I Ate Everything at Taste of the Nation Denver 2010

Thirty-two restaurants participated in this year's Taste of the Nation event benefiting Operation Front Line Colorado and I tried them all--some more than once. It wasn't necessarily my intention, but with the bite-sized plates being served it didn't seem like it would be that bad. In the end, however, I was a groaning, sleepy mess leaning on the bar sipping on a cocktail with a chocolate-coated raw slice of jalapeño from Avenue Grill's enthusiastic mixologist.

Along with all this food were many Colorado breweries, distilleries, wineries and hundreds of guests. I was happy to see that Operation Front Line was able to pack them in at the beautiful though obscurely located Mile High Station. And while the crowded food-filled aisles did force me to pace myself as I made my way to each restaurant booth, I did as I mentioned, try them all. Here, in no particular order, are my top seven dishes of the night.

This horrible photo showcases a great peach gazpacho with a crab meat salad from Vesta Dipping Grill. It was one of the first dishes I tried, and among the several other gazpachos featured that night, this was the most unique, creative and refreshing. 

This ceviche/ tartar of tuna and sesame seeds from The Corner Office was delicious. Did you know the Corner Office has a Peruvian chef? 

This may have been my favorite dish of the night, but then again, I'm a sucker for moist, fatty duck. This bit of perfectly braised duck was served on a mini-pancake and topped with a cherry. Well done Avenue Grill. 

Lola did this Mexican-inspired dish up right: homemade gordita with tender pork carnitas, goat cheese, cilantro and a bit of cherry tomato. It was an appropriate and deliciously creative mini-version of a Mexican classic. 

Argyll came through with this shrimp mac-and-cheese served with homemade potato chips. This was my wife's favorite, and one of the largest servings to be found that night. 

I somehow lost a few photos and notes that evening. Imagine that, after 32 plates of food and countless beers and cocktails, I managed to screw things up. It likely isn't a coincidence that my missing photos are from the upstairs places, that I visited when I was already more than halfway through my Long Day's Evening's Journey Into the Night, or as Eugene O'Neill himself often was, three sheets to the wind. 

The two missing dishes that I want to mention were from Table 6 and Jonesy's EatBar, both of whom I have written about in this blog, which makes me feel less bad. Although noticeably without Chef Scott Parker, the Table 6 team was serving up thin slices of rabbit bologna. Let me write that again, so you can say it out loud without having to re-read: Rabbit Bologna. "Rabbit" is another of my favorite eating animals and "Bologna" is a classic piece of nostalgia from lunchtimes past. Together they create a new powerful yet endearing super-food that with a dab of fruit preserve cannot be beat. It was delicious. I wish I could at least show you just how much.

Jonesy's made a bread pudding with cherries served with an ice cream that I think they told me had chipotle. It was a white and silky ice cream that did indeed have a pleasant kick of spice at the end. It was perfect over the rich bread pudding that sopped up the melting ice cream flavor in a quite exquisite manner if I do say so myself.

It was an incredibly fun evening and it was all for a great cause. If you don't remember, Operation Front Line is a program with a mission to end hunger in Colorado by educating families about cooking with and shopping for nutritious foods on a limited budget. If you want to learn more, visit them here and see how you can help by generously donating your money or volunteering your time. See you next year!

These are just some of the 32 restaurants (here are the rest) that came out to support the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. See their full profile and location on Urbanspoon and thank them with your business.

Vesta Dipping Grill

Avenue Grill

The Corner Office

Lola

Argyll

Table 6

Jonesy's EatBar