It’s officially the time of year when pumpkins start to show up just about everywhere: On your doorstep, in your beer, spicing your latte and starring in baked goods. Even still, you probably never expected a pumpkin cocktail to extend the summer spritz season or a pizza to be made with a creamy pumpkin sauce for a base, right? But bibbidi-bobbidi-boo: Denver chefs and bartenders are turning pumpkins into tasty creations.
Here’s where pumpkin lovers will find fantastic fall dishes and drinks featuring the squash.
Spritzes at Leven Deli Co.
Proving spritzes have staying power beyond Labor Day, Leven Deli Co. in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood serves an autumnal Pumpkin Spritz that’s made with a bubbly cava.
“We wanted to create a refreshing spritz that felt appropriate for the fall months,” said Ryan Hennessy, Leven bar manager. “Combining our house-made ginger syrup with Fruitful Pumpkin Spice Liqueur gave the drink a good dose of cozy autumnal flavor, while the fresh lime juice and cava keep it light and bright.”
Leven specializes in spritzes, and its latest bubbly cocktail joins a pumpkin menu lineup that also includes a pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin spice whoopie pie. The spritz is $12; or $10 during happy hour, which is 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. 123 W. 12th Ave.; eatleven.com
Pizza at Redeemer
This summer, we saw a number of peach pizzas popping up on menus across the metro. Now, for fall, it’s time for seasonal pumpkin pies like the one dreamed up by Redeemer Pizza, which is known for its sourdough crusts. The pizza is made with a pumpkin cream base and topped with mozzarella, Dio Mio sausage and drizzled with chili honey.
Redeemer’s pumpkin pizza ($28) hits menus on Sept. 30. 2705 Larimer St.; redeemerpizza.com
Ice Cream Sundae at Local Jones
“I love everything pumpkin this time of year, so naturally I had to put something pumpkin on the menu,” said pastry chef Saura Kline, who created a butterscotch pumpkin sundae ($10) for a seasonal dessert at Local Jones, which is located within Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek.
Pumpkin and vanilla ice cream are scooped into the dish and the treat gets a nice crunch with caramelized cornflakes.
“No sundae is complete without a sauce to pour over,” Kline said. “Spiced butterscotch sauce comes with the sundae and is poured tableside.” 249 Columbine St.; halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com
Sikil Pak at Xiquita
At Xiquita — a Mexico City-style restaurant that owner/chef Erasmo Casiano opened in August — guests can get a taste of Sikil Pak ($15), a dish that the restaurant makes with grilled beets over a Yucatan tomato and pepita (pumpkin seed) spread (which is technically the Sikil Pak), plus goat cheese and salsa matcha. Casiano said it’s one of his favorite dishes because it continues to surprise guests.
“It’s a traditional Mayan dish and a specialty of Yucátan that has been enjoyed for thousands of years,” he said. “You can’t get more authentic.”
Sikil Pak is a seedy salsa that is commonly served as a starter or welcome dish in homes across this region, he said. It’s an earthy, smoky, and lightly spicy accouterment to the wood-grilled baby beets that are cured with lime and salt. 500 E. 19th Ave.; xiquita.co
Cannolis at Dio Mio
Dio Mio crafts cannolis that rotate with the seasons. Taking over for the summer strawberry cannolis, the new pumpkin spice latte cannolis will be on the menu beginning early next week. The pumpkin cannolis (2 for $4.50) are made with a pumpkin filling, whipped cream, and espresso powder. 3264 Larimer St.; diomiopasta.com
Pancakes and Martinis at Snooze
For the ultimate fall brunch, head to Snooze A.M. Eatery. Start with the Pumpkin Martini ($11.25), a vodka cocktail with house-made pumpkin syrup and oat milk. Then indulge in the Pumpkin Pecan Pie Pancakes ($12.25), which are pumpkin pancakes with a vanilla cream cheese filling topped with caramel sauce, drizzled with sweet cream and that come with candied pecans for some crunch. Multiple locations; snoozeeatery.com
Bonbons at Temper Chocolates
We’re still a few weeks out from when you can dip into your trick-or-treat candy bucket. Hold yourself over with some cute pumpkin-shaped (and flavored) bonbons from Temper Chocolates, a sweets shop inside Denver Central Market. Temper has two pumpkin chocolates this fall: the Pumpkin King with pumpkin spice caramel and the Basic B* with pumpkin spice ganache in a dark chocolate shell. The pumpkin bonbons will be available beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1 and are $3.25 a piece or $12 for a four pack. 2669 Larimer St.; temper-chocolates.square.site
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake at Slater’s 50/50
Slater’s 50/50 in RiNo is known for its over-the-top milkshakes that double down on dessert. For fall, the Pumpkin Pie Shake ($12.99) makes its return on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and it features soft-serve ice cream mixed with pumpkin sauce and a crown of whipped cream with cinnamon and caramel drizzle. The shake even comes with a slab of pumpkin pie and glass that has a marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumble rim. 3600 Blake St.; slaters5050.com
Brittany Anas is a Colorado-based freelance writer.
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