Laura Shunk
Westword
Denver, CO, United States
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Past articles by Laura:
Reunion in Commerce City Will Be Home to an Agricultural High School
“This is the first school that’s starting with agriculture from the ground up. It’s like Google in a barn, with a focus on collaboration and innovation," says Kelly Leid, the Oakwood Homes ex who's helping to create the school in the Commerce City community. → Read More
Sean Kenyon and Woody Creek Distillers Host New Bartending Competition in Denver
Bar owner Sean Kenyon has teamed up with Woody Creek Distiller to host a bartending competition at American Bonded that goes beyond creating clever cocktails. → Read More
Truffles, the Ultimate Culinary Indulgence, Are Sprouting Up on Denver Menus
The epitome of culinary indulgence may well be truffles, which start showing up on restaurant menus in November and disappear after the ball drops on the new year. Several restaurants around Denver are now offering the rare mushrooms. → Read More
Globeville Was a Superfund Site: Could We Garden There?
We bought a house in a former Superfund site. Would it be safe to garden there? → Read More
The Wolf's Tailor From Chef Kelly Whitaker Opens in Sunnyside on September 1, 2018
Chef/restaurateur Kelly Whitaker, owner of Basta in Boulder, opens the Wolf's Tailor in Denver's Sunnyside neighborhood on Saturday, September 1, 2018. → Read More
Jason's Thai Asian Bistro & Boba Spices Up the University of Denver Neighborhood
Although the menu includes dishes from around Asia, Chinese fare is the real specialty here. → Read More
Alon Shaya Gets Personal With Safta, Opening Saturday at the Source Hotel
Safta, which means “grandmother” in Israeli, is a personal project for the chef that gives a nod to his real grandmother, a Bulgarian woman who moved to Israel in 1948. “She was both a pharmacist and an amazing cook,” he explains. “Whether through medicine or food, she liked to take care of people. I looked up to... → Read More
Bryan Dayton on Going the Distance at Restaurants and the Leadville Trail 100
The restaurateur will be competing in the Leadville Trail 100. → Read More
Banhez Shows That Mezcal Is About Much More Than Smoke
Much of mezcal’s popularity in America seems to have been built on smoke — read just about any story on the spirit, and you’ll notice that “smoky” is the only tasting note assigned. But there's much more to this spirit, as a trip to Banhez shows. → Read More
Chipotle Opened Its First Store in Denver 25 Years Ago, and Now It's Leaving Denver
Twenty-five years ago this month, Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle at 1644 East Evans Avenue, bringing massive, Mission-style burritos made with fresh ingredients to the masses. In the process, he sparked a revolution within the food industry. Chipotle has rightly been credited with launching the... → Read More
Denver is the Fast-Casual Capital, but Will Chipotle's Move Change That?
The homegrown burrito chain is moving its headquarters to California. → Read More
Denver is the Fast-Casual Capital, but Will Chipotle's Move Change That?
When homegrown Chipotle moves its headquarters to California, will it take Denver’s crown as the king of fast-casual concepts, too? Here’s the current status of this city’s homegrown fast-casual companies: → Read More
The Happiest Hour: Ultreia's Deals Are on the Right Track
Ultreia's happy hour captures the spirit of a Spanish tapas bar, especially with its drink discounts. → Read More
Randall's at the New Climax Serves Up Soul Food in Five Points
The kitchen here puts out a well-rounded menu of soul food, including crispy chicken wings, glazed with a sweet-spicy lacquer so deftly balanced, you’ll wonder why you’ve spent so many years thinking you were a Frank’s Red Hot purist. And don't miss the smothered catfish on Tuesdays. → Read More
Randall's at the New Climax Is a Soul Survivor in Five Points
Not long ago, venues like Randall’s at the New Climax peppered Five Points, competing with one another on the strength of their soul food, the price of their drinks and the loyalty of their crowds. Today Randall’s is an outlier, a throwback to the era before the recent explosive growth, where beers are still $3 and... → Read More
Happy Hour at Cho77 Is a Better Saturday Option Than Boring Brunches
Cho77's happy hour runs on Saturday afternoon, too, giving a good reason to skip brunch for something more sophisticated. → Read More
Fifteen Years Ago, the Kitchen Started a Restaurant Revolution
It’s been several years since business partners Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson cooked together on a line, but in celebration of nearly fifteen years in business — an occasion they’re marking with a refresh of the menu and interior of their flagship restaurant, the Kitchen — the two are putting together a tuna... → Read More
The Happiest Hour: Early Birds Get the Breakfast Burrito at Onefold
Between liquid lunches, and extended and late-night happy hours, there’s plenty of opportunity to avoid ever paying full price in Denver. And the town has at least one happy-hour breakfast: Onefold’s breakfast burrito happy hour, which runs from 7 to 9 a.m. on weekdays and nets you that dish for $5. → Read More
The Happiest Hour: Cochino Commands a Crowd With Junk Food-ified Snacks
Doritos, tater tots and Fritos all make appearances on Cochino Taco's stoner-food happy hour menu. → Read More
Wayward Will Close on April 15 After Eight Months in Former Zengo Space
Wayward has only been open since last August, but will close on April 15 in the former Zengo space at Riverfront Park. → Read More