I can’t remember when I got the travel bug, but when it hit, it hit hard. I’ve made it my goal to travel to one new place each year. That, of course, leaves a lot of time for day dreaming—and explains why I seek out foods that remind me of trips past and future.

In the south of Spain two summers ago, my mom and I happened upon, of all places, an Argentinean barbecue spot. We ordered the chef’s selection of empanadas, and the forkfuls of flaky crust filled with sweet corn or tender chicken were my belated introduction to the Latin American specialty.

I got my latest empanada fix at Limón, Denver’s answer to Peruvian-style cuisine. At brunch (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the savory dish brims with crunchy corn and soft raisins. While the dough was thicker and chewier than it should have been, it was disguised by a swirl of cinnamon crème fraîche that nicely mellowed out the other ingredients. Pair it with bottomless mimosas.

Craving More? Ballpark’s Buenos Aires Pizzeria‘s traditional empanadas are light and crumbly; order the mushroom and red pepper. Or check out Maria Empanada.

Limón, 1618 E. 17th Ave., 303-322-0898

Buenos Aires Pizzeria, 1319 22nd St., 303-296-6710

Maria Empanada, 5209 W. Mississippi Ave., Lakewood, 303-934-2221

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.