Table Talk for April 19, 2005

New kid on the block…Tables Cafe, the Park Hill brainchild of Amy Vitale (former executive chef at Strings Restaurant) and fiancé Dustin Barret opens Wednesday, April 20. The “mom-and-pop” cafe indulges Vitale’s furniture fetish (she’s got a hefty collection of shabby chic tables) and the chef couple’s mutual love of New American-style cooking. Look for fresh salads, daily hot plates, and sandwiches such as the Stapleton (hot roast beef, cheese, onions, jalapeño, guac, and salsa) and the Hudson Street (Black Forest ham, Swiss, pear, watercress, Dijon cream, and apricot jam). Keep your fingers crossed that in six to eight months, Tables will have a liquor license. 2267 Kearney St., 303-388-0299.

Fuhgettadaboutit…Gaetano’s, one of Denver’s most notorious restaurants, has been bought by the Wynkoop family. Gone are the days of the Smaldones (the mob-family who owned and operated Gaetano’s) but the bullet-proof glass and the hand-rolled meatballs will remain. Stop by from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for free food and drink on Wednesday, April 20, for the grand re-opening. 3760 Tejon St., 303-455-9852.

Bon anniversaire…Bistro Vendôme celebrates its second anniversary (and some 65,000 breakfasts, lunches, brunches, and dinners served) on Thursday, April 21, with complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres from 5 to 10 p.m. If you can’t make it that evening, visit the bistro’s bar each Wednesday for a $15 pairing of three artisan cheeses from The Truffle and a wine flight (Wine & Cheese Wednesdays begin at 5 p.m., no reservations required). 1424-H Larimer Square, 303-825-3232, www.bistrovendome.com.

Another reason to celebrate…Saturday, April 23, marks Marczyk Fine Foods third anniversary. Stop by our favorite gourmet food store and meet a handful of Marczyk’s vendors including Culinary Cravings (makers of that to-die-for toffee), Smokin’ Joe Jones (mastermind behind the fiery BBQ sauce), and Haystack Mountain (cheese wizzes behind the savory goat cheese log and ashed pyramids). Shop until you drop—don’t miss the market-made sausages and the first-of-the-season rhubarb—and enjoy a 15 percent discount on purchases. 770 E. 17th Ave., 303-894-9499.

The Great Steakout…Sunday April 24 is the World Championship Steak Cook-off in Silverton, Colo. With a mountain backdrop (not to mention gnarly skiing on a 115-inch base), the folks at Silverton Mountain are bound and determined to prove that Colorado is home to the world’s best beef. Grilled steaks will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10 based on overall quality, flavor, and appearance. The highest score wins the title of World’s Best Steak, a cash prize, and a trophy for the mantle. A representative from the beef council and yours truly will be on hand to judge. Stay tuned for the beef ah, I mean, results. 970-387-5706, www.silvertonmountain.com.