New place for Indian cuisine replaces Colorado Springs lobster spot | Table Talk
Say farewell to one restaurant and hello to another.
Bob Derian, owner of the popular Chef Bob’s Lobstah Trap brick and mortar restaurant, has closed the eatery. On Nov. 25, Derian posted on Facebook a farewell:
“As we wind down on our last day at Barnes Road, we would just like to genuinely thank everyone who has come out and supported us for the last 3+ years at this location. We have met SO many wonderful people and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve you food from back home.”
The post ended with: “Don’t forget to visit us at our Red Leg Brewing kiosk as well as at our Food Truck. See you at the Lobstah Trap!”
Currently hours at the kiosk at Red Leg Brewing Co., 2323 Garden of the Gods Road, are 4-8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and noon-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays through the winter. Visit facebook.com/thelobstahtrap to find the truck schedule to assure you get Derian’s award-winning lobster rolls.
Related news, married couple Amarpal and Jasdeep Mand on Dec. 27 had the grand opening of King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar at 5660 Barnes Road, site of the former Chef Bob’s Lobstah Trap.
Amarpal comes from a family of restaurant owners who specialize in the Punjab cuisine of Northern India. The flavorful dishes we tried were all delicious, full of all the spices of India. The coconut lamb chops ($24.99) were outstanding. Lamb chops are marinated in ginger, garlic and coconut cream and slow cooked to perfection. They arrive smoking hot right out of the tandoor oven for a quick sear and served on a bed of smothered onions.
Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Details: 719-424-7645, kingrestaurantcos.com.
Hispanic Top Chef dinner
Fernando Transoco, chef-owner of Inefable restaurant, on the upper floor of Avenue 19 food hall, 19 N. Tejon St., is hosting Rafael Zamora Esquer, chef de cuisine at La Fonda, the most iconic hotel in Santa Fe, N.M. The chefs will team up to prepare a very special six-course dinner on Jan. 28 featuring the ingredients of the Mexican states of Sonora and Aguascalientes, where their hometowns are. They most recently competed in the second annual Hispanic Top Chef cooking competition Oct. 14 in Denver. Esquer took third place at the event. Cost of dinner is $120 paired with cocktails and $85 for dinner only. Go to eventbrite.com and search for Inefable for details and tickets.
Whiskey dinner
The Broadmoor continues its Meet the Maker whiskey dinner series Jan. 24 with Breckenridge Distillery at The Broadmoor Grille restaurant. For $200 you get five whiskeys paired with house-cured Colorado red trout dip; Colorado lamb & wild mushroom meatball; chilled seafood platter; and grilled beef filet mignon and whiskey jumbo prawn. Tickets at OpenTable. The Broadmoor is offering room rates available at $199. To book a hotel stay, call 719-634-7711 and provide the code MTMBD.
Lunch is back
La Bella Vita Ristorante Italiano, 4475 Northpark Drive, has resumed lunch hours following the pandemic shutdown. Giuliano Casulli, owner and executive chef, has expanded his restaurant staff to include his wife and pastry chef, his son and his wife as front of the house managers and his brother as sous chef. Casulli’s lunch menu features many of his award-winning dishes like the Melanzane Parmigiana ($24 at dinner, $19 at lunch). Think eggplant lasagna with layers of egg-battered fillet of eggplant with marinara sauce, baked with mozzarella and Parmigiano cheese. Be sure to save room for dessert. Go for the classic tiramisu ($10). Hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and dinner 5-9 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Details: 719-260-4730, labellavitaristorante.net.
Wine fest season
As the months warm up so do the opportunities to enjoy wine festivals. Here are two of the more popular choices that sell out quickly.
• Wine Festival of Colorado Springs at various locations Feb 28-March 2. The weekend celebrates the wines of New Zealand with tastings, seminars, lunches and the Gala dinner. The event benefits the Colorado Springs Conservatory. Visit tinyurl.com/j5yk7r77 for full schedule and to buy tickets.
• The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen has been the grandaddy of all wine festivals for 41 years. The weekend of June 14-16 is jam-packed with cooking classes, seminars, tastings, lunches, dinners and rubbing elbows with celebrity chefs. On the schedule this year is Tyler Florence, Kristen Kish, Nancy Silverton, Maneet Chauhan, David Chang, Tiffany Derry, and Danny Meyer, who count among the all-star talent. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. Visit classic.foodandwine.com.
Contact the writer: 636-0271.
Amarpal and Jasdeep Mand have opened King Restaurant Indian Kitchen.
teresa.farney@gazettedev.gazette.com
Coconut Lamb Chops served at King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar.
Find Chef Bob’s Lobstah Trap lobster roll at his food truck or kiosk at Red Leg Brewing Co.