Foodie Thoughts: Column offers a taste of Evergreen food scene

By Pam Montgomery

Chef Pam

My name is Pam Montgomery, and I’m a foodie. I love anything to do with food: eating it, cooking it, shopping for it, and getting others excited about it. I enjoy discovering a new restaurant or coffee shop, eating meals outside, browsing farmers markets, and even grocery shopping. It’s true. I can wander for a very long time in a produce aisle, take advantage of every taste offered, and always have my eye out for those discount sections hidden in the back.

I am certain my passion came from my dad, who also loved to spend time in the kitchen. Since I didn’t cook growing up, culinary classes eventually became a regular occurrence in my life, beginning at the Lid and Ladle in Golden and then the Peppercorn in Boulder. I continue to take classes all over the Denver area and even had the chance to attend a school in Italy. We are fortunate to have many great schools on the Front Range. Periodically taking a class can inspire you, teach you about the latest trends and gadgets, entertain you, and provide you with new recipes.

Our Evergreen food scene gets better all the time. Between El Rancho and Marshdale, the area I’ll be covering, we have more than 50 restaurants, eight coffee shops, three grocery stores, two stand-alone bakeries, three farmers’ markets, and one food truck. We don’t have to go far to enjoy Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and even a winery — on a creek, no less! 

We have a cooking club and wine-tasting group through the Evergreen Newcomers and Neighbors, a classy kitchen gift and gadget store, no lack of fast food (Wendy's, McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell), a slew of personal chefs, three catering companies, beautiful venues to hold events, kitchen designers galore, and unlimited picnic spots.

I rarely use recipes, never concoct the same dish twice, read Bon Appétit magazine and collect cookbooks. Avocados are my favorite food, chocolate is second, cheese third; I enjoy a good steak, and I experiment with tofu every once in a while. Some of my favorite places include: Da Kind Soups, the Bagelry (did you know it serves Daz Bog coffee?), cheeseburgers at the Whippletree and the Little Bear, and having breakfast at the Bear Creek Tavern in Kittredge, with its lovely view of Bear Creek, especially when it snows. And, we keep adding new places: Everbean Coffee at Lakepoint Center — the outdoor patio is now open; Kitchen by the Creek and its cozy ambience; and that mysterious restaurant under construction downtown …

My once-a-month column will address a variety of topics: quick and healthy recipe websites; new ways to prepare fish; easy chutneys; shopping for produce in season; local food history, cookbooks and local food authors; upcoming food events and nearby classes; entertaining ideas; and great places for take-out.

I am also happy to answer any foodie-type questions you might have. E-mail me any time. I’d love to hear from you!

Evergreen resident Pam Montgomery can be contacted at chefpam47@yahoo.com. Send her your questions, recipes and favorite food stories.