Things To Do In Denver Before You Die : Smash Burger

It has become a winter tradition to visit Denver with R. I generally meet him after the holidays just before the New Year. Unlike Los Angeles, Denver is a true winter wonderland. The cold biting weather, the snowy ground, the clear skies, and the mountains all around, let’s just say we’re not in LA anymore. It is the perfect mini break from the hectic pace of the city and the holidays. If you haven’t been to Denver before it is a beautiful city with bountiful gastronomic pleasures.

Since I have been back in LA, I haven’t stopped thinking about all of the memorable meals I enjoyed while in Denver. When I left I was satiated and eager for my next visit. Here is some of what I enjoyed.

I am not a regular patron of chain restaurants. I tend to prefer the mom and pop cafes, or the charm of a restaurant that only has one location. However, when I was in Denver a few weeks back, it was a chain restaurant, of all things, that stole my heart!

Known as the hometown of Chipotle, Denver is a city that is not lacking in chain eateries. My favorite of their local chains was Smash Burger. This is a restaurant the guide books are not going to direct you to, but you want to be sure not to miss.

Smash Burger is a burger joint with a modern feel. What sets a Smash Burger apart from other burgers is the plump, crisp, perfectly cooked beef. Not all patties are created equal; some are too thick, or too seasoned or just dry hard disks of meat, but Smash Burger is not any of these things.

I ordered the BBQ Bacon and Cheese. It had thin crunchy fried onions, thick slabs of apple wood smoked bacon, tangy BBQ sauce and the perfect beef patty. The flavors blended together collapsing with each bite. The bun was nicely buttered and grilled. It had a soft exterior with perfectly toasted edges. At $6 a burger, Smash Burger is the ultimate burger. A burger so good you ingest it in 30 seconds and then beg for more.

Smash Burger

S. Parker Rd & Yale Ave

2630 S Parker Road

Aurora, Colorado 80014

720-213-0012

Open 10am-10pm Daily

** If you are planning a trip to Denver I suggest picking up an Eat/Shop guide, it is an invaluable resource. Or email me theletmeeatcake@gmail.com **

A Certain Lightness of Being

There is something to be said for a big, fluffy piece of Banana Pound Cake. It packs all the flavor and fragrance of Banana Bread, but with a certain lightness of being.

I like to bake as a way to keep the house warm during winter. I had a few overripe bananas lying around so I decided to make this Banana Pound Cake. It is so simple to whip up and makes a great breakfast for the whole week (if you can keep from eating it all at once!)

The mascarpone and sour cream in the recipe give it an incredibly airy texture. The sour cream provides a subtle tartness to balance the sweetness. It is delicate and luxurious. With just one bite I was instantly seduced!

Stay warm this winter, bake some pound cake!

Banana Pound Cake:

(adapted from The Secrets of Baking)

2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup sour cream

½ cup marscapone

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 ripe bananas, pureed

1 vanilla bean, cut down center and scrape seeds

350°F oven, uses 9x5x3 loaf pan or cupcake pan

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Combine sour cream and mascarpone in a small bowl and set aside.

Using a whisk or standing mixer, beat butter with cinnamon until soft and creamy. Slowly add the sugar a little at a time. Once the mixture is fluffy and a light white color, use a spatula to scrape down sides of the bowl.

Now add eggs, one at a time until eggs are completely incorporated.

Add one third of the flour mixture to the batter and whisk to incorporate. Then, add one third of the mascarpone sour cream mixture and blend until incorporated. Add the flour and mascarpone mixtures two more times in same order until everything is incorporated.

Fold in bananas and vanilla bean.

Pour batter into buttered baking dish. For loaf pan bake for 1 hour. For cupcakes bake for 20-25 minutes. Set on a rack to cool then serve.

ENJOY!