Move aside Buster, it’s my turn.
Finally after 18 months I have decided to hijack my husband’s blog, why tonight you ask? Because I don’t think he could describe our dinner experience this evening without bias. As some of you may know, I grew up in the restaurant business, so I have had a good meal or two behind me to objectively describe tonight’s experience. Tonight we dined at Rioja in Denver, the famed restaurant that Adam has written about a few times in his blog, and it was, in one word, unforgettable. Our dinner started with some bubbly and an amuse bouche, an upscale take on a corn dog with black currant compote. Words alone cannot begin to describe the delectable tastes that followed each one more amazing than the one before:
Tuna tartare on crispy apple chips; hand made mozzarella wrapped in smoked prosciutto, grilled bread, oven-dried tomatoes, arugula and green olive pistou; cardamom spiced Kurobuta pork belly with a Madra curry scented fresh garbanzo bean puree; artichoke tortellini, with goat cheese and artichoke mousse stuffed pasta in an artichoke broth with truffle essence and a queso do mano cheese and chervil, and that was all before we ordered our main entree. Our entrees were even more amazing than the starters; braised baby goat with pasta and roasted pine nuts; ricotta gnocchi caprese with heirloom tomatoes; blue marlin with calamari, roasted red peppers and chili peppers in a white wine and caper broth with spring greens; and of course the most prized bites of the evening: the lemon sabayon tart with pine nut brittle ice cream and limoncello granita; the beignet filled with fig and goat cheese and the never-ending supply of rosemary goat cheese biscuits, all made with Adam’s love and care.
The food and the appreciation for Adam’s talents and hard work never stopped tonight. I met so many wonderful people who made sure we had a wonderful dining experience from start to finish, including the finale of candied sugar mint leaves. We started the evening with a wonderful glass of sparkly and now are ending it with the champagne of beer. I apologize I do not have any photos to share with you, Adam is the photographer, you know, but as most know, in spite of the admiration and love I have for my husband, I tell the truth and I am pretty straightforward with my opinions. Despite the obvious wonderful company I had at my table this evening, the amazing atmosphere of Rioja, the food made it truly one of the best dining experiences in my life. I am so proud of Adam and all he has accomplished and seeing the appreciation and respect his co-workers have for him makes me even more so proud of what he does and where he is. So, if you ever find yourself in Denver, make sure you head down to LoDo and visit Rioja, your palette and stomach will thank you.
— Shelby Siurek
