas Vietnamese Staff Writer Sandra Vo prefers hot.
Regardless of where you’re at, there is a delicious, well-priced option for you at Himalayan Spice. You can choose from a variety of proteins, from lamb to chicken to seafood, to be prepared in many ways, from curry to dahl and sagg to masala. Regardless of what you prefer, there are also a plethora of delicious flavors of naan, a traditional Indian flat bread, to choose from, and you will receive bottomless basmati rice with your meal. The one thing to keep in mind during your visit is that you will spend just as long waiting for the check as you will enjoying your meal. Chances are you could reduce this wait time by flagging down the waiter if you so choose, or (if you are non-confrontational like myself) the time can be well spent digesting your meal over conversations with friends and family. If you are looking to try something new or simply spice up your college diet, Himalayan Spice is the place to go.
Photo by: Sandra Vo, Butter Naan
Photo by: Sandra Vo, Chicken Curry
Photo source: groupon.com
By: Antoinette Simonetti, Practicum Reporter
With four locations surrounding the Denver metro area, Little India is well-known for its unique spices and flavors, courtesy of the Baidwan family, who founded the restaurant in 1998. Out of curiosity – after reading so many outstanding reviews – I decided to check out the downtown Denver location.
The central shop is located at 1533 Champa St, making it difficult to find parking, and when parking was finally found, it was a four-block walk to the restaurant. There’s a parking garage across the street from Little India, but it’s a pricey$25 charge.
On the initial approach, it seemed like the perfect summer hangout: The restaurant boasts a spacious outdoor patio for the summertime and a cozy comfortable hideaway for the wintertime. After walking through a narrow corridor entrance, I observed how small the space was for such a well-known restaurant, yet it could be perceived as adding to the “feel” of the place. The lighting was dim and tinted orange and yellow, which made the restaurant glow.
With a wide variety of menu choices, such as masala, naan and curry dishes, there is a lot to choose from. The menu offers gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options for all kinds of diners. From my research of the restaurant, I learned the saag curry is the most popular dish. Saag is a vegetarian dish that incorporates spinach, mustard greens, cumin, turmeric, coriander and garlic.
With my excitement about trying this popular, traditional Indian dish, I was happy to see my server approach with a glass of water, ready to answer my questions about the menu. My server was exceptional at explaining the tastes of the various dishes. All around, the service was fantastic.
After only 20 minutes with a packed restaurant, my saag was served and ready to enjoy. The meal was separated by the bowl of curry and a tray of rice. I appreciated that they were separate because I could choose the amount of curry I wanted mixed in with the rice. My first bite provided an immediate burst of flavor. The saag had an earthy, unique texture and taste. The meal was extremely addicting, it was so delicious. Regardless of how full I was getting, I wanted to keep eating it.
Not only did I have exceptional service on a busy night at Little India, but the food was superb and arrived very fast. I definitely would come back to this location and enjoy another meal. I amconfident that the next plate I try will be delicious and well explained by staff. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends, coworkers and family.
Photo source: newdenizen.com and gastronomblog.com
By: Antoinette Simonetti, Practicum Reporter
With six locations around the east side of the state – in Evergreen, Arvada, Idaho Springs, Ft. Collins, Longmont and Steamboat Springs – Beau Jo’s is well-known for its “mountain crust” pizza. The Idaho Springs location is off I-70, so it’s a great stop-in spot for hungry travelers.
The restaurant has been open for more than 40 years and attracts locals and tourists alike who enjoy dipping the thick and doughy crust in honey, a Colorado tradition. The dough is even made with honey.
“That’s right; our dough uses natural sweetener instead of sugar – after a good roll-out and toss, our crust is braided, allowing an unspeakable amount of toppings, sauce, and cheese to be cradled and baked – we call this the containment system and you can’t get it anywhere else in the state.”
I had to check it out.
The drive to the Idaho Springs location from the Northwest Denver Campus takes 55 minutes, accompanied by beautiful mountain scenery. The restaurant is visible from the highway with a big “Beau Jo’s” sign. The town itself is nudged up against the mountain side, surrounded by many shops, breweries and other restaurants.
Although there’s a parking lot that costs $10 for the whole day, the most convenient place to park is on the street, where the parking meter costs $1for an hour.
Walking in to the aged building, it smells fantastic. The circular hostess stand has its own room separated from the dining rooms. The wait for a table was only 15 minutes and the waiting room was spacious and comfortable.
The style of the restaurant is rustic and maintains an old Colorado mining vibe.
After being seated, our server approached with water and pointed me in the direction of the salad bar. Knowing what I was going to get on the menu – the famous mountain crust pizza with honey – I ordered immediately.
Within 20 minutes the pizza was served on a circular, raised tray leaving enough room on the table for my plate and the rest of my personal belongings. The thick crust was shaped into a spiral leaving creases to pour the honey. The pizza had a hint of sweetness and the cheese and sauce were fresh and unique to my tastebuds.
The service was great. I was approached to make sure I was enjoying the meal and was asked if I needed anything else and was constantly served with a smile.
I would recommend Beau Jo’s to a friend visiting the area, a local who has a sweet tooth, and anyone who is interested in having the famous Colorado “mountain crust” experience. The food was tasty, the service was exceptional and the experince was unforgetable.
