John Lehndorff has hosted Radio Nibbles for more than 25 years. His first show on KGNU in the early 1980s was called the Generic Gourmet Show. He is the former food editor at the Daily Camera and Aurora Sentinel, dining critic for the Rocky Mountain News, and Chief Judge at the National Pie Championships; He … Continue reading
The Kruger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet, 7/29/17 Rockygrass Festival (Lehndorff) By JOHN LEHNDORFF (7/28/17) I was raised on string quartets and folk troubadours and listened to Pete Seeger combine classical and folk music in the early days of public TV, so it seems normal. The Swiss-born Kruger Brothers charm classical snobs into appreciating twang and the bluegrass … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Edible Critic, Sensi magazine, 2/17) When I’m chopping onions with my chef knife I often don’t always glance down at my fingers. I’m looking for the next thing I’m going to slice or thinking about the next story I have to write. It scares people who watch me do it but I … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Nibbles, Boulder Weekly 1/26/17) – I’m awake before the alarm and before the dawn. This is a situation I would have avoided at all costs when I lived a younger man’s life. In the winter dark I make minimal efforts at attire. Why do I scrape my eyes and then the windshield? Why … Continue reading
Susan France Sheila Lucero, executive chef of Jax Fish House. By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Boulder Weekly, 1/12/17) Sheila Lucero did not grow up dreaming of being an executive chef. Her goal was not to oversee the food at five restaurants in two states. In fact, the Golden native’s only ambition while attending Lakewood High School was … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Visit Aurora Guide 2016) – With 400-plus ethnic and independent eateries and markets, Aurora is Colorado’s ethnic food destination. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Aurora is the third largest city in the state and 54th most populous city in the nation. According to people who love to eat, Aurora is the … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Boulder Weekly, 12/1/16) It’s not just you. For once, it really is the altitude. Food fries weirdly here, cookies spread out like pancakes, pies explode and some cakes collapse. Water boils at a lower temperature so it takes longer to cook vegetables, and coffee and tea don’t taste the same. “A three-minute … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (This feature originally appeared in Sensi magazine) So there I was inhaling scented oxygen and sipping on a blueberry water kefir when I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror behind the bar at Tonic Herban Lounge. I guess nobody ever looks great with a cannula stuck in their nose, but … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Nibbles column, Boulder Weekly, 9/1/16) Being a pie contest judge sounds like a lot of fun, but you aren’t qualified just because you like pie a lot. You can’t have a cold or any food allergies or aversions, and you can’t be a wimp. I’ve seen neophyte judges who realized their problem … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF I’ll be spending part of my Labor Day weekend in the land of pie. On September 3 I’ll be the chief judge at the Hay Days Pie Contest in Hygiene . On September 5 I’ll be judging pies in Louisville. We need more pies and competitors to keep pie … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (Boulder Weekly, 8/4/16 – Photos by Susan France) The word “moxie” means “force of character, determination or nerve,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The breads produced at Moxie Bakery are also pretty nervy. My favorite, the Algerian, is a deep brown crusty loaf with major chew and a tender inside with … Continue reading
(This feature originally appeared in Produce Business magazine. Photos by Kim Long) By JOHN LEHNDORFF A giant rooster sculpture crafted from farm tools who goes by “Alfie” greets shoppers at the entrance to Alfalfa’s Market, an independent grocer blocks from the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado. On a hot Saturday afternoon in June the store … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF – (Boulder Weekly) This time of year I love sweet ripe tomatoes, freshly dressed lettuce and buttered roasted corn as much as any person can, but there really is more to life than a bowl of Colorado cherries. I watch folks ignoring the summer smorgasbord to focus on the mild, sweet favorites. … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF During summer’s peak travel season I get variations on the same question from friends and sometimes strangers that go something like this: “We’re driving south on I-25 to New Mexico. Is there any place to eat down there that’s worth getting off the interstate?” I don’t blame them. I made the same … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (From Produce Business magazine) – Produce sales tie-ins are not exactly a new idea. Historians report that merchants in marketplaces sold fruit right next to nuts, bread and other favorites to grab the ancient equivalent of a double-ring from customers. The question isn’t whether tie-ins help sell more fresh fruit – they … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF Pondering the glut of must-go summer gatherings this summer across the state and trying to schedule a calendar and itinerary could require an app, not mention a calculator. From music festivals that include paddleboarding to barbecue competitions and Shakespeare under the stars, there seems to be a destination right for hipsters, families, … Continue reading
By John Lehndorff (From Vail Beaver Creek Magazine Summer ’16) Chef Kelly Liken is famous for creating delectable fine cuisine at her award-winning Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail Village. That tradition continues at her new place, Harvest by Kelly Liken, but she said she has put “fine dining” behind her. “Regardless of the price … Continue reading
By John Lehndorff When Mike Johnston was growing up in Chicago there were herbs and spices in his mother’s kitchen. “My Mom was a good home cook. She made things like pot roast. When it came to spices, she had the typical little metal cans from McCormick’s. We moved with those same spices over and … Continue reading
People look at you kind of funny when you’re standing in the produce department with a watermelon on each arm. I was weighing the options and getting some upper body exercise. One melon was very small but convenient, which makes some sense for one person. The other was a monster, a watermelon from the old … Continue reading
By JOHN LEHNDORFF (From Cheese Connoisseur magazine, June 2016) Eyeing the choices arrayed under glass at cheesemongers’ shops is our favorite kind virtual travelogue. The trail leads through whole nations of dairy art from French Epoisses and Gorgonzola in Italy to Spanish Manchego and Redhawk Triple Crème from California’s Cowgirl Creamery. We may eye British … Continue reading
Nibbles 