Good Day Downtown Boulder!
Everyone loves downtown, you can find pretty much anything and everything within our beautiful district. "What should I eat?" is one of the most common questions. It can be challenging to decide when there are so many great options. So visitors are inclined to ask locals. People who know what's best since they live here. But do you know who is downtown more than the locals, and even more than (some) business owners? Employees! Our downtown district thrives because of its employees. They frequently go out to lunch, walk around every day, and become aware of the hidden treasures.
I asked three randomly selected downtown employees from three different establishments what their favorite hidden lunch spot is and what they would recommend to a rookie intern like me. I went to all three spots and tried their recs and now I am here to share!
Bella, an employee at Free People Movement dropped that one of her favorite spots for a quick lunch is Lindsay's Boulder Deli. She told me to try the Ferris Brieller Sandwich. And that I did. I went through the line like any other intern (no special privileges here) and got my sandwich delivered to my table. It was a perfect fall sandwich if you ask me and it checked off all my criteria for fall foods. I’ll start by complimenting the soft bread, accompanied by some sort of sweet jam, crunchy green apples (which bring a key texture), thick cut turkey and of course, the melted brie. It was a refreshingly delicious sandwich that mixed unfamiliar flavors to me. As someone who likes sweet and savory foods, this is a must!
Next, I went to Süti & Co and spoke with Dan. He told me that his favorite stop on Pearl is Fuji to eat their onigiris'. As someone who is chronically online, I had been seeing onigiris mentioned often and had been wanting to try them. I was quite excited to look into this recommendation. Dan’s favorite is the 'Tuna Mayo Onigiri'. I walked over and ordered from Fuji's friendly staff. The onigiri presented to me was almost like a warm hug. Amazing service, complimented by a steaming, soft, pillowy bed of rice wrapped in seaweed. It was really fantastic. The flavors of the tuna mayo soaked into the rice, delivering something quite delicious. The onigiri itself was a small snack, ideal for on-the-go or quick bites. Dan’s rec did not disappoint.
Finally, the last spot I hit was Gemini, recommended by none other than Dolby from Rocket Fizz. Dolby mentioned that Gemini often rotates new dishes and flavors. She told me her favorite was the Chorizo Wrapped Monkfish. Unfortunately that was only a dinner menu item. So I opted for the next best thing which was their Bacon Wrapped Dates. The dish featured whipped goat cheese, nectarines, and smoked honey. It was truly an incredible bite with such new and complex flavors that my tastebuds loved. The whipped goat cheese is tangy, the dates are candy sweet and the bacon brings the salty profile to the table. I also really enjoyed the nectarines which brought a real freshness to the plate.
These are just a few of the plates and dishes that keep downtown employees fueled and ready to tackle the day. Next time you visit downtown, skip the guessing and take a page out of their book. Ask a downtown employee for some insider tips! Think of it like insider trading except with sushi and sandwiches instead of stocks and legal action. Downtown's hidden gems are on every corner. Whether you're here for a quick snack or looking to eat with your friends, trust the employees and check out their favorite spots!
Until next time,
Fatima
Tagged: Dining, Restaurants