🥐 The Boulder bakery race we desperately need

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Boulder’s long bike and running race history includes the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic (1975-79) and the 46-year-old BOLDERBoulder 10K on Memorial Day. In this week’s Nibbles, I propose a new local race fueled by baked goods. Plus: A wine fest is canceled, a beloved coffeehouse reopens, I take a road trip to Golden for cherry wood-smoked barbecue, and we share a recipe for asparagus pizza. 

— John Lehndorff

Boulder never has a shortage of races for bicyclists and runners, especially in the warmer months. Local and national athletes flock to register for the Pearl Street Mile, Boulderthon, Boulder Rez Marathon, Ironman 70.3 Boulder and many other races.

Isn’t it about time someone presented a Boulder road race for the rest of us? 

What about those who need a little more motivation to sweat, groan and win? 

What this city needs is a road or bike race built around something we truly love: baked goods. 

Don’t scoff! 

Boulder already hosts the Dash & Dine 5K Run Series. Coming soon, the Pasta Run on May 30 in Louisville includes a half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Macaroni Mile followed by a pasta and ice cream buffet.

(Let us agree to never speak of the gut-wrenching Taco Bell 50K held annually in Denver.)

There is also a buffet of food race options across the globe, including the New York City Pizza Run, the Marathon du Médoc, which stops at wineries, and the Glasgow Bun Run, which visits independent bakeries in Scotland. And RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, includes pie stops in every town. 

I propose the First Annual Boulder Bakery 10K. This new race could kick off with kouign-amann at Moxie Bread on North Broadway and then, instead of Gatorade stations, runners would stop for pastries at Lucky’s Bakehouse, Maisonette, Spruce Confections, Le French Cafe, Shamane’s Bake Shoppe and end up at Sweet Sisters, the great gluten-free bakery in Table Mesa.

Other Boulder stops could include cake, scones, pies, cookies and empanadas at Piece, Love and Chocolate, Rincon Argentino, Panaderia Sabor a Mexico, Petite Fleur, Dry Storage, Great Harvest and Suti & Co. 

Should it be the Boulder Pastry Relays? Or maybe the Run for the Rolls, focusing strictly on cinnamon rolls. On second thought, that might get old after the eighth sticky bun stop.  

The race could expand into the Boulder County Pastry-thon, a marathon that would trek to places like Jeannot’s Patisserie and Bistro, Tip Top Pies, and Kismet Cafe in Lafayette, Bittersweet Café in Louisville, and Babette’s Bakery and MECO Coffee Collective in Longmont. 

Naturally, there should be dairy-free and gluten-free race options.

An event like this would foster fitness, spotlight taste tourism at independent local businesses and spread pastry pleasure. If this carb-loaded Boulder competition came to pass, I would want it to raise funds for Boulder County’s food banks. Each of them is struggling this year to cope with increasing food insecurity. 

Want to organize a Boulder County bakery race? Let me know at [email protected].

With summer road-tripping season upon us, I’ll be spotlighting eateries worth checking out in Colorado towns.  

I knew the stellar barbecue reputation of Seasoned Swine before I stopped by the Golden barbecue joint. What I didn’t know was that it was located on the second floor at the top of a long flight of stairs. 

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It was well worth making the climb following that glorious cherry-smoked aroma. A friend and I dove into barbecue platters sampling juicy pulled pork, sliced turkey and brisket. I particularly enjoyed the burnt ends — beautifully smoky, caramelized chunks of pig candy. They went well with chile mac-and-cheese, smoked cornbread, spicy avocado slaw and banana pudding. Extra points for the scratch-made barbecue sauces. 

If you are visiting the Golden area this summer, other recommended food stops can include Abejas Restaurant, The Eddy, Sherpa House Restaurant and Culture Center and Blue Pan Pizza.

Malt Liquor wins, wine fest canceled, Logan’s relaunches in North Boulder

Boulder County breweries edge out global brewers to collect medals at the World Beer Cup on April 22 in Philadelphia. Silver medal winners included Trade Deficit Export Stout from Westbound & Down in Lafayette, and Mosaic Madness West Coast IPA from Louisville’s Crystal Springs. El Poblano Borracho from Liquid Mechanics and The Post’s East County Fine Malt Liquor, both brewed in Lafayette, took home bronze medals.

The Boulder Valley Wine Festival — originally scheduled for May 30 in Lafayette — has been canceled, according to a social media post from the event’s organizer:

“Because of a combination of low ticket sales and unforeseen circumstances, we have decided to cancel. … All tickets will be refunded through Eventbrite.”

The University of Colorado and Sweet Cow Ice Cream are offering the new Buffalo Chip flavor: brown sugar ice cream laced with dark chocolate and butterscotch chips. A portion of sales will benefit CU Boulder scholarships. We will leave it to you to look up the earthy definition of a “buffalo chip.” 

Opening

Logan’s at The Armory has opened at 4790 Broadway, serving the same menu regulars loved at North Boulder’s original Logan’s Espresso Café.

Closing

A two-year retail experiment in combining vintage clothes with tacos and tequila has concluded with the closing of Garage Sale Vintage at 1701 Pearl St., formerly Ted’s Montana Grill.

Coming attraction

James Beard-honored Aspen chef Mawa McQueen will open a second Crepe Therapy Cafe on May 29 inside Boulder’s Limelight Hotel. The first location opened in 2025 at 2273 31st Street.

The Boulder County Farmers Markets’ series of Seasonal Supper Club gatherings are some of the coolest BYO potluck community gatherings. On May 14 at the Altona Grange, the Club’s featured ingredient is local honey. Details here.  

Fermentation expert Grace Yoon will teach a hands-on class in crafting low-cost, tasty and gut-friendly kimchi on May 21 at the Museum of Boulder. Register for The Art of Kimchi: A Hands-On Fermentation Workshop here. 

(Get your upcoming food event, festival or class listed free on Boulder Reporting Lab using the self-submission form here.)

Market Meals: Pizza is the perfect platform for fresh local asparagus

In honor of National Asparagus Day, May 24, the Boulder County Farmers Markets shares a recipe for homemade pizza dough topped with fresh spring asparagus stalks. Get the recipe here.

“What we need is a system of graduated fines and perhaps short jail sentences to discourage the production of totally depressing baked goods. Maybe a period of unpleasant and tedious community service.” — Food critic Jeffrey Steingarten

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Check out recent editions of Nibbles:

🌶️ A summer of Colorado food festivals worth the trip

🍣 New sushi bars hit Boulder, The Merc fights to survive, and peach trouble

🍽️ A chef’s dinner at Boulder’s shelter