Profile: The Squeaky Bean in Denver, Colorado

Profile: The Squeaky Bean

• Maxwell Mackissock, Chef
• 3301 Tejon St., Denver, CO 80211
• 303.284.0053
• thesqueakybean.net

Exterior of The Squeaky Bean in Denver

Photos courtesy The Squeaky Bean

Examiner: What makes your establishment unique?
Maxwell: The unique thing about the Squeaky Bean is the casual, laid back ambiance.  We work very hard to avoid pretentiousness on any level.

Examiner:  What is a little known factoid about your place?
Maxwell: Something that not everyone knows about the Squeaky Bean is our farm stand that we have every Thursday during the growing season.   We are in partnership with a farm in Longmont, Colorado called Aspen Moon Farms.  The farmer Jason Griffith comes to the restaurant on Thursdays and sells the same beautiful produce that he sells to us, right on our patio.  I love it and more importantly the neighborhood loves it.

Examiner:  What is your specialty?
Maxwell: I always have a hard time answering this question since we don't necessarily cook a specific ethnicity of food.  I come from French heritage, and grew up cooking Italian.  That said I probably use Mediterranean flavors and techniques more that anything else.

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Examiner:  What is your patrons' favorite thing about your establishment? What's your favorite?
Maxwell: I feel that patrons really appreciate the fact that we do three services everyday.  It can be hard to find interesting food before lunch time, and we try hard to give that to our neighborhood.  Come in the morning for great coffee and a party, then come back for dinner for a totally different experience.

Examiner: Anything new on the horizon that people can look forward to trying?
Maxwell: We are beginning the process of expanding our kitchen.  We are very limited with the equipment that we currently have.  Hopefully in a few months the kitchen will be completed and we can take the food to different levels for all of our services.

Interior of The Squeaky Bean

Examiner:  What is the top thing you recommend visitors to your city do/see - besides your business, of course?
Maxwell: A great day in Denver would be to rent Beach Cruisers and ride all over the city eating, having fun, and seeing the sites. Denver is really easy to get around on a bicycle with a great network of bike paths, and bike lanes.  At night go to Red Rocks Amphitheatre and see a show.  It is my favorite music venue in the world.

This article is part of a travel series profiling chefs, owners, managers and people behind the scenes of restaurants, hotels and other things of interest to tourists and locals alike across the Western US. These profiles also include a local favorite thing to see or do from the person at the helm in addition to him or her sharing the local flavor of their place.

Profile: Parisi Pizzeria Deli Trattoria in Denver, Colorado

Profiles: Parisi Pizzeria - Deli – Trattoria

• Simone and Christine Parisi, owners
• Opened in 1998
• 4401 Tennyson St., Denver, CO 80212
• www.parisidenver.com

Parisi has been called one of Denver’s hidden gems. Owner and chef Simone Parisi is an Italian native who has brought his family’s recipes, from handmade raviolis to seafood soup, to Denver. Parisi is also in one of the hottest spots of Denver: The Highlands neighborhood, what’s been called by one national magazine, “The Brooklyn of Denver” – where families, yuppies, millionaires and even long-time residents combine to make one of the most compelling areas of Denver known for his hip arts scene, thriving restaurant community and just generally its hipness.

Simone Parisi, owner/chef

Photos courtesy: Parisi

Examiner: What makes your establishment unique?
Simone: The image and culture of Italian cuisine is deeply embedded in our character.  I grew up in Florence where food and family are ingrained in the culture, but in America, the simplicity of eating well had become a status symbol. We created an affordable, casual and quick-dining concept without compromising the quality of authentic Italian cuisine. The family-friendly atmosphere has helped turn Parisi into one on of the most beloved restaurants in the city. What’s more, Parisi attracts some of the most discriminating Italian food and pizza experts in the nation.

Examiner:  What is a little known factoid about your place?
Simone:  Parisi has a Community Table night each month in which neighbors and strangers alike sit together at long tables and share a family-style meal prepared at the chef’s discretion. This evening of sharing, laughing and eating has become a cherished tradition for locals.

Examiner:  What is your specialty?
Simone: Parisi is famous for its pizza, which is prepared in traditional Naples style: thin crispy crust, light sauce and cheese, with fresh Italian-style toppings: basil, prosciutto, soprassata, and others. Don’t ask for any pepperoni here!

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Examiner:  What is your patrons' favorite thing about your establishment? What's your favorite?
Simone: I think Parisi’s patrons favorite thing is that Parisi has changed their notion of “Italian food” – it’s not just heavy cheese-laden pastas. Instead we’re about fresh ingredients, hand-made pastas and breads, thin light pizzas and traditional flavors. My favorite part of the restaurant is that it’s for families and friends. Neighbors greet each others, families bring their small children, couples go on dates. It’s a social and lively place that also has excellent food.

Examiner: Anything new on the horizon that people can look forward to trying?
Simone: We’re expanding and renovating the deli and take-out section of Parisi because that’s quickly becoming a larger part of our business. People pop in for things such as our raviolis and sauce to take home, or on summer nights we serve a lot of gelato.

Parisi in Devner

Examiner:  What is the top thing you recommend visitors to your city do/see - besides your business, of course?
Simone: Parisi is located in the Highlands neighborhood of Northwest Denver, an area of the city that has been compared to Brooklyn. I recommend visitors check out the local art galleries, coffee shops, book stores and nightlife that is popping up all over this part of the city. It’s just a few minutes from the famous LoDo part of Denver, yet has a completely different feel.
Examiner:  Anything else you want to add?
Simone: I would just emphasize that delicious, fresh food doesn’t have to be expensive. Food should be shared, celebrated and eaten with family and friends and that’s what we’ve created at Parisi.

This article is part of a travel series profiling chefs, owners, managers and people behind the scenes of restaurants, hotels and other things of interest to tourists and locals alike across the Western US. These profiles also include a local favorite thing to see or do from the person at the helm in addition to him or her sharing the local flavor of their place.