Foodie Edition: The Year's Best Eat & Drink Stories

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020

What a difference 365 days can make. Last December, we celebrated new food halls, 5280's 25 Best Restaurants list, and lobster rolls in LoHi in the year's final Local Foodie newsletter. In December 2020, the most popular dining story on 5280.com was our living list of restaurant and bar closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, we've said goodbye to hundreds of local spots, from Bar Helix and Acorn to Racine's, El Chapultepec, and Zaidy's Deli. And sadly, there will be many more closures to come, especially without significant, hospitality-specific federal aid.

But the restaurant apocalypse is not the end of the story this year. We also saw the rise of creative entrepreneurs who moved from restaurants to retail, selling from-scratch condiments, baked goods, and heat-and-eat meals. Others channeled their energy into helping—and feeding—communities in need. And Colorado's independent restaurant owners and workers are still at it, grinding through every day to bring us (sometimes quite literally, through in-house delivery) delicious things to eat and drink. They've all pivoted hard, many times over, to stay in business—and stay safe.

Now is the time to support every brand and business you want to see open on the other side of COVID-19. Please, if you can, buy an extra entrée for later; order drinks with your meal, as you would if you were dining on site; call the restaurant directly for delivery; contact your elected officials to share why aid for independent restaurants is more crucial than ever; tip big; wear a mask; and be kind. Here's to hoping for a better 2021, when we can once again meet in person around the table.

We welcome your feedback; email us at dining@5280.com. Dig in, and thanks for reading. —Denise Mickelsen, food editor

THANKS, COVID-19

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