On my plate this week: Zocalito Latin Bistro. If you’re looking for authentic Oaxacan cuisine with an upscale twist, then Zocalito will satisfy that (very niche) craving. The name might sound familiar to you if you spent time in Aspen in the early 2000s. Zocalito was a fan-favorite in the mountain town for nearly 15 years before it relocated to the Central Business District of downtown Denver in 2019. Typically, I’m a fan of hole-in-the-wall style Mexican food (why fancify a good green chile burrito?). But the team at Zocalito speaks to the foodie side of my soul with dishes that are premium in quality and adventurous in flavor, but somehow still true to tradition.
For my entrée, I ordered a looongtime menu staple, the Grilled Duck Breast with an Oaxacan rub, avocado salsa, and a pomegranate reduction (and have been dreaming of it ever since). For dessert, I opted for the Mexican Flan (with a chocolatey twist, in lieu of the traditional vanilla custard) topped with fresh raspberries and a chocolate sauce.
Rating: 7/10 definitely licked the plate
In Other Food News:
- 🎉 Weighing factors like access to restaurants, food festivals, and grocery affordability, a WalletHub study ranked Denver as #11 “Best Foodie City in America” out of 182 U.S. cities. Go us!
- 🏆 After a two-year pandemic hiatus, 5280 has unveiled its 2022 iteration of The Best 25 Restaurants in Denver.
- 🥭 Looking for some chamoy? (You know, the sweet/spicy dried fruit sauce famously drizzled on Mexican street eats?) Here’s where you can find it near you. [303 Magazine]
