114 APRIL 4-10, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Castello’s Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese with Chilis & Peppers, or just want to browse the wide world of cheese, head to Longmont’s Cheese Importers to ex- perience the promised land. Lyman and Linda White started selling cheese from a VW pickup bus in 1976; the business moved into its current home in 2012 and is still run by their kids. In addition to a staggering selection in its chilly cheese room, there are shelves of crackers, jams, olives, candies, chocolate, honey and more from around the world. Peruse the kitchen wares and small but curated wine selec- tion, then pretend you’re in Paris and people-watch while enjoying your treats on the pretty patio. Best Small-Town Dining Destination Lyons What used to be a place for a pit stop at Oskar Blues on the way to Estes Park has emerged as a culinary destination in recent years. In the summer of 2022, chef Theo Adley opened Marigold in the small town, a restaurant serving dishes that highlight the freshest local ingredients. Next came Farra, a lively Latin spot from a husband- and-wife team with a passion for fl amenco and salsa dancing. Music and dancing are a highlight at Ranch House West, too, a piano bar from Shauna Lee Strecker, who is also reviving the world’s fi rst butter bar, Bella La Crema, in the space. Soon, Lyons could get even more recognition, as Adley was named one of the 2024 James Beard semifi nalists for the Best Chef: Mountain award. Best Bus Line for Dining RTD Bus Route 44 While nearly all of RTD’s more than fi fty local bus lines pass by longtime restaurants and new haunts, neighborhood watering holes and destination breweries, the 44 stands out as a food lover’s route. Travel- ing hourly from the 40th & Colorado RTD station to Wheat Ridge, it passes directly through a number of restaurant-fi lled hubs, including downtown, RiNo and LoHi. Fa- vorite stops include Little Man Ice Cream, breakfast joint Sunny’s, Cafe Brazil and My Brother’s Bar, plus breweries, dives with cheap drinks and more. Best Expansion Blackbelly Market 4324 West 41st Avenue 720-476-5812 blackbelly.com Last year was a big one for chef Hosea Rosenberg’s decade-old Boulder restaurant Blackbelly, as it debuted an expansion that included a bigger market side and racked up several honors in Colorado’s fi rst Mi- chelin Guide, among them a green star for sustainability and the Colorado Culinary Professional award for its butcher, Kelly Kawachi. Blackbelly also has a brand-new market in Denver after recently taking over the former Il Porcellino retail space. Along with Blackbelly’s popular breakfast burri- tos and sandwiches, it’s providing room for Kawachi to expand the cured-meats pro- gram — a win for the team and for hungry diners, who can pop in for the top-notch charcuterie. Best Location Change La Fillette Bakery 617 East 14th Avenue 303-355-0022 lafi llettebakery.com For years, we made early-morning treks to La Fillette in the Hilltop neighborhood, de- lighting in its breakfast sandwiches and the cozy bakery’s ability to perfect pastries — so when an imminent move was announced, it was bittersweet. But we had no reason to worry: La Fillette’s new home is in an even more convenient location, and with a lot more space to work with, it now serves one of the best brunches in the city, with a menu that includes everything from om- elets, quiche and French toast to a burger on a fl aky croissant bun. Best Diner Resurrection Danny Ray’s Food & Spirits 11353 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood 303-238-3045 dannyraysfoodandspirits.com The number of old-school diners in the metro area has dwindled since the pan- demic, and Danny’s Carnation faced the same fate in 2023, destined to be knocked down for apartments after more than forty years in business. But instead of calling it quits, owner Danny Hopkins went big on his next plan. He purchased a building nearby and created a revamped version of the classic spot that’s bigger — and serves booze — securing a future for his kids in the Food and Drink continued from page 113 GETT Y IMAGES/ OLGA ZAKHAROVA
