What exactly is Colorado cuisine? It's a tough question to answer -- but one that 5280 Food Editor Amanda Faison was willing to take on in front of a live audience at the Tattered Cover Bookstore on Colfax in Denver. As well she should: Faison, who has been the Denver magazine's food editor for more than a decade, developed "5280: The Cookbook -- Recipes for your kitchen from Denver and Boulder’s most celebrated chefs.”
It features recipes from the likes of Dana Rodriguez, who founded Latin American eatery Work & Class in the RiNo (River North Art District) neighborhood, and Kelly Whitaker, head chef of a new pizza and oyster bar called Cart-Driver, located next door. Whitaker also owns Basta, an Italian comfort food restaurant in Boulder. The two chefs joined Faison for "Colorado Matters at the Tattered." Of course there was some sampling. Whitaker brought along lasagna (buckwheat noodles star in the dish) and Rodriguez tempted all with New Jersey Ernie's Meatballs, whose tomato sauce bursts with the surprise of chipotle.
