Denver Food: A Culinary Evolution

Allured by the gold rush, waves of German, Japanese, Chinese and Italian immigrants brought their culinary proclivities to the American West. The early sophistication of saloons followed, and Denver's gastronomic landscape experienced a tremendous culinary evolution spanning sixteen decades. Dating back to the late 1800s, My Brother's Bar doesn't have a sign and doesn't need one, serving up history along with delicious hamburgers. Established in 1985, nonprofit Denver Urban Gardens operates more than 155 community gardens across the metropolitan region. Ahead of the curve, Chef Ryan Leinonen set the city on fire with the New Nordic trend more than a decade ago when he opened Trillium Restaurant. With these stories and more, author Simone FM Spinner follows the journey from dreams of gold to fine dining, and Denver has never been more delicious.

Simone FM Spinner earned her master of humanities at the University of Colorado, Denver. She also created and earned the first degree in the study and business of wine for Metropolitan State University of Denver. She holds sommelier credentials from Wine & Spirits Education Trust, Court of Master Sommeliers, Spanish Wine Academy and the Society of Wine Educators. She is earning her PhD in culture studies, studying wine from Lisbon Consortium. Simone owns Wine Rocks & Chasing Grapes, LLC., focused on wine-related consulting, writing, education, seminars and wine events.