I like to consider myself a bit of a Denver brunch aficionado. No matter what time of day it is, if I haven’t had ‘breakfast’ I need breakfast foods. It’s just how I’m wired. When I heard that one of my all time fave Denver Resturants, Marcella’s was starting to serve brunch I knew I needed to check it out. I visited Marcella’s on a beautiful fall day and thanks to the wonderful weather we were having was able to enjoy brunch out on the patio overlooking the Denver skyline. When spring finally works it’s way back to Denver this is a MUST weekend spot.
Bottomless sangria served in a table side carafe start off the meal. Both red and white options are the perfect fresh and fruity start to a fantastic meal. Give me a couple of carafes and I could hang out on the patio all day!
First up on the menu is Zeppole. Served as a side, zeppole is the perfect brunch appetizer. You can think of zeppole as the doughnut’s cultured older sister. Deep fried dough is filled with lemon ricotta and served alongside chocolate dipping sauce to make this decadent side a meal within itself. One order is enough for several people at the table to share.
Moving on from appetizers there are entrees for every palate type. I’m more of a savory breakfast person so I loved the truffled eggs and breakfast pizza. Poached eggs are served on top of toasted ciabatta topped with a truffle sauce and oyster shitake mushrooms. This hearty dish is meal enough for two to split if you want to try a few of the items off the menu.
You may not normally associate pizza with breakfast but Marcella’s sunny side up egg breakfast pizza will change that perception forever. I could eat breakfast pizza everyday. Full of flavor this was my favorite item off the mornings selection.
Rounding out the savory selections Shrimp Polenta is a gluten-free option with a true Italian spin on breakfast. A poached egg is served on top of polenta with toasted garlic, tomato, and a parmesan cheese sauce. Intended for breakfast I could easily see this dish as a favorite on the dinner menu as well.
For those with a sweet tooth the Ricotta Crespelle will hit the spot. Each crepe is filled with sweet ricotta cheese and then topped with strawberries that have been soaked in Grand Marnier. This decadent dish is so much better than any pancakes you might normally associate with brunch.
As a Brunch lover I can happily say that Marcella’s menu is the perfect addition to the Denver dining lineup. Brunch is served on Sunday’s and as a bonus Marcella’s accepts reservations making it perfect for dining out when a group of friends are visiting Denver or just gathering with family here in town.
Denver’s Restaurant Week kicks off today (Feb. 22) and runs through March 3rd. If you haven’t visited Marcella’s yet this is the perfect opportunity! View the 2019 Marcella’s Restaurant Week Menu.
Disclaimer: I received a hosted meal to facilitate the writing of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I received no other compensation.
Just a few hours outside Denver, Boulder is nestled in the foothills and the perfect just far enough trip for getting away for a long weekend or holiday. Despite living just down the road from Boulder I rarely spend much time up that way so planning a quick couples getaway for Drew and I was the perfect escape.
I am a sucker for historic hotels and when we started looking for a place to stay the Boulderado was immediately at the top of my list. Located just off the Pearl Street Mall the Boulderado opened in 1909 when the town of Boulder was barely a blip on the map. The property was established by a team of local business owners in need of a luxury hotel solution for visitors to the town. While the property has been updated for modern visitors, the charm and history throughout the hotel remains evident.
We stayed on the fifth floor in a room looking towards the mountains. Getting up to our room meant either taking the winding staircase or riding up in the manually operated Otis Elevator. One of the few remaining Otis Elevators in the country, a member of the Boulderado staff accompanies you to your destination both opening and closing the elevator cage doors. This unique feature is something you don’t typically see and definitely added to the fun of the experience.
Today’s rooms are a far cry from what visitors in 1908 might have experienced and guests can tour the property seeing an example of the original sleeping rooms, including the original standard room without private bath! Our room was extremely comfortable with windows overlooking the streets around. A large king sized bed was topped with beautifully embroidered bedspread and plenty of sitting room space made the entire suite feel like home.
Throughout the property a wide variety of historic artifacts are on display, including trunks refinished by the property historian, vintage clothing and even original radiators that once heated the rooms.
Three restaurant within the hotel itself means you don’t have to travel far for a drink or meal. Our first night in town Drew and I shared beers in the first floor sports bar while watching the end of the world series upon returning from dinner at the nearby Pasta J’s Italian restaurant.
In the morning the next day we woke up early and headed out to the nearby Chautauqua Park to hike the 1st and 2nd Flatirons. One of the most popular hikes in Colorado the trail was busy despite both the early hour and visiting on a Monday. If hiking on a weekend, plan for there to be large crowds. Just under 3 miles we incorrectly assumed this was a ‘easy’ hike, failing to realize that the 1400 foot elevation change would happen primarily at the very beginning of the trail.
Colorado is always a beautiful state but during the fall you can really appreciate the rich colors that come out in the changing colors of the leaves. This trail winds through the park giving panoramic views of the town of Boulder and Colorado University campus. We reached the final leg of the trail to discover that it was currently closed for maintenance but had time to enjoy a closer view of the iconic Flatirons before heading back into town for lunch.
Back in town we left the car at the Boulderado valet and walked two blocks to the newly opened Ruthie’s Boardwalk Social. Specializing in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, this was the perfect mid day treat. I picked the Italian Caprese, combining mozzarella, basil and pesto into an unforgettable grilled cheese delight. Drew chose the Classic and we both added a cup of tomato soup for dipping. This was exactly what I needed after an early morning hike.
Our second evening in town we ventured into the basement of the hotel to License No. 1. Owner of the 1st liquor license in Boulder the speakeasy style bar is the perfect place for starting or ending an evening (and is even available to book for private events). We enjoyed what I can truthful say was one of the best Moscow Mules I’ve ever had. Made with fresh ginger these cocktails made it hard to head onto dinner! After dinner at Jax FishHouse just a few blocks away we headed back to the hotel for a goodnights rest before returning home the next day.
Venturing just far enough from home to relax is the perfect way enjoy a quick couples getaway. With all the holiday celebrations just around the corner, now is the best time of year to head just slightly out of town and leave all the worries back home.
In honor of their 110th year the Boulderado is celebrating with a New Year’s Eve Grand Gala, just like the one hosted in 1909 when the property originally opened. You can join in on this year’s black tie optional celebration and enjoy a couples getaway of your own should you choose to stay the night up in Boulder.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay at the Boulderado to inspire this post. All opinions are my own.
When someone you spend a lot of time with has a concealed carry permit and chooses to carry, it’s important to understand the reasoning and the safety around that decision. People who choose to concealed carry aren’t only doing it for their own safety, but for those around them as well. You are as active a participant in your partner concealed carrying as they are.
When Drew and I first started dating, he shared with me that if we were together, I should expect that he would be carrying a firearm unless we were out drinking. As a police officer, Drew has received training so I’ve never felt worried or uncomfortable about this choice but I know that there are plenty of people who concealed carry who might not have that level of training.
Thanks to Siri, Alexa and the wide array of access we have to technology I find myself regularly stating we live in the future. It’s not the kind of future with hover boards (although those do exist) or Rosie from the Jetsons but it is pretty close.
A few weeks ago I received the opportunity to get an insider peek at the hottest tech coming to CES this winter. CES or the Consumer Electronics Show is an annual event showcasing the best of the best in tech for the coming year. For Tech nerds, CES is the holy grail of events! The event I attended was a sampling of the amazing things that will be announced during the January event.
This spring, you can expect to see more devices using the Voice Effect [Hey Siri], more tools working towards full connectivity, and more ways to engage on three screens [computer + tv + phone]. Ten Years ago in 1998 the technology landscape was a bit different. The top electronic item was a Color TV and the second most popular home device was a VCR. Flash forward 10 years and you’d be surprised to find a home without a TV, Smartphone and Laptop. Technology has become increasingly accessible and it’s integration in our day-to-day lives has become indispensable.
I had the opportunity to demo a few of the highlights we’ll see at the January event and I have to say I am excited about the direction technology is going in. The theme of the event I attended was Home and Health tech and there are some exciting new products headed our way this spring.
I love learning about things that help make life a bit easier and the technology coming out around living healthier lives fascinates me. Like most people, I love listening to music when I work out but as a woman, most workout gear is without pockets. I have yet to find a pair of headphones I really enjoy, since in ear headphones get gross with sweat and cords make me feel tangled.
After the event I received a pair of the Aftershokz Trekz Air to demo and I have to say I LOVE the thought that went into these headphones. These wireless headphones sit over the ear [not in] so that you can hear what is going on around you. This is perfect for runners who might need to be aware of cars. Note: I received a pair of Aftershokz to keep and demo.
As a night owl, I’ve found that sleep doesn’t naturally come easy so when I heard of the Philips SmartSleep system I was intrigued. The first wearable technology that has been clinically proven to enhance sleep, the SmartSleep headband uses customized sound tone to naturally improve the wearers ability to obtain deep sleep. Initially it looks somewhat difficult to wear but the device is actually very light and would be easy to sleep in.
I first heard of TENS devices a few years ago and I love that these easy to use medical tools are finally making it out into the consumer market. The Omron Avail is a wireless TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) designed to provide management of pain or sore muscles, completely without drugs. The unit works similar to acupuncture by trigging the muscles to relax with low intensity electronic pulses.
Smart Homes are going to be the big buzz of the next year and I am excited to see how voice activation becomes more integrated with smart home products. The iDevice Instinct is taking home automation to a new level and embedding the power of Alexa directly into light switches so there’s no need to waste limited counter space. I love keeping my counters clean so this is such a great way to get to use Alexa without actually having another speaker in the house.
I am not joking when I say that a smart garage opener would be a game changer in my house. I regularly have to loop back around to make sure that my garage door is shut. The Senclo Fi is a new high-end garage door opener that allows you to fully automate your garage and even open the door as your approach the home, all through GPS tracking. The best part, it attaches directly to your existing unit so you don’t have to mess with installing an entirely new opener!
This was such a fun event to attend and I can’t wait to hear more about what amazing technology comes out of the official CES event this January!
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend this event and received an Aftershokz Trekz Air during this event. All writing and opinions are my own.
