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When 6 partners took over the downtown Castle Rock restaurant that had housed Pino's Place, one of the more famous eateries in Castle Rock, they did it with kindness, understanding and a desire to...
When 6 partners took over the downtown Castle Rock restaurant that had housed Pino's Place, one of the more famous eateries in Castle Rock, they did it with kindness, understanding and a desire to preserve the love of the Culinary Arts that had been shown for many years by Josepino ("Pino") and Josepina ("Pina") Arini. Mrs. Arini brought her lifetime of authentic Italian cooking to the restaurant and now the new partners wanted to make the restaurant a hip, LoDo affair while preserving the love that had been shown by the Arini's for so many years.
When the 6 new partners reopened the restaurant as Union- An American Bistro, Pino's children came and tearfully approved of the new place. As one who has lived (and eaten) in Castle Rock for the past quarter century, I can't help making some mental comparisons between the old Pino's with Mrs. Arini making up Italian (especially Bolognese) sauces in the kitchen that she had learned so many years ago in Italy and the new, modern Union. Oddly, the same thread of authenticity runs through both.
When we visited Union, Dennis Dickey, Union's Manager, met us at the door with a warm, welcoming smile. He has grown up in the restaurant business and it shows. The name Union comes from a union of the six partners. Dickey defines a bistro as "upbeat, close and comfortable. Some would term a bistro as raucus." It was quite civilized when we were there.
Chef/Partner Tom Lee made us a double boned pork chop that had been soaked in brine for a full day before hitting the grill and being topped with a mustard/cider sauce with lavender flowers added to give it a marvelous aroma. He then made us a Tuna Tartar salad with sushi-grade Ahi Tuna and Jalapeno Citrus dressing and micro-herbs from California.
Another of Union's partners is dessert chef Kim Heideman who made us an amazing chocolate chip cookie dessert where cookie dough was poured into a crust and baked until the top had formed a cookie while the inner dough was still somewhat soft and pliable. It was unbelievable.
All the waiters at Union wear black and you feel that you have gone to Lower Downtown Denver. What a pleasure it is to see you are in Castle Rock when you come out. Union is a delight.
To see a streaming video of Chefs Lee and Heideman working their culinary magic, go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com and visit the Union Bistro page.
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When you live in a fairly small place like Castle Rock, it is easy to forget that size alone does not make up culture and sophistication.
Because Douglas County is so new and affluent, people...
When you live in a fairly small place like Castle Rock, it is easy to forget that size alone does not make up culture and sophistication.
Because Douglas County is so new and affluent, people from all over America (and the world) have moved here. It is pretty amazing what you can find here in a restaurant.
You can even go to the Big Apple. Just travel to La Dolce Vita in Castle Pines North. (Exit 186 of I-25) It is an authentic Italian New York-style restaurant like the great eateries found in the New York metro area. Damon Runyon became famous writing stories about this New York world with Guys and Dolls and other great tales.
To pull off making a Runyonesque place, you need great service, great food and it helps to have a gorgeous doll belting out "My kind of Town" as she serenades the whole joint. That's La Dolce Vita. Vita's owner, Sicilian born Ignazio Mulei, has had a number of restaurants over the years, both here and in the Big Apple. He has simply nailed it this time with La Dolce Vita.
Chef Ken Benton studied at the Universita di Scienze Gastronomiche in Pollenzo, Piedmont Dist., Italy before coming aboard at La Dolce Vita. He made us Veal Marsala and Piatto di Mare when we visited. For a streaming video of Chef Benton making his signature Veal Marsala and Piatto di Mare, go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com. His formal training, including graduating from the Cook Street School of Fine Cooking, definitely has paid off for him and for La Dolce Vita as well.
If you want to go to Frank Sinatra's New York and still be in our community, you should go to La Dolce Vita. You don't need a subway token, just your car.
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Rockyard American Restaurant & Grille has been a Castle Rock institution for the past 7 years. For the past 3 years, the Executive Chef of the Rockyard has been Jinnie Roundtree, a Culinary Arts...
Rockyard American Restaurant & Grille has been a Castle Rock institution for the past 7 years. For the past 3 years, the Executive Chef of the Rockyard has been Jinnie Roundtree, a Culinary Arts graduate of Lousiana's McNeese State University School of Culinary Arts. Chef Roundtree has obviously learned a lot from the Lousiana Cuisine that gave her her start.
Ms. Roundtree's Jalapeno Soup has become the Rockyard's "Signature Dish" for the past several years. The Jalapeno Soup has morphed into an ingredient for many of the Rockyard's Mexican dishes including both Chicken and Shrimp Enchiladas. To see a streaming video of Rockyard Chef Roundtree's showing how she makes the Signature Dish, go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com and click on the Rockyard Castle Rockpage. The Rockyard is a great place to go for a fine epicurian meal.
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The owner of Cafe de France just makes this restaurant an enjoyable experience. The welcoming atmosphere doesn't end there - the food is beautifully presented and delicious. The shrimp champagne...
The owner of Cafe de France just makes this restaurant an enjoyable experience. The welcoming atmosphere doesn't end there - the food is beautifully presented and delicious. The shrimp champagne is chef Daniel Silva's signature dish. To see a streaming video of him preparing it, please go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com
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Chef Gabriel Torres makes the best chile rellenos in the area. He showed us how and we took a video of him making them. Want to see? Go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com
Chef Gabriel Torres makes the best chile rellenos in the area. He showed us how and we took a video of him making them. Want to see? Go to www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com
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Mt Fuji
Category:
Restaurants
4714 Milestone Ln
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
(303) 660-2618
Mt. Fuji Japanese Cuisine has an expert sushi chef, Jimmy Li, who showed us how he makes not only traditional Japanese fare but a "New Style Sushi". If you'd like to see how he makes the Golden...
Mt. Fuji Japanese Cuisine has an expert sushi chef, Jimmy Li, who showed us how he makes not only traditional Japanese fare but a "New Style Sushi". If you'd like to see how he makes the Golden Mango Sushi, tune into our website: www.signaturedishesofcolorado.com for a free streaming video
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