Some of my friends think I’m a little too obsessed with
SALT. I’m certainly not talking about the crystals of flavor we sprinkle on food. I’m talking about the bistro named after our oldest seasoning. Why would I be obsessed with a restaurant? That’s silly. Silly, yes, but there must be some truth to it because when a friend texted me that the restaurant we had planned to meet at was packed, I suggested SALT without hesitation.
Let’s go to SALT.
Go to SALT we did, and we enjoyed a plum and goat cheese flatbread. I’d never had a plum, goat cheese, and mint flatbread, and while plums are in season, you should go try one of these. The plums are sweet and moist, local goat cheese adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the plums, and a sprinkle of mint ties it all together. Good thinking, Mr. Executive Chef Kevin Kidd and staff.
I also enjoyed a unique cocktail-
Cool as a Cucumber– created by SALT’s up and coming Tyler Anderson. This vodka-based cocktail with cucumber and Serrano peppers is fantastic, especially on a hot summer day.
And I could go on and on… like how there are a number of cute men working there… but that has NOTHING to do with the quality of their food nor with why I enjoy SALT so much. It just continues to be one of the best places in Boulder for food and drink. Period.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m a good, loyal Boulderite. I love this town and I love the dining scene, but when it comes to late night food, there aren’t many options. I wish we had kitchens open til midnight or later, and that food trucks could park downtown at night. But no. One must venture down to Denver to have such benefits. So venture to Denver I did…
Row 14 is right downtown in The Spire building across from my favorite blue bear at the convention center. Big bonus right there. They also have a late night happy hour from 10pm-midnight, so walking in at 11:30 pm I sampled…
The Pickled Seasonal Vegetables. I order this dish now at every single restaurant I visit that has pickles on the menu. I’m a big seasonal pickler myself, so I am always interested in comparing professionally made pickles to my homemade pickles. The beets, turnips, and onions were great. Crisp, balanced, delicious.
Hummus and Grilled Flatbread. Yes, Please. This is an ideal late night dish for me because it’s filling and healthy (remember I’m a Boulderite, so, health starts here…), and Row 14 makes a perfectly creamy chickpea hummus.
Crispy Calamari… let’s just ignore the fact that I only had my handy iPhone with me, so we’re obviously not looking at the most amazing photo here. But, yum. I scarfed it all down, and washed it down with a unique libation made by up-and-coming mixologist Tyler French.
I told Tyler I like Rye and he crafted something for me that was spirit forward. I like it strong sometimes.
If Denver weren’t so far away from Boulder, and if I didn’t have to stop at a hotel over night to break up the drive, I’d go more often. But seriously. Boulder needs to step it up with the late night food offerings. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy what Denver has to offer.
Let’s talk about granola. I am not really a fan of it. There’s something about granola that turns me off. Maybe because it’s associated with hippies. Maybe because people seem to think it is healthy when it is generally laden with sugar, fat, and calories… definitely not the “diet” food it often pretends to be. Maybe I don’t like it because Boulder, CO, is the butt of some jokes about hippies, health, and granola.
Whatever my personal issues with granola are, or have been… I found a brand I happen to love. I mean that. I love this granola.
Boulder Granola, to be more specific, and, in case you need me to spell it out… it is made right here in beautiful Boulder, CO.
Boulder Granola will definitely satisfy all you granola-lovers out there. This 45 year-old family recipe is worth tasting, and I tried Original, Cranberry, Gluten-Free, and Chocolate. I enjoy having this stuff in my house because it makes a great snack. Everyone who knows me well knows I live off of Vitamix veggie smoothies all morning and afternoon. So, I enjoy indulging in the evening, and Boulder Granola definitely satisfies my craving for something sweet (sweetened with maple), fulfilling, and organic.
This granola has a nice light crunchy texture and is just perfectly sweet. I would be incredibly happy with a lifetime supply of the Chocolate Chip Granola, as I tend to eat this stuff in the later hours of the evening. The Cranberry granola reminds me of my dad, so I’ll be sending him a package for him to try. The Gluten Free variety is fantastic and uses certified gluten free oats which are processed on equipment for certified gluten free grains.
You can sample some at the Boulder Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Or, go ahead and buy some online. Give it a try and, as their tagline says, “unleash your inner hippie.”
Well, I did predict it was going to be the summer of beer cocktails… (insert big smile here).
SALT has a new summer menu out for the Cocktail Element and a new cocktail style is the boilermaker- a beer based cocktail. Go check it out.
This might look like your average beer, but there’s something extra special in there.
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