Dining can be one of the most unforgettable experiences of traveling, and Colorado offers unique culinary styles and cuisine options for visitors to enjoy during their stay. There are many sides to Colorado's cuisine, but most notable is its use of wild game in regional cooking. Visitors can find anything from gourmet mountain cuisine to saloon-style grub. Along with its game dishes, Colorado also has offerings of international cuisine and various ethnic culinary styles. To celebrate the state's diverse food offerings, there are a number of food festivals and events held throughout the year.
Dining on the Wild Side
Wild game is one of the main ingredients in Rocky Mountain cooking and is a big part of Colorado's culinary culture. In the state's capital city of Denver, which is also the largest city in the Rocky Mountain region, food aficionados will find many opportunities to experience the deliciously unique style of Rocky Mountain cuisine. Meat dishes made from buffalo, wild boar, elk, and other game are commonly found on local menus. Hunter's camps sell wild game like elk, caribou, antelope, pheasant, duck, and quail meat. The flavor of wild game is very distinct in comparison to the taste of farm-raised meat products. Generally, game meat is leaner, so it is commonly used to make pates and sausages. It is also used in savory slow-cooked stews.
Some popular dishes made with Colorado wild game meat include menu items like grilled quail, buffalo burgers, wild game sandwiches, or duck three ways. Vacationers will also find dishes like pecan-crusted venison, slow-roasted buffalo meat, and much more delicious wild fare. Popular methods in preparing game meat include taking meat cuts like chops and steaks, wrapping them in bacon, and then cooking them in delicious sauces made from berries or wine.
Freshwater fish recipes are also a part of the wild offerings found in Colorado. Colorado's waterways are teeming with game fish that make a tasty addition to many menus. Colorado's mountain waterways like lakes and streams abound with fish, providing some of the best freshwater fishing in the world. Trout, walleye, and bass are just a few of the fish species teeming in Colorado's waters and gracing restaurant menus.
Regional Dishes
Although wild game is a signature ingredient in Colorado's culinary styles, Rocky Mountain cuisine also incorporates the distinct flavor of recipes associated with cattle ranches and cowboys. Local farm-raised meat like beef, buffalo, and lamb is also served in the region, and dishes like steak, chili, and various barbecue items are commonly found on many menus. Most of Colorado's restaurants, in fact, rely on farm-raised, grass-fed game for their recipes. Adventurous diners may want to try Rocky Mountain oysters, which are actually bull or buffalo testicles. Because of Colorado's large cattle ranches and extensive use of beef in regional cooking, there are many similarities between the state's regional culinary styles and Southwestern style and Tex-Mex cooking. Colorado is also well-known for the quality of lamb meat it produces.
In addition to its regional meats, Colorado also serves up a delicious variety of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Local farms, orchards, and organic farms grow such produce as pumpkins, corn, apples, apricots, beets, berries, melons, peppers, cherries, corn, peaches, pears, potatoes, beans, eggplants, and carrots. These good-for-you goodies can be served up a number of different ways including mixed berries Romanoff, strawberry jams, Colorado corn pancakes with onion sauce, and much more.
International and Other Cuisine in Colorado
Besides the offerings of local fare, Colorado also features a great selection of other food genres. Vegetarian travelers will pleased to know that the state has a number of vegetarian restaurants located within its borders, serving up some of the state's delicious produce. American-style cuisine can also be enjoyed in Colorado, as well as tapas restaurants. Ethnic foods like Ethiopian, European, German, and Italian cuisine are also available, particularly in more cosmopolitan areas.
Little Known State Food Facts
There are some interesting, and perhaps strange, facts about Colorado's foods that visitors may be unfamiliar with. For example, Denver is the home of the U.S. Potato Board, which represents more than 6,000 potato farmers and handlers nationally. Also, instead of a menacing sheep dog, many Coloradan sheep farmers use llamas to guard their flocks. Another little known fact about Colorado's food production is that Dove Creek is the pinto bean capital of the world. Those are just a few fun things to think about when chowing down on some of the state's savory fare.
Food Festivals and Events
Colorado's unique assortment of delicious cuisine is more than enough cause for celebration. There are a number of events and food festivals held throughout the state at various time of years to honor Colorado's cooking and culinary styles. Here is some information about annual food festivals that offer tasty entertainment options for any vacation:
The Taste of Vail is held in April and is a springtime food and wine fest.
The Mike the Headless Chicken Festival may not sound like a very appetizing event, but it is popular traditional celebration in the city of Fruita. This event was founded in tribute to a chicken named Mike who lived for 18 months without his head. At the festival, visitors will find a Chicken Dance Contest, Chicken Recipe Contest, food and crafts vendors, and much more.
The Annual Chili Pepper and Brew Festival is a spicy-hot weekend dedicated to world-class chili, microbreweries, and music. Participants in this chili cook-off break out their best tomatoes, secret sauces, and peppers.
Annual Strawberry Days Festival
Food and Wine Classic in Aspen
Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
Crested Butte Wild Mushroom Festival
A Taste of Colorado
To find out more about Colorado's food festivals and events, including specific times and dates, check out the various event Web sites, which offer plenty of useful information.
Colorado's unique and wild culinary styles give the cuisine of the state a flavor all its own. So for a wonderfully delicious addition to any vacation, give your taste buds a treat by checking out the Colorado's regional cuisine.
