March 2018 - Emma Heirendt

It’s fewer calories if it’s pretty, right?

My husband and I are all about purposeful splurges. Instead of stopping at McDonald’s for a McFlurry a few times a month, we opt for splitting a more decadent dessert once a month. If we’re going to have a treat, it better be worth it, right?

One of my favorite things about Denver is the incredible foodie scene. People who love gourmet food love Denver because we have such a great selection of top of the line restaurants. Many places have upped the ante and created one-of-a-kind desserts, perfectly crafted for those (like my husband and I) who want to taste something as wonderful as it looks. We are all about the presentation. I mean, if you can’t Instagram it, did you really eat it?

D Bar Denver

Literally named D Bar because of its delectable dinner, drinks and dessert. Below is the seasonal american dream, complete with funfetti cake, american buttercream and a mini sundae. This dessert is delightfully shareable and perfect for anyone who is a fan birthday cake flavored treats. Plus, the frosting on the beater just feels so wonderfully nostalgic.

Miette et Chocolat

2501 Dallas St Suite 176, Aurora, CO 80010

Located inside of Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, Miette et Chocolat is the place to go for desserts that are almost too beautiful to eat. Each dessert is handcrafted with immaculate attention to detail. See that little bit of yellow at the top of the curl? That’s edible gold leaf. Even the piece of white chocolate on the side is stamped with cute little hearts. I’m in love!

Peteybird

3040 Blake St, 151, Denver, CO 80205

You know what’s better than ice cream sandwiches? Ice cream sandwiches with a flight of delicious hot cocoa! Peteybird is a Denver hidden gem. This fun twist on a classic treat is sure to impress. Below is an example of a variety box, perfect for sharing (or you can have them all to yourself – no judgement here). Peteybird also offers vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free dessert options.

Rioja

1431 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202

Rioja is a Mediterranean inspired restaurant in Denver with dishes that look as good as they taste. Below is the brandy snap cannoli with orange scented carnaroli rice pudding, passion fruit coulis and edible flowers. Another dessert on the menu is Rocky Road. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. Rocky Road includes dark chocolate spuma, banana chocolate ganache, cashew butter, brûléed bananas, Italian meringue and candied cashews. Rioja seems like a place you’d want to go for a fancy date. Hint hint: husband.

Sweet Action Ice Cream

52 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

Sweet Action Ice Cream isn’t afraid to play with unique ice cream flavors! Featured below is their green tea chocolate chip ice cream. While their flavors frequently change, there’s always something good on the list. A couple of fun options currently on the menu are Maple Walnut Caramel and Dark Rum Raisin. This dessert is pretty because it’s daring.

Concourse Restaurant Moderne

10195 E 29th Dr, Denver, CO 80238

The Concourse Restaurant Moderne is in the spot which used to be the Stapleton Airport. The restaurant is known for more than their incredible desserts, due to entrees that people rave about! I would save room for the “Gold Bar,” which has hazelnut + chantilly on the inside and is covered with milk chocolate and topped with 24k edible gold leaf.

Sugar Bakeshop and Coffee House

277 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

Sugar Bakeshop and Coffee House is best known for their handmade vegan popsters. Poptarts for dessert? Yes. Do it. It’s genius. They make all of their goodies fresh, every morning, as a result this place smells amazing. From front to back below: vegan caramel apple, strawberry, Nutella, raspberry orange and blueberry.

Chocolate Lab

2504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! You can’t go wrong with a restaurant that incorporates chocolate every chance they get. The Chocolate Lab even includes chocolate in their cocktails (or, a flavor that enhances the flavor of the chocolate already on your plate). Most noteworthy is their flourless chocolate cake, pictured below.

The Inventing Room Dessert Shop

4433 W 29th Ave #101, Denver, CO 80212

The Inventing Room Dessert Shop is where sugar and science meet to make delicious treats! Most of all, you know a place has got to be pretty rad when the menu says, “All drinks topped with exploding whipped cream.” Below is the sticky toffee pudding with warm butterscotch soup, vanilla custard and pumpkin spice cotton candy.

Vesta

1822 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Vesta owner Josh Wolkon believes that dining should be an experience, and boy is that the case at his restaurant! From the ambiance to the flavors, Vesta takes every aspect of the meal into account. Below is the tiramisu, composed of espresso sponge cake core, mascarpone mousse, apricot and currant conserves & chocolate honeycomb.

Yours Truly Cupcake

3047 Larimer St. Denver, CO 80205

Yours Truly Cupcake prides themselves in adding touches of glamour to their treats. Their customized vanilla and chocolate mini-cupcakes below were created for a wedding. Many of their treats feature edible pearls, which just make you feel all sorts of fancy while eating them!

Denver is full of incredible treats. It seems all downtown restaurants are incorporating some sort of twist on a classic. What treat would you pick from above? I’m digging The Inventing Room Dessert Shop, personally. I love when chefs get creative with their production methods!

Thanks for reading,

Emma

I See What You Mean

To most, this sculpture created by the late Lawrence Argent is known as “The Big Blue Bear.” Few are aware that the formal name of the sculpture is “I See What You Mean.”

Location

Located outside of the Colorado Convention Center on 14th Street between California and Stout, the blue bear has hundreds of visitors a day. On any given afternoon, you will witness children climbing the bear’s feet, young adults posing for selfies and citizens and tourists alike snapping a shot of the striking 40-foot attraction.

Why Blue?

Artist Lawrence Argent intended for the piece to be eye-catching, but he didn’t plan for it to be vividly blue! In fact, the blue color was a complete accident. Originally, the bear was going to reflect the colors of Colorado in shades of sandstone, but a printing error showed Argent just how lovely this piece could be in a bold hue.

Popularity

Argent was shocked by the attention his creation has received. The bear is now a Mile High City icon and appears all over the internet with comments like, “Where is this bear located!? I NEED to see it in person!” In an interview, Argent said, “To me, it’s kind of like the bear needs the building, and the building needs the bear.”

So why is the bear so popular? Is it the bold color? Is it the huge-ness of it? (Yes, huge-ness is totally a word.) Or is it the whimsical, playful nature of the bear? It seems to be peering into the convention windows as if to say, “What’s going on today?”

My vote is the latter.

A City Landmark

Whatever the case may be, the bear is certainly a Denver landmark and is worth a visit on your next trip to the city.

Lawrence Argent completed this piece in 2005. He passed away at the age of 60 at Rose Medical Center following a liposuction procedure on October 4, 2017. I’d like to thank him for his beautiful contribution to the city. My heart goes out to his loved ones.