Bar Helix | Easy on the Eyes & the Tongue

Bar helix, located in the RiNo District, recently launched a special, supplementary menu of twelve creative versions of the classic Negroni cocktail, becoming Denver’s only Negroni bar. Bar helix is a modern, sexy bar + lounge concept created by Advanced Sommelier Kendra Anderson (aka @SwirlGirlDenver) that showcases 16 sexy, innovative cocktails, alongside an extensive wine list and decadent small plates. Grape based spirits served up sexy is the underlying theme there.

The Negroni was always Owner Kendra’s cocktail of choice, but it wasn’t always available at bars or the bartender wouldn’t know how to make it. In case you don’t know either, a Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel. Bar helix’s signature Negroni features a Vermont gin that’s barrel aged and infused with honey, and a lesser known Campari - this drink glides down your mouth.

Kendra wanted to share her love of the Negroni with Denver through introducing and “educating” her guests to this classic cocktail, along with a variety of classic Negroni spin-offs, so everyone can find a version they love. She relishes in the opportunity the bar provides her to chat and interact with others about her extensive knowledge on spirits and wine - her and Bar Manager Victoria really know their stuff!

On their new Negroni menu, guests will find a variety of versions from the familiar (Campari, Death’s Door gin, Dolin sweet vermouth) to the esoteric (Cappelletti aperitivo, Casa de Valor cava brut, and Casa Mariol vermut). From December 1 through 31, guests who drink any twelve full-sized negroni cocktails will win a holiday-themed negroni gift package, a $25 gift card to bar helix, and get entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $200 gift card to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts! They’ve coined it “The Twelve Negronis of Christmas”. Or, guests who sample twelve baby Negroni cocktails during the month of December will also win a special Negroni themed gift.

The luscious bites are also not to be missed. Kendra (who was once a chef) developed a “sexed-up bar food” menu along with Chef Sam who runs the kitchen. Bar helix makes 85% of the menu items in house, from deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail to the garnishes in you cocktail.

Kendra’s vision to make great things accessible, like fine wine, champagne, caviar, and Negroni is absolutely apparent in bar helix and the aesthetics provide a sexy, yet sophisticated environment to take your mind off the mundane. We recommend you stop by for “Woman Crush Wednesdays”, a date night, or for an “Afternoon Delight” aka happy hour 4-7pm Wednesday-Sunday.

Visit barhelixdenver.com & follow @barhelixdenver on Facebook and Instagram

Words by Tiffany Candelaria @TCdoesFnB & Samantha Bliss @redcapturesherbliss

Lifestyle | Denver’s Newest Foodie Mecca with a View | Avanti F&B

A new trend has been popping up in the big cities of America, starting in 2010 with the opening of Mario Batali’s Eataly in New York City. This is the food hall concept, popular in Europe, where multiple eateries and bars are housed under one roof.  Think of The Source and Union Station here in Denver, and now add to that list newly opened Avanti Food & Beverage in the Highlands. 

Avanti Food & Beverage is described as a “culinary collection of start-up restaurants, all of which are self-contained shipping containers occupying a decades-old, repurposed two-level warehouse.” When you arrive, there is someone to greet you and offer information about the space and how the process works. Inside, there are seven distinctly different chef-driven eateries, large open dining areas, and a lounge downstairs by the bar. Upstairs there are two outdoor patios with plush lounge chairs, formal table dining, and casual bar and stadium style seating options, all with an incredible view of the Downtown Denver skyline. Arguably the best in the city.

Many of the different eateries at Avanti are offshoots of current Colorado restaurants and these kitchens are rented for one to two years. Westword’s July 10th article states, “Leases are intentionally short so that turnover is a built-in part of the concept, which will allow new talent to come in and give their ideas a temporary testing ground before moving on to bigger things.” They all have small spaces, which means the kitchens and plating are all visible to the guests. The current collection of eateries is as followed: Poco Torteria, a torta shop from Pinche Tacos chef-owner Kevin Morrison. Farmer Girl, a farm-to-table concept from Tim Payne. MiJo, a Japanese-influenced izakaya from John DePierro. Brava, a wood-fired pizza and sandwich shop from chef David Bravdica. Quiero Arepas, Venezuelan arepas from chefs Becky and Igor Panasewicz. Bixo Mediterranean Bites, a modernized Mediterranean menu with a Mexican twist from chef Marco Gonzales. Souk Shawarma, offering Lebanese shawarmas and rice bowls from chef-owner of Bistro Barbes, Jon Robbins. 

Living up to its name, there are just as many beverage options as there are food selections. We were briefly baffled when presented with four alcoholic beverage menus as well as a self-serve soda fountain and canisters of Teakoe iced black and green teas.

Their large beer selection includes ten taps from Dogfish Brewery and ten seasonally rotating taps of Colorado craft brews. There are eight wines of both red and white by the glass, plus Infinite Monkey Theorem on tap, and sake. Their cocktails are creative along with a few classics, and fairly cheap considering their quality contents. 

Avanti makes group dining a breeze. So feel free to introduce your gluten free friend to your vegan-pasta loving bestie, as this place is sure to please everyone. Picky eaters of Denver-unite! . The abundance of choices also means that you’re faced with the tricky decision of choosing where and what you want to eat. We somewhat solved that dilemma by asking for meals to-go in order to sample dishes from all of the eateries. Don’t be afraid to do the same- as there are indeed a wide variety of culinary delights. We also suggest taking your time with it all; peruse all of the menu options to craft a general idea for your foodie journey, switch up your seats throughout the venue, sip a cocktail, soak up some sun on the deck, strike up a conversation over the game on TV, relax and savor. 

Thoughts by Tiffany Candelaria