There’s a new, tasty Vietnamese restaurant in Fruita called Blue Lotus. It’s located at 152 S. Mesa St. and has a pool table in the next room. I enjoyed the vegetarian noodle soup with rice noodles, vegetables and mushrooms, and my friend loved the banh mi sandwich and egg rolls. The service was friendly and quick, and I think it’ll be a great addition to Fruita.
A new restaurant, 476 Food District, will soon open in the space next to Five Guys in Grand Junction (2480 Highway 6 & 50) with a menu that includes Korean, Thai and sushi. The restaurant’s name combines the owners’ lucky numbers with a nod to the eclectic international cuisine they serve. The restaurant also owns 476 Eatery, located at 107 W. Bridge St. in Hotchkiss. I was intrigued by the restaurant’s diverse menu, and when I saw mango sticky rice on the menu, it definitely caught my attention.
Monarca Taqueria & Cantina is a new restaurant opening soon in Clifton at 3210 I-70 Business Loop, Unit G. You may have tried their food truck that serves giant papas cargadas (stuffed fries), tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. I can’t wait to see the menu, it’s sure to be delicious.
Cruise Control Kitchen + Cellar, located in downtown Grand Junction (555 Colorado Ave), has an up and running kitchen and serves a variety of “Chicago-style” cuisine. I just visited Chicago for the James Beard Awards and had so much amazing food. Patric Matysiewski, co-owner of Cruise Control, gave me so many great suggestions of places to try when I visit Chicago. The menu looks delicious and there’s something for everyone. I can’t wait to go and try it soon.
I recently attended a fun (and delicious!) World Whiskey class at the Western Slope Whiskey Club. I was particularly intrigued by the whiskeys from Kyro Distillery in Finland. Guest presenter Travis Gale from Maverick Beverage Company introduced us to some unique whiskeys from around the world. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.westernslopewhiskeyclub.com.
The Colorado Lavender Festival is next Saturday, June 29th, at Riverbend Park (451 Pendletone St.) in Palisades. There will also be farm tours, cooking demonstrations and more. It’s fun to see the creative ways people use lavender in dishes and drinks. To buy tickets and see the schedule, visit www.coloradolavender.org.
The Grand Junction Jackalopes have a new concession stand! I plan to go and watch a game and try some of their interesting menu items, including mimosas and truffle fries. I’ll share my experience in a future column, so stay tuned.
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