Table Talk for April 29

Best Bites: Limón’s Scallop Tostada
Though it’s been a couple weeks since I dined at Limón in Uptown, I can’t stop thinking about my entrée: the scallop tostada. This spring dish—a combo of pan-seared scallops, spinach, quinoa, crispy tostadas, and avocado cream—is a brilliant contrast of Peruvian tastes and textures. 1618 E. 17th Ave., 303-322-0898, www.limondenver.com —Amanda M. Faison

Brunch Biz: Colterra’s Brunch and Tastes Wine Bar
After naming Niwot’s Colterra Food & Wine a best new restaurant in our December issue, we were anxious to try the spring brunch menu. Dishes—from strawberry crêpes to the sausage scramble—were beautifully presented, but almost across the board, disappointing. The Haystack chèvre omelet needed more of the starring cheese, a Long Family Farms pork dish arrived with tough, dried out meat, and the crêpes lacked both flavor and whipped cream. To Colterra’s credit, the piping hot beignets and the smoked salmon Benedict were huge hits, the coffee was rich and strong, and the spicy bloody marys went down easily. This great spot has never failed us for dinner, but we wish Colterra upheld the same standard at brunch. 210 Franklin St., Niwot, 303-652-0777, www.colterra.com
Closer to home, Tastes Wine Bar‘s Uptown location began serving brunch over the weekend. Look for a tapas-style menu with goodies such as sweet and savory crêpes, silver-dollar size pancakes, paninis (we liked the croque Hawaiian with ham, Gruyere, and pineapple), and the brothy African peanut soup. 1033 E. 17th Ave., www.tasteswinebar.com —AMF

News: Big Changes for Two Denver Spots
We’ve known for months that Annie’s Café was losing its location to new development, but when we read in Saturday’s Rocky Mountain News that the breakfast spot is purchasing Goodfriends not-yet-vacant location, we had two thoughts: We’d miss the laid-back Goodfriends, and thank goodness we’d still get to enjoy Annie’s killer cinnamon-sugared French toast. The deal between team Goodfriends (Lee Goodfriend and Dave Racine) and Annie’s owners Dianne Williams and Peggy Anderson is a bittersweet one, but it demonstrates the camaraderie that can be found in Denver’s small restaurant community. “I didn’t imagine that I was throwing Annie’s a lifeline at the time but I guess that I was,” says Goodfriend, referring to her suggestion that Williams and Anderson buy the Goodfriends space. “And that was great to us as we [as owners of Racines] had been thrown out by developers and the thought of helping two independent women keep their restaurant alive was perfect karma to us.”
Karma indeed. Instead of losing two dining staples, Denver only loses one. Help Goodfriends celebrate its 29 years of business by dining there until the doors close on May 17. For old times sake, order up the nutty cheese salad or the fish and chips. And then, come June 9, help welcome Annie’s into their new digs—vintage goods, French toast, and all. Goodfriends, 3100 E. Colfax Ave., 303-399-1751, www.goodfriendsrestaurant.com —AMF

Resource: Elanaspantry.com
When celiac disease is diagnosed, the story often goes like this: Little Joey is diagnosed with the disease. Then it turns out that mom and big brother also suffer from this hereditary gluten intolerance. In a matter of days, everyone in the family has to make a lifestyle change. Everyone that is, except dad, who wonders where his chocolate cakes and morning muffins went. Not surprisingly a family’s adaptation to celiac disease can be challenging. But to ease the transition there is Elanaspantry.com, an online resource complied by local celiac Elana Amsterdam who posts in her almost-daily blog the best of the best of the world’s published gluten-free recipes. Look for cupcake and Thai chicken soup recipes, as well as resource information on body care, health, and living with celiac disease. Related Article: Where Has All the Flour Gone?. —Kazia Jankowski

Event: Dos Casas
This Wednesday an incredible array of Denver chefs unite to extend a hand to kids with cancer. At Lola restaurant, chefs Jamey Fader (Lola), Shelia Lucero (Jax Fish House Denver), Matt Selby (Vesta Dipping Grill), Goose Sorenson (Solera), Tyler Wiard (Elway’s), and Duy Pham (formerly of Aqua) will cook up regional Mexican plates for the Dos Casas benefit dinner. All event proceeds go to Brent’s Place, a foundation providing apartments to kids undergoing cancer treatment. Bonus: 5280 reviews Lola. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. $75–$150; 1575 Boulder St., 720-570-8686, www.loladenver.com —KJ