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Eatery update: 'Bon Appetit' showers love on Kelly Liken

By Lori Midson, Special to the Rocky

Published August 14, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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* In a story featuring female chefs, the September issue of Bon Appetit magazine showers lots of love on Kelly Liken, whose self-titled restaurant has generated positive fervor ever since it popped up on the Vail Valley dining scene in 2004.

Liken and five other femmes fatales hailing from San Francisco, Portland, Ore., New Orleans, New York and Raleigh, N.C., share a two-page photo spread, a Q&A session and signature recipes. On the heels of the accolades, Liken and her husband, Rick, recently opened Rick and Kelly's American Bistro in Edwards (27 Main St., No. C-101). The modern bistro with a "casual, down-home appeal" is turning out artisan-style pizzas and "build-your-own" burgers, a statewide trend that's picking up steam in Denver with the additions of Colorado Burgers (4930 S. Yosemite St.), Five Guys Burgers and Fries (2300 S. Parker Road) and The Counter (8439 Park Meadows Center Drive).

* The August issue of Wine Spectator lavishes praise on Larkspur restaurant (458 Vail Valley Drive) and sommelier Kevin Furtado, whose 5,000-bottle wine cellar was crowned with the magazine's "Award of Excellence" distinction.

* Solera Restaurant & Wine Bar (5410 E. Colfax Ave.), which recently introduced a slew of all-you-can-stomach mussel specials, is now open on Sundays (dinner only). This is good news for those of you who want to end the weekend with a respite on the lovely patio that continues to draw neighborhood crowds.

* The Denver Tech Center area is alive with the clank of restaurants, including Zink Kitchen + Bar (7801 E. Orchard Road), located in the recently renovated (to the tune of $15 million) Doubletree Hotel.

The three-square-meals-a-day operation offers an ambitious, globe-trotting menu that appears to favor the more-is-better ingredient approach. To wit: the coriander-seared Ahi tuna with tequila lime glaze, avocado, mango and micro greens. That's a full plate.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Brio Tuscan Grille (8441 Park Meadows Drive), a 28-store chain that got its start in Columbus, Ohio, is hoping that south suburbanites are hankering for Italian. Brio serves lunch and dinner daily and rolls out a bellini brunch on weekends.

* While Isle of Singapore (2022 S. University Blvd.) served its final plate of Singaporean noodles last month, the space, near the University of Denver, was quickly snatched up by the same group that runs Thai Basil (540 E. Alameda Ave.) and a gazillion other Asian-inspired restaurants. Jason's Thai, Asian Bistro & Sushi peddles Asian standards - pad Thai, lo mein, Vietnamese noodle bowls and sesame chicken - coupled with sushi, sashimi and a roster of rolls.