Photobooth: Dine all the Time



Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: inFocus
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     I want to live at The Shoppe. Seriously. I could drift off to sleep on their oh-so-comfy black couch watching cartoons and sipping Kookiedoodle Tea. Come morning I would awaken to the smell of cupcakes wafting through the funky store and have a steaming cup of “Plain Ass Coffee” with a bowl of “Chocolaty Goodness” cereal—Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Krispies, and M&M’s.
     While owners Tran Willis, who also runs the Fabric Lab, and Emma Skala, of Emma Rose Cakes, probably don’t want me sleeping on their couch, this bright shop is a dream come true for anyone who loves sweets, art, and coffee. That’s everyone, right?
     The Shoppe, Denver’s first cupcake and cereal bar, opened in January. The funky hangout is the perfect place for late-night snacks (they’re open ’till 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday!) or to enjoy a leisurely afternoon gazing at the art on The Shoppe’s crisp white walls.
     The cupcakes are divine—moist and fluffy with a generous amount of homemade frosting. My favorite is the red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and my friend swears by the chocolate peanut butter. Cupcakes come in three sizes, fairly priced at $1.25, $2.75, and $3.50.
With an array of cereal concoctions and yummy toppings, the bar is a great alternative to an alcohol-drenched dirty dive. In addition to the fabulous food, The Shoppe boasts a quirky collection of design books, art mags, and cool odds and ends, like cupcake candles and gift bags.
     With a hip but inclusive atmosphere and fun events like Project Runway showings and DIY craft nights, The Shoppe is another exciting store transforming Colfax from Jack Kerouac’s seedy avenue into a vibrant and delicious place to be.

The Shoppe is located at 3103 E. Colfax. For more information, visit www.theshoppedenver.com or call (303) 322-3969.

-Robin Edwards

     Right about the time my pants stop fitting, the server offers me a box. Knowing I should have thrown in the towel half-a-chicken-breast-ago, I empty the remains of my little piece of heaven into a doggy bag that I’m not sharing. Sorry Baxter, you can just fuggetaboudit.
Café Jordano might be tucked into the middle of a strip mall, but it’s about as Italian as it gets. Family-owned and operated, the café’s charming black-and-white pictures of back home fold you right into the pages of their photo album.
     Except for Sundays when it’s closed, the place gets busier than your aunt Millie after three cosmos. They don’t take reservations, so try arriving after the dinner rush. If you do have to wait, tease your taste buds with calamari and a bottle of vino from the bar. Lost in the six-page wine list? Ask for the day’s special.
My choice of entrée, “Bob’s Favorite,” is chicken breast in a wine cream sauce with asparagus and melted cheeses. Whoever “Bob” is, his selection of cheesy goodness makes you want to leap onto the table shouting, “I love Bob, and I don’t care who knows it,” until everyone is staring at you. No apologies—it’s that good.
     The menu also boasts a nice selection of primi piatti (pasta), pesce (fish), and dishes with ingredients like “pepperocini” and “melenzane.” Just let the server do the talking, champ.
     Feel like shaking things up? Try any number of dishes featuring buffalo—a rare find at most Italian restaurants.  Entrées run $9.50–13.95 and come with salad or soup and never-ending garlic bread.
     Note to self: next time you eat at Café Jordano, wear bigger pants. Oh, and stop by Olive Garden for Baxter.


11068 W. Jewell Ave
Lakewood, CO 80232
(303) 988-6863

-Janae Reed

11

     Within five minutes of walking into Mama’s Cafe, I was brought a steaming cup of coffee, complimented on my watch, and told that for a mere 99 cents more, I could upgrade to sweet potato pancakes with pecan-honey butter (the last with an air of “who’s been feeding you?”). Within another five I had my food, complete with a very motherly warning about my maple syrup being hot.
     My omelet and pancakes were pretty standard diner fare, good, but they could’ve been from any greasy spoon in town. There was a distinctive lack of any kind of potato-based product on my plate, no hash browns or home fries to keep my eggs company. But I don’t go to Mama’s for the food.
I go to Mama’s because my waitress asks me how school’s going. I go because she tells me I’m working too hard, and that I should really take a break. I go to Mama’s because the staff is friendly, they call me “honey,” and they try to get me to stay for another cup of coffee instead of going to class.

-Caitlyn Cavanaugh


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