Z Cuisine - LoHi's Gift to Denver
Only Seven Blocks Away and Worth Every Step

Z Cuisine, located on 30^th Avenue, an uneventful street a short walk from Riverfront Park, is an intimate, shoe-box of a treasure. Deliciously close, this little cafe-bistro hybrid is the right mix of whimsical decor, cool music, down to earth staff, and reasonably priced, howlingly good fare. Six tables and only four seats at the bar round out the experience.

Simple, fresh ingredients, well-articulated preparation, and zero pretense turned my routine Wednesday night into rapture. And so, my evening at Z Cuisine began with the assiette campagnarde - house made country pate, imported sausage, a selection of fine cheeses fit for the gourmand, pickles, olives, pine nuts, figs, fresh bread, and grilled grapes. Each bite was just as satisfying as the last, and the plate as a whole answered to all my cravings at once: sweet, savory, salty, creamy, tart, crunchy, and, well, good.

Though the cassoulet, a regular feature, is the hearty, stick-to-your-ribs-in-a-French-kind-of-way, giant of the menu, I chose to go with the halibut papillotte, or halibut bedded atop a leek fondue with sweet baby carrots and a garlic cream sauce, all cooked inside a pretty parchment envelope and served with a side of flash sauteed baby spinach. The lightness of the fish coupled with the finesse of the sauce truly spoke to Chef Dupays' talent. A luscious dish, thoughtfully prepared, by a Frenchman himself.

I'm a glutton. And admittedly, I was full. But, the food hound within drove me to run, head on, into dessert. With so many good looking, simple, French country inspired selections to choose from, I finally, after way too much deliberation, landed on the caramelized banana and bittersweet chocolate crepe. And as the chocolate and banana did a dance in my mouth, I swear, I could have barked at the moon. But, I'm a sensible gal. And barking in public just isn't cool. So, on this Z Cuisine eve, I just sat there, stuffed and happy, and sank, blissfully, into a food coma.

There is no getting around it. Z Cuisine is to be loved. And loved some more. So, go. And go often. But don't tell your friends. I'd hate for them to blabber its goodness all about the land and spoil its charm with legions of chest pounding beef cakes named Buck and ladies with nails from here to Wichita itching for the next table and a chance to taste the promised land. Let's just keep it our little secret, OK?

You can find Z Cuisine at 2239 West 30th Avenue in Denver, 303.477.1111.

Pedestrian Bridge to the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Underway

For years the Lower Highland neighborhood, only recently coined LoHi, found itself cut off from downtown by I-25. The pedestrian bridge, now underway, is about to change this.

The bridge will soon serve as an extension of 16th Street from downtown by crossing over I-25 and connecting LoHi to the Platte Street environs, Commons Park, Riverfront Park, and downtown. The goal, which mirrors the City of Denver's vision, is to increase quality of life by making more areas of Denver as pedestrian and bike friendly as possible.

One thing is for certain. There is a new energy in LoHi, and the area is starting percolate. The pedestrian conduit, expected to reach completion in late September 2006, is sure to usher further revitalization into the neighborhood by increasing the number of new residents, and toe path commuters, who wish to move between their homes and downtown, hassle free.

Riverfront Park retailers are sure to benefit in the long run with increased foot traffic from LoHi. But, the flip side is also a strong possibility. Central Platte Valley residents will also be able to take advantage of the area's emerging shopping districts which currently center around Upper 15th Street and 32nd and Zuni. A few LoHi notables, which should be tried by hungry Riverfront Park denizens, include Duo, Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe, and the delightful Z Cuisine - all of which lend a soulful creativity to the neighborhood in which they've sprouted up.

The bridge trilogy is now complete, which began with the iconic Millennium Bridge, followed by the bridge over the Platte River, connecting Commons Park with Platte Street, and now the Highland Bridge. Visit www.highlandbridgedenver.com for details and construction drawings.

Weekly Wine Tasting at Little Raven Vineyards

"We specialize in extraordinary, small-production wines not usually found anywhere else," notes Karen Saenz, manager of Special Events and Wine Education at Little Raven Vineyards. "We carry some of the more familiar labels also, but hold a strong preference for the more artisan wines."

"Try before you buy is our motto," Karen continues. As such, she and Peter Klann host complimentary wine tasting every Wednesday and Saturday. Stopping in for a taste is a great way to discover a new wine, learn about food pairings, and the interesting, sometimes lesser known, regions of the world where fantastic wines are produced.

In addition to a solid selection of well respected wines on the higher end of the spectrum, a well-chosen variety of affordable wines are also available. And, when in a pinch, expert service is what this full-bodied shop is all about. For more about the wide menu of services, monthly Vine-and-Dine events, and starting your own wine tasting club, visit www.littleravenvineyards.com.

January 30th - February 25th
Gem of the Ocean
The Space Theatre
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, August Wilson, invokes the wisdom of a 287-year-old woman and exposes the struggles of a young African-American man in search of himself.
www.denvercenter.org

Saturday, February 4th
Wine Tasting at Little Raven Vineyards
Try before you buy and get some food pairing suggestions!
2:00pm-7:00pm
www.littleravenvineyards.com

Tuesday, February 7th
Casanova Class (Men Only!)
Mise En Place Cooking School
Guys, gear up for Valentine's Day! Learn how to make a homemade meal from the heart for your sweetie.
6:30 - 9:00 pm, $55
www.miseenplaceschool.com