Denver Restaurant Week Feast No. 1: Panzano

If you read my earlier post, you know that I picked Panzano out of the hundreds of restaurants in the Denver Restaurant Week lineup in part because they were offering four courses (rather than the usual three). And, of course, the menu made me drool a little bit.

Tonight was the big night, and when we arrived for our rather early reservation — 5:45pm — it was clear it was everyone else’s big night, too. The place was already packed! We were seated at at table near the kitchen and on the edge of a busy walkway. It was a little bit noisy, but the four of us (myself, my husband and his parents) could still have a conversation, and it was nice to be in a lively atmosphere (at the normally hushed early-bird hour).

I have to say, betting on the four courses paid off. Each dish was amazing, and I can’t imagine the meal being as perfectly complete without one of them. Here’s what I had:

Crespelle ai Funghi — This was a single, petite crepe stuffed with Hazel Dell mushrooms. The crepe was served warm, golden brown and crispy on the edges. Surrounding it was the most deliciously rich fonduta sauce with just a hint of truffle oil (you know I’m a sucker for ANYTHING with truffle ANYTHING in it).

Zuppa — The tomato soup was a favorite with everyone. And that’s saying  a lot for a simple tomato soup. But the house-smoked mozzarella flavor shone through, and the drizzle of basil oil on top added a great zing. So fresh, yet the smokiness made it feel substantial and comforting.

Cannelloni — I was a little worried that this mushroom-topped cannelloni would be too similar to the mushroom-filled crepe. Not to worry. Though similar in appearance, the flavors were totally distinct. While the crepe was savory, the cannelloni was wonderfully sweet. A delicate pasta tube encased a sweet marscapone filling, and the whole thing was topped with a maple-y marsala sauce.

Cannoli — Hmm, I guess my theme tonight was tube-shaped foods. Cannoli is one of my favorite desserts of all time. I once went on a quest in Florence, Italy to find the city’s best. So I was a little disappointed to find that tonight’s was not a traditional cannoli. It was more like a pirouette cookie stuffed with chocolate mousse. Very delicious, nonetheless, and the scoop of almond-amaretto gelato was a refreshing touch. While my hubbie’s tiramisou gave this dessert a run for its money, I think I still came out ahead. His mom’s creme brulee was so-so, but his dad’s grapefruit slices with clover honey were a surprise hit (and a smart choice given the three preceding courses).

I have to say, Panzano is going to be a hard act to follow, and I’m thinking maybe we should have finished with this one rather than started with it. This was undeniably an extraordinary value, and everything was clearly prepared with care.

Alas, onto the next (life’s rough isn’t it?): Meritage at the Omni hotel in Broomfield on Wednesday night. Stay tuned.