Beau Jo's Pizza: A Unique Slice Of Colorado

Beau Jo's Legendary Mountain Pie

     When people ponder Italy's most influential gift to America, the pizza, the age old argument is sure to ensue.  What is the best pizza out there?  Is it the thin, cheesy, "New York Style" that pizza aficionado's will protest that it has to be folded in half to be consumed.  Or is it that ever alluring deep dish pizza from the "windy city" with it's thick crust and tangy sauce.  Personally, I love them both.  Each style if done right are simply delicious, but have you ever tried Mountain style pizza.  Beau Jo's Pizza, has crafted the most unique version of this Italian classic that you will ever have the pleasure of trying.  This truly original establishment has been severing mouthwatering slices of mountain pie to their patrons since 1973.  The original Beau Jo's was built in the picturesque and historic mountain town of Idaho Springs, Colorado.  The pizzeria is housed in an 1800's building and is decorated with a montage of authentic mining equipment and old west memorabilia.  It creates a truly memorable experience for it's vast array of customers.  Besides it's lively atmosphere, Beau Jo's Pizza has built it's massive cult following with it's unique and truly delicious food.

     What makes this pizza so remarkable?  First of all, they start with the freshest ingredients that Colorado has to offer.  Be it savory, homemade Italian Sausage, or the spiciest of jalapeno peppers that the Rocky Mountains have to offer.  They simply have a plethora of ingredients that will satisfy every pallet out there and then smoother them in the gooiest of mozzarella cheese.  Toss in the fact that you can select five different sauces to accent your pie with and you will have an incredible pizza.  However, we're not done yet.  Imagine placing all of these delightful offerings onto the most amazing crust ever!  Beau Jo's crust is what makes their mountain pie so legendary.  This delectable crust is over two inches thick and tastes like the freshest, most flavorful French Baguette that you could find on the streets of Paris.  It is not uncommon to see eager customers eating the crust first with a heaping glob of sweet clover honey. 

     The pizza at Beau Jo's is so phenomenal that people have been known to travel from hundreds of miles away to devour this delicious treat, and with seven locations, Beau Jo's is making it easier and easier to try this Rocky Mountain original.  So the next time that you are in the Denver metro area, head to Beau Jo's Pizza and see why this iconic pizza has captivated the taste buds of Coloradans for decades!

Beau Jo's Pizza:

http://www.beaujos.com/

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, than contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

Am I Nuts For Eating This?

Eating Rocky Mountain Oysters at The Buckhorn Exchange

     When you try The Buckhorn Exchange, you are going to have a dining experience like no other.  Here you are going to get a unique taste of the old west.  Be it amazing food or incredible atmosphere, the place will truly be a memorable experience.

     As we follow our lovely hostess to our quaint booth, I am immediately captivated by their extensive decor.   The Buckhorn Exchange is well known for their immense collection of old west memorabilia.  They have everything, from Native American headdresses and turn of last century photos, to a wide range of antique weapons and a plethora of animal heads.  In fact, they have over 250 trophies, including white tailed deers, plains antelopes, fully stuffed mountain lions, and a massive moose that hangs over the hand carved 120 year old bar.  This upstairs bar, is a great place for a nice cocktail, and a place to catch some live folk music.  Quite simply, the place is overflowing with old western charm, that you would expect from the oldest restaurant in Denver.  This magnificent eatery was opened in 1893 and has been faithfully serving it's die hard clientele ever since.

     Besides the eclectic decor, The Buckhorn Exchange is world renown for it's incredible cuisine.  Here you can savor a juicy prime cut of beef, buffalo, or elk, and all are grilled to order.  Besides thick traditional steaks, they have a wide range of other exotic dishes, like fried alligator, braised ostrich, a southwest chips and rattlesnake dip, and Colorado's most iconic dish, Rocky Mountain Oysters.  For anyone who is unfamiliar with the epicurean delight that is Rocky Mountain oysters, they are bull testicles that are lightly breaded and fried to a light golden brown color.  The Buckhorn Exchange serves them with a zesty cocktail sauce and a creamy homemade horseradish sauce to dip them in.  As a whole, the place is legendary for it's wild game and an excellent place to try these unique culinary treats. So, the next time that you are in Denver and are after a truly unique and delicious culinary experience, then try The Buckhorn Exchange. 

Buckhorn Exchange
1000 Osage St.
Denver, CO. 80204
303-534-9505
www.buckhorn.com

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, than contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

It's Never Good When A Statue Gives You The Finger!

Mary Magdalene, By Giovanni D;Ambrogio

    Did your mom ever tell you not to touch things that don't belong to you.  Well, a neurosurgeon from Missouri is learning this rule the hard way.  About a week ago, he was perusing the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence, Italy, when he saw a six hundred year old statue by Giovanni D'Ambrogio.  Most people would carefully admire this artistic treasure, but this gentleman decided to measure his hand to this depiction of Mary Magdalene.  As you can imagine, this did not go well.  To the absolute shock of this American tourist, the finger broke off this Renaissance masterpiece.  To his credit, he found the nearest security guard and told him what happened.  So far, it looks like the restoration team at the Duomo Museum will be able to restore the statue to it's former greatness, but it is undetermined what the outcome will be for this careless tourist.  Personally, I feel that this gentleman should have to pay for the restoration of this statue, but we shall see.  I also hope that this be a lesson to anyone who just has to touch everything in sight.  So remember when it says please do not touch the artistic treasures, this simply means Do Not Touch!

For any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

Panforte: A Sienese Treat

Panforte, Siena's Sweet Treat

      Christmas is a season synonymous with many things.  Fighting tooth and nail through an army of  unruly shoppers for that perfect gift.  Or the smell of pine irradiating from that ginormous Douglas fur in the living room.  Let's not forget about that blinding display of Christmas lights illuminating from the neighbor's house.  But what about the fruit cake?  You know that horrendous tasting slab of cake that people have a tendency of pawning off on unsuspecting family members and coworkers. The one, that people will either re-gift and give to that one aunt that no one really likes or simply use as a door jam.  I have good news for everyone who has ever encountered this neon colored abomination that only an absolute lunatic would attempt to call a pastry!  I give you The Panforte, Italy's amazing version of this Christmas cliche.

     The panforte or as I like to fondly think of it as Italy's most tasty pastry, is a collection of honey, nuts, dried or candied fruits and a menagerie of delightful spices that make this dense and tasty cake a mouthwatering experience, especially when it is blanketed in confectioners sugar .  This circle of tasty goodness comes from the medieval town of Siena, where it is regarded as a staple of their incredible cuisine.  You cannot pass by a bakery or pastry shop in town and not see humongous stacks of these delicious cakes all wrapped up in the most alluring of packages.  These sweet treats are traditionally brought to someone's house when invited to diner, much like Americans do with a fine bottle of wine.  Now if you ask an Italian for his or her receipt for panforte, you will be thoroughly disappointed.  A Sienese family will guard that receipt with more diligence, then Fort Knox with it's gold.  So to truly taste this magnificent treat you might have to catch the next plane for Tuscany or try the receipt I provided at the end of this article.  I hope that this new variation of  a Christmas classic might give you a new perspective on fruit cake and finally prove to the world that this pastry can be delicious and not something that the dog would turn it's noses on!

If you would like to make this delicious pastry at home, I provided a link to a good receipt at food.com:

http://www.food.com/recipe/panforte-248338

For some great fruit cake humor, take a gander at these links!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZufy-FxK0A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfWWWTE8K4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNy96wYnNsg

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, than please contact us at

thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

They're Back!!!

A Large Plate of Twinkies and Cup Cakes

    My devoted readers may remember way back in November, when I gave an emotional and heart felt good bye to America's favorite snack food, the Twinkie.  You know, those delicious yellow cakes with the creamy filling.  This tragedy occurred, when the Hostess Corporation filed for bankruptcy and closed it's doors.  This looked like the end of the iconic Twinkie and it's tasty cousins.  This beloved snack cake was an intrical part of my childhood and its loss was truly the end of an era.  It is amazing, how the loss of something so trivial to some, could mean so much to others.  I personally felt like a precious piece of my childhood was taken away from me and that I would never get it back!  Above all else, to think about how horrible it would be for my future children not to get the chance to devour a creamy Twinkie or a chocolaty Hostess Cup Cake. 

     For those who also feel my pain, I have great news for you.  They are back! Due to some financial restructuring, and some deal making with the unions, the Hostess Corporation was able to make "the sweetest comeback in the history of ever!"  So after all of these laborious financial wheeling's and dealings, the Hostess Corporation has began to ship these decedent yellow cakes to stores all over the country. They have been very hard to get a hold of due to the shear excitement of their return.  In fact, in my home town of Denver, most markets are having a difficult time keeping them on the shelves, but they are out there.  So be patient and you may get the opportunity to savor these delectable delights again.

My original article about this incredible obsession with these tasty treats:

http://thriftyadventure.blogspot.com/2012/11/goodbye-to-twinkies-end-of-american.html

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, than contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Thrifty Adventurer!

     Today marks the one year anniversary of The Thrifty Adventurer.  I cannot believe that it has been a year since we began providing cutting edge travel advice and sharing our world wide adventurers with you.  It has been a challenging but fun filled year bringing you amazing tips, and tales from the road.  It has been an absolute wonderful experience, and I feel so lucky to be able do this for my amazing fans.  Which I would like to thank, for spending your precious time with us.  Because without you we would not be here.  So from all of us at The Thrifty Adventurer, we would like to give you, the fans, a big appreciative shout out, and an even larger thank you!

Chris Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, than contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

Feijoada: Brazilian Comfort Food

 

My Wife Maggie Digging In To A Plate Of Feijoda

     As I sit in this quint but elegant restaurant, sipping my sweet and sour flavored caipirinhas (caipirinhas, is a sugar cane and lime based cocktail), I am immediately struck by the smell coming from the kitchen.  The whole restaurant is enveloped in this enticing aroma of slow cooked pork and garlic! These smells are so natural and typify every day life to Brazilians.  Because when they think of comfort food, they are immediately reminded of feijoada. 
 
     The concept of the feijoada, dates back to colonial days, when the Portuguese used Rio as a loading zone for their bounty of gold and precious gems.  Back then, meat was an expensive commodity and the well to do bought the best cuts of pork.  So with the shoulders, ribs, tenderloin, chops and so forth gone, or too pricey for the common folk to buy, what would the average person get?  Well, they would purchase the left overs; the pigs feet, snout, ears, skin, and tail.  Now I know this may seem very unappetizing to many, but they would take these left over portions and slowly cook them in a pot for hours upon hours with black beans, garlic and onions until they became an amazingly flavorful stew.  As time went on, this "poor man's stew" became a Saturday tradition amongst both rich and poor alike.  Nowadays, this Brazilian delicacy is served up in fancy restaurants all over the country.

     Here in my favorite restaurant in Ipanema, Casa de Feijoada, they serve this remarkable dish with sides of  fried plantains, rice, orange slices, fried manioc flour, pork rinds, collard greens, and rice.  The portions, as you can tell, can easily feed a small army.  Great news for foreign travelers, who are not as adventurous but want to experience this iconic Brazilian dish, Casa de Feijoada can substitute the exotic cuts for more pedestrians pieces of the pig, like ribs and tenderloin and even beef stew meat. Or you can try it the way I like and have these added to the traditional cuts, creating the ultimate version of Feijoada.  So next time your in Rio de Janeiro, stop by Casa de Feijoada.  Order their legendary version of this stew and wash this massive spread down with the national drink, a caipiriahas and you can have an opportunity to experience a true slice of Brazilian life!

Casa da Feijoada
Rua Prudente de Moraes 10
Impanema, Brazil

Regretfully, they do not have a website to checkout

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, then contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679

August's Letter From The Editor

Eating A Mountain Pie At Beau Jo's Pizza, Idaho Springs, Colorado

     I'm a foodie.  What can I say, I love food.  I simply adore it!  And not just one type or style of food, but I everything, be it an elegant three course meal at a Michelin star restaurant or a juicy burger at a tiny hole in the wall.  I truly enjoy trying a diverse array of food and with my versatile pallet, I have had the opportunity to have eaten some of the best food the world has to offer, and all this month I wish to share this passion with you.  Throughout August, we will explore the wide range of cuisines that I have encountered in my travels as well as highlight some of my absolute favorite eateries.  So joint me on this month long culinary journey as we tantalize those taste buds and enjoy what the world has in store for us!

Christopher Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, then contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679