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Johnson's Corner

A Colorado Icon

Getting There

It is hard to miss Johnson's Corner.  Located on the east side of Interstate 25 between Loveland and Denver, you just have to drive north for about 20 minutes. The sign is clearly visible from the highway and has plenty of parking in front of the restaurant.

The Atmosphere

Let's not mince words here.  It's a truck stop, people. Comparatively speaking, a really nice truck stop but it's a truck stop. The restaurant area is separated from the convenience store and it sports a wonderful view of the Rockies from almost every seat. There are many booths and tables to choose from and even some diner counters for those looking for some nostalgia. Positive affirmations of  Love, Faith, Hope, Blessings, Receive, Give Thanks, and Share hang above the doors which is a nice touch.  Also, as if to prove that you are not in the city anymore, a boot scraper is right outside the entrance for your convenience which was a little perk that we found charming.  They also have a banquet room for larger parties or special occasions.

The Eats

There were three of us that went on this excursion.  One had a breakfast consisting of eggs, corned beef hash, and biscuits and gravy.  Another one of us selected the french dip with American cheese and french fries from the lunch menu. 
Finally our third person ordered the grilled pork chops with hash browns and homemade apple sauce for the dinner selection.  Everything was really good.  The corned beef hash was flavorful and well seasoned. The homemade biscuit was light and fluffy made earlier that day topped with a classic sausage "sawmill" gravy.  The French Dip consisted of real roast beef, not the typical "meat sheet" you find on sandwiches at restaurant chains. 
The hash browns served with the pork chops and eggs were exceptional - crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Johnson's Corner offers weekday daily dinner specials at very reasonable prices.

And now...Dessert.

We selected the carrot cake and homemade chocolate pie.  The carrot cake was a southern type traditional cake - dense, moist, with pieces of actual carrots, raisins, and walnuts.  Definitely a multi-serving slice.  The chocolate pie was amazing.  Most restaurants serve a French silk pie that is so overly sweet that it takes away from the flavor of the pie.  Johnson's Corner's pie is 100% homemade.  The pie is made traditionally with cocoa so you can actually taste

the chocolate not just syrupy sweetness. Even the pie crust is amazing.  Flaky, light, and even has a hint of salt - the trademark of homemade dough.

Even though the desserts were amazing, we were at Johnson's Corner and Johnson's Corner is best known for one thing.  Cinnamon Rolls.  World Famous Cinnamon Rolls, in fact.  These are massive, sweet, cinnamon heaven.  In addition to their regular cinnamon rolls, they offer a special cinnamon roll each month.  Being October, we weren't too surprised to find that this month's flavor is Pumpkin.  They really are amazing.  If you don't go for the food, at least go for the rolls.  Trust us, it is worth it.

The People

The clientele that frequents Johnson's Corner is a mix of all types.  Truckers, families, farmers, and many A-list celebrities have eaten at this well known diner.  Our waitress Mary Anne was helpful and very sweet.

Summing Up

Johnson's Corner is a Colorado Icon.  Joe S. Johnson opened it's doors in 1951 and the doors haven't been closed since.  They are open 365 x 24 x 7.  In 1998 it was voted one of the top 10 Best Breakfasts in the world and was 2004's Best Truck Stop according to the Food Network.  It was featured in the movie Larger Than Life starring Bill Murray and Matthew McConaughey, and has been a welcome stop for truckers and travelers alike for decades.

Although the food was excellent, the service was fair and the cleanliness was lacking.  The restroom was very dirty, but as we stated it IS a truck stop.  For this reason alone, we award Johnson's Corner a Fork.  Definitely worth a visit.  A great Colorado restaurant.

Thank you, Johnson's corner for the excellent food.

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Hunters Grille

Good Food with Local Passion

Getting There

Hunter's Grille is located in the new commons area of beautiful Erie, CO. It opened it's doors on April 5th of this year and is a welcome addition to the community.  They are a little off the beaten path and tucked away so be sure to utilize GPS to find them.  Hunter's Grille has plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant.

The Atmosphere

After experiencing the high end, upscale atmosphere of the establishments participating in Denver Restaurant Week, we appreciated the clean, homey, and comfortable feel of Hunter's Grille. From the log cabin type décor to the soundproof wall that separates the full service bar from the rest of the restaurant, Hunter's Grille is warm, welcoming, and local.  Music plays in the background but is not overwhelming to the point where you are unable to have a conversation with the people sitting across the table from you.

The Eats

The food was incredible.  Everything we tasted was fresh and made from scratch. We started out with an herb bread stuffed with mozzarella cheese which was served with sweet, creamy butter.  The bread was fresh from the oven.  We reveled in the swirls of steam rising from this delicious treat as we tore it apart with our hands.  As we did so, a heavenly herbal fragrance filled the air around us.  It didn't even need the butter (although that didn't keep us from trying it).

Appetizers range from common to exotic.  We chose coconut shrimp with a spicy pineapple sauce and deep fried mushrooms with a side of ranch.  The shrimp was nothing out of the ordinary, typical coconut shrimp but the pineapple sauce was very good  - tangy, sweet, and spicy.  The mushrooms had a nice flavor without being mushy, greasy, or watery.  It was obvious that the mushrooms were not commercial but fresh and packed full of flavor.  We chose some safe appetizers this trip; however, Hunter's Grille offers unusual starters such as Rocky Mountain Oysters and a Wild Game Sampler consisting of bratwurst made from elk, boar, and caribou.

Looking over the menu, we had many questions about the fare and were unsure which items to select and which sides to try.  Our server Peter, was very kind and patient.  He answered all our questions and even provided us with samples of their orzo/couscous, their green chile, and their brand new Hunter's Grille stew. All three were simply wonderful! The orzo pasta was flavorful and hearty with a wonderful herbal undertone. The green chile consisted of tender pork and spices.  Let's just say we were hoping the food fairy would bring us a burrito to drown it in. The stew was our favorite.  Tender beef and fresh ingredients combined to create a "stick to your ribs" type goodness that left us both trying to decide how long it would take before we returned for a full bowl of the stew.

This visit, we were both feeling the need for red meat.  One chose the special and the other chose the rib eye. The special just happened to be prime rib. Peter informed us that the Prime Rib goes quickly so we were smart to get there early. No fancy marinades or anything with the meal.  Just good, quality beef, cooked well and served simply with a loaded baked potato and garden salad.  The rib eye was grilled rather then cooking under the searing heat of a salamander. The prime rib was good, although a little less flavorful than the steak.  The horseradish sauce served with the prime rib was strong but had a wonderful hint of dill which made it very tasty.  Hunter's Grille offers a classic American menu including burgers, steaks, and seafood.  They also offer a full children's menu.  All items are reasonably priced with the most expensive items costing around $25.

As a side note, when you order a glass of wine at Hunter's Grille...you get a GLASS OF WINE. Being used to a typical 4 or 6 ounce pour at Denver restaurants, we were amazed at the amount of wine we were served.  The glass is easily double the size of typical wine servings and it only cost $5 a glass.  Amazing!!!!

Now for everybody's favorite part of the meal...Dessert!  Homemade pecan pie with caramel and chocolate sauce and a slice of carrot cake with cream cheese icing.  Both these dishes were amazing, flavorful, and filling.

The People

Everybody we met at Hunter's Grille was knowledgeable, kind, fun, and friendly.  David, the greeter, was all smiles from the time we walked in the door.  He joked around with us and put up with our corny sense of humor.  Peter, our waiter, was amazing.  He was professional yet welcoming and warm.  Please do yourself a favor and request Peter as your server when you visit.  You won't be sorry.  Kelly, the manager, stopped by our table to talk to us about all that Hunter's Grille offers and made us feel welcomed and appreciated.  She is a great lady who cares deeply about the restaurant and her community.

Summing Up

Hunter's Grille is an exquisite restaurant with a wonderful small town feel.  It's clean, comfy, and unpretentious.  A wonderful place for a date, a family, or a fun group of people.  You can have a meal, watch a game, or sit on the patio and enjoy the clean, country air.  Karaoke is a draw on Saturdays.  They also sponsor the local high school football team - the Erie Tigers.  After the games, Hunter's Grille offers the team and their fans a place to gather, celebrate, and hang out.  They will also be hosting a fundraiser in November for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.  All funds raised will be kept in the community of Erie where it can do the most good. Please visit their Facebook page for more information and notifications of events.  We are very happy to award Hunter's Grille the coveted "Golden Spoon".  A wonderful Colorado eatery with an equally wonderful staff and food.  Thank you all for an amazing time!

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Next month's restaurant....

Johnson's Corner in Johnstown, Colorado!

Vesta Dipping Grill

A Little Dip Will Do Ya' at the Vesta Dipping Grill

Our August pick was Vesta Dipping Grill. Luckily, this outing took place during Denver Restaurant Week so we got to experience a great sampling of Vesta's menu and save money at the same time; however, there were a lot of menu items that we didn't get to try.  I smell a return trip, people!

Getting There

Vesta is located in downtown Denver between 18th and 19th on Blake.  This may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your feelings about downtown.  There is meter parking on the street and $5 parking is available after 4pm everyday at Guaranty Parking  located at 1332 18th Street.  Vesta will validate parking on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Atmosphere

Like most of the restaurants in the downtown area, Vesta has an industrial look to the place.  This means that during busy times, it can get pretty noisy. That being said, the decor was warm with rich wood and metal accents, an open inviting space, comfortable booths, and an outdoor sitting area for those who prefer to eat outside.

The Eats

As we stated, we visited Vesta during Denver Restaurant Week.  The menu consisted of three courses (appetizer, main entree, and dessert) with optional wine pairing for an additional charge. We were able to select one item from each area. They also had something called $3 Bites, which were one bite tastings of specific appetizers. We brought friends with us for this outing so we were able to try nearly everything the menu provided.

Our meal began with a shot of Cucumber Mint Gazpacho (a cold, pureed soup). It was a light and refreshing start to the evening. Sadly we did "shoot" our gazpacho and were sad when it was gone so fast. Our server, Tim provided us information about each of the selections and offered his suggestions based on our input.

Appetizers

To start, we ordered the Sauce Sampler from the main menu.  This consisted of bread points and a selection of their most popular sauces. Personal favorites included the Cucumber Tzatziki, Roasted Corn, and Onion Creme Fraiche.  We chose the Cajun Grilled Shrimp, Smoked Beef Summer Sausage, and Heirloom Tomato Salad as our individual appetizers.

The portion sizes were impressive to us. Normally when we take advantage of a deal like Denver Restaurant Week, the portion sizes are decidedly smaller.  This was not the case at Vesta. Tim, our server, even said, "Restaurant Week is an excellent way to showcase what we [Vesta Dipping Grill] can do on a regular basis".  

The cajun shrimp was fresh and well seasoned without being too spicy.  It was served on a bed of cheesy grits which was creamy without being soupy.

The Summer Sausage was served with both a spicy dijon mustard and a sweet cherry mustard which although sweeter, still had a kick to it.  The mustards stood in contrast to the creamy, savory sausage. Sweetness + Spicy + Savory = Pure Heaven.

The heirloom tomato salad contained several types of tomatoes (orange, roma, green, etc.) and came with toasted pine nuts, cheddar goat cheese,  and a cava vinaigrette. Cava is a sparkling Spanish white wine and is typically mixed with white vinegar to make a vinaigrette dressing.  This vinaigrette highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes and paired wonderfully with the toasted pine nuts.

Main Course 

For our main course, our group ordered the Grilled Flatiron Steak, Carolina BBQ Pork Tenderloin, and Smoked Paprika Grilled California Yellowtail. There was a tofu dish, but it...was...tofu.  So...anyhoo.   All the dishes were amazing and each entrée was paired with three sauces.  Although the dipping sauces are the main focus of the Vesta Dipping Grill, we recommend you try their dishes without the sauce as well.  They are incredible and perfectly capable of standing on their own without the accompanying sauces.  That being said, the sauces add to the flavor without overwhelming or taking away any of the richness of the dish itself.
 
The steak was served with truffle roasted summer squash and a warm bacon and potato salad that was simply amazing.  The sauces served with the steak were a Basil Emulsion, Tarragon Mustard, and Berry Chutney.

The Carolina BBQ Pork was very tender and moist.  The fennel apple slaw paired perfectly with the roasted corn risotto and helped bring out the sweetness of the pork.  The three sauces that accompanied the tenderloin were Basil Emulsion, Black Pepper Aioli, and Berry Chutney.  The Black Pepper Aioli was our favorite because the pepper played off the sweetness of the slaw for a taste explosion that made us very, very happy.

As two generally, non-fish folk we both found the California Yellowtail to be very good.  It was  flaky and well seasoned without an overwhelming fishy taste.   Again, this dish was great on its own but equally incredible with any of the three sauces - Tarragon Mustard, Cucumber Tzatziki, or Dried Apricot Chutney. 

Two of us at the table elected to try the wine pairing for an additional $15 per person.  Exceptional and very much worth the extra cost.

Dessert

Each of us chose one of the 3 options off the Restaurant Week Menu. The Peaches and Cream Float was by far the table favorite.  So much so that one of us ordered an additional TWO floats.

The float was creamy with large Palisade peach wedges and a bourbon white chocolate ice cream from Ice Cream Alchemy, a Boulder, Colorado based ice cream company.

The Chocolate Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches consisted of a chewy cookie, peanut butter ice cream, and both a fudge and a berry sauce.

 The cheese plate (Colorado Camembert and Chevre) was probably our least favorite dessert. The Apple compote and the camembert were lovely but we found the chevre to be a little too dry to combine with the bread.

Our outstanding server, Tim brought us a sample of a Peanut Butter chocolate truffle that was topped with sea salt.  He also brought an ice cream bon-bon for one of our party who had a peanut allergy. By the way, Tim really went out of his way by documenting the fact that one of us had a food allergy and insisted that if we didn't like anything, to let him know so he could find us something else to try.

The People

The staff was FANTASTIC!! Everybody from the greeters to the wait staff were exceptional.  The manager, Nick came by our table and even gave us his card in case we wanted to come by and share one of their famous mushroom salads.   Pictured here is the manager Nick (Left) and our server Tim (Right) holding up the official 2 Chicks 1 Bucket Golden Spoon that we awarded them.  Both of these gentlemen were professional and welcoming.  More importantly, they were knowledgeable about the restaurant and the menu. We did throw Tim for a loop with a couple of our questions but he didn't hesitate to find the answer and strived to make our experience perfect. Truly the sign of a great server!

When visiting the Vesta Dipping Grill, be sure to request Tim.  He was simply outstanding!

Summing Up

To quote Mr. Christopher Walken, "Wow! Wowwy, wow!"   Everyone in our party agreed Vesta was a great experience! We give Vesta Dipping Grill the coveted golden SPOON! Vesta is a wonderful place and we cannot wait go back. For those that are budget conscious we want to mention the Monday Supper at Vesta Dipping Grill. For $30 you get three courses and they offer a wine pairing for  just $15 more. The menu changes every week so be sure to take a look at their Facebook page. To view pictures of each course along with full descriptions of sauces and menu items, please visit the 2 Chicks 1 Bucket Facebook page. While you are there, be sure to like our page for more updates and notifications of new blog entries!

Thank you to the staff of the Vesta Dipping Grill for a wonderful evening.

September's drawing - Hunter's Grill in Erie, CO!

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Tocabe (Osage for Blue)

Tocabe (Osage for Blue)

So guess what? We went to Tocabe!!!

Well, it was actually a couple weeks ago now (July 19) on a random Sunday afternoon. It is in the sweet little neighborhood in the north highlands area.

Getting There

The parking was good for an urban street front. They have a nice lot off the the side of the building, so for those not in the area it made the visit very accessible. Speaking of accessible, one of has a disabled parent and it would be really easy to have them join us. No steps, complicated ramps or anything. They also had a darling patio so you can choose to enjoy your feast in indoors or out.

The Atmosphere

Tocabe definitely has an industrial look. When the place was full, it was a little noisy but nothing horrible. Take a look around though. One of the cool things about the decor is that everything has a meanning, the sliver on the ceiling and wallpaper and so on. Bottom line it has a great feel. Now for a little indelicate topic… you can tell a lot about a restaurant by its bathroom and we were pleased to find that even those out of the way places were clean and tidy.

The Eats

They offer a great menu including everything from salads, nachos, indian tacos, dessert and a kid’s menu. From what we could tell,  with the exception of the Buffalo Ribs, everything was under the ten dollar mark. We shared an Indian Fry Bread Taco with chicken and chili beans. We had it topped with the Hominy Cranberry and the Jicama Cucumber salsas, which we both agree are great! Slightly sweet, a little spicy and perfectly complimented the other ingredients. We would also recommend getting the Ancho Chipotle sauce. We ordered it on the side but after one taste we wished we got extra. In fact in one of our future trips we’re planning to try just the fry bread with the sauce.  It was that good.


We also ordered the Buffalo Ribs and the now famous Blueberry BBQ Sauce. We found the ribs to be tender and fall off the bone yummy. They were juicier than either of us expected since our common experience with Buffalo falls a little on the dry side. The side dish we chose was the wild rice. The key to this side's amazing flavor was the grilled corn.  Grilling the corn makes it sweeter and gives it a fabulous crunch.  This along with the addition of cranberries and chilies made it an amazing dish. In addition, we also got an extra side of beans and cheese.  We actually found them to be a little bland which was a bummer but wasn't a deal breaker.

To wash it all down, we chose two sodas from Rocky Mountain Sodas. Ellen picked the Pike’s Peak Root Beer and Tracy picked the Prickly Pear. Both were very tasty without being super sweet or sugary. The Prickly Pear was the winner. Don’t get us wrong, the Root Beer was really good but that Prickly Pear… still thinking about that one.

Last but certainly not least… dessert! Even though our tummies were super full we had to go for it. We chose the fry bread dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with a side of Wojapi sauce. Let us take a moment to pay homage to the Wojapi sauce. It is similar to a strawberry rhubarb jam but not. Anyway, it is this kind of total berry yumminess.  We gobbled it up just as quickly as the taco and ribs.

The People

The service there was wonderful. They explained the options, provided their input and also let us try samples (ground bison with sage)! We’re wishing we did a better job of taking down names because those folks were great!

Summing Up

Obviously, we really enjoyed Tocabe and would recommend it to anyone looking for a casual dining option. Great for families or just a couple random crazy ladies looking for some good eats. Be sure to check out their website for more details.  We give Tocabe the coveted golden SPOON!

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Next Month!!!

Vesta Dipping Grill

Dinner is Coming

We are the Eaters on the Wall...

Earlier today we were driving around town talking about random stuff.   As we passed a restaurant, Tracy mentioned she had eaten there recently.   She said it was fabulous and that we should go some time. This got us talking about all the OTHER places in the city that are "must try" restaurants.  Boom.  Ideas...Inspiration...Imagination...um, other words that start with "I".   We shall make a bucket list, a list of restaurants we want to try.  Once a month, we will draw a name from our bucket, and then....we feast.  And then...we blog.

We will research the restaurant, the neighborhood, talk to the managers or owners, and of course describe the grub.

Who are we?

Well let's start first with who we aren't. We are not chefs, professional cooks, food critics, nor do we work in any way shape or form in the food/dining industry. We are two gals that have everyday, regular jobs with adventurous spirit for trying out great food. To pay the bills and fund these prospective culinary outings Ellen works as a software developer and Tracy works in the veterinary field and enjoys competitive break dancing in her spare time.  OK.  So, that last part may not be completely accurate.

Anyhoo,

Now for the first Restaurant!!!

JULY 2014

The winner is... Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery a great looking restaurant featuring Native American cuisine. We heard about Tocabe from Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and once we saw those Bison Ribs with Blueberry Barbeque Sauce we knew we had to check it out.

More to come this weekend....