The holiday cup of cheer overfloweth here in the Mile High City. Proof? You could go to a new Christmas pop-up bar in the Denver metro every day between now and Christmas and still not hit them all up.
But if you’re hungry, the best place for a holiday food crawl is at the Denver Christkindlmarket in Civic Center, where you can pump applesauce onto your latkes from a condiment dispenser, savor goulash soup in a bread bowl, and devour a platter loaded with pierogi, Polish sausage, a cabbage roll, and sauerkraut salad at Pierogies Factory’s pop-up hut.
There are also giant, salted soft pretzels ready to dunk in warm cheese, but if you had your fill of those during Oktoberfest, the cinnamon-dusted sugar ones are nice for this time of year. At Kogler’s Bakery stall, you can pick up quiche and strudel to serve on Christmas morning. And at Knödel Haus by Andy’s Kitchen, pair the boiled dumplings with sauerkraut-topped sausages.
Sweet tooth? Bring home Scottish shortbread from House of Stewart, and get your fill of flaky baklava at the Original by Greeks stand.
While there are all kinds of market treats, there is one shortcoming: There’s no raclette blanketing potatoes to be found. (I searched long and hard for this hot cheese dish that’s a staple at European markets). However, you could stop by the French fromage stall, La Montagne Des Saveurs, which has cheese aged in caves. Options to buy and take home include raclette, as well as gruyere, comté, gouda and more. Also, at the Blinchiki stand, you’ll find raclette crepes with pears and almonds along with some other treats, like a crepe with Baileys liqueur, chocolate and whipped cream, topped with powdered sugar.
Here are five more holiday delicacies to try at Denver’s own European Christkindlmarket — no passport required.
Bob’s Roasted Nuts: As soon as I walked into the Christkindlmarket, I was hit with the sweet, sugary aroma from Bob’s Roasted Nuts, a stand that sells cashews, peanuts, pecans and almonds glazed with cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. “It’s our natural perfume; we go home smelling like it,” said Amanda Warren, the daughter of Bob, who helps work the stand. I picked up a small bag of pecans ($9) and have been taking Warren’s suggestion, placing them in the microwave for 15 seconds to heat them up, which is making my home smell absolutely delightful.
Gluhwein from the Bar Huts: Warm up with a mug of hot mulled wine ($15) from the bars scattered throughout the market. I went with traditional red that had nice fragrant spices, but there were also white or blueberry gluhwein renditions. You also add $7 shots of honey liqueur, honey bourbon or an apple liqueur if you’re willing to pay for a $22 mug of wine in the name of Christmas cheer. (You do get to keep the cute mini mug as a souvenir, and it has a charming illustration of the Denver Christkindlmarket on it.) Once you’ve secured your mug, refills are $8. For beer lovers, there’s Pilsner, Hefewiezen, and more on tap.
Schnitzel Haus: If you’re having a meal at the Christkindlmarket, hit up the Schnitzel Haus for German specialties by chef Walter Neuhold. The wienerschnitzel ($16) is breaded pork, served with a cucumber salad, potatoes and a cranberry relish. This stall is where you’ll also find currywurst, goulash soup, and other hearty staples that are a nice prerequisite to the gluhwein and bier.
Pierogies Factory: Enjoy a sampler of Polish cuisine at Pierogies Factory stand, which also sells pierogi (dumplings) to go that are filled with potatoes and cheese, pork, mushrooms and more. On a brisk day, I opted for the rosol, which is akin to a chicken noodle soup but comes with a few pierogi in the broth — a belly-warming meal for around $12.
S’mores Haus: The most unique treats at this year’s market are the marshmallow and chocolate treats at the S’mores Haus. In addition to the more traditional s’mores, the vendor is serving The Lebkuchen ($12), a homemade gingerbread cookie with dark orange chocolate and mallows, and the salty and sweet Bavarian Pretzel S’more ($15), with a pair of soft pretzels sandwiching gooey caramel chocolate bars and marshmallow. The artisan s’mores are served in kits and you can toast them at nearby firepits in between rounds of yard games.
IF YOU GO
The Christkindlmarket will be open through Dec. 23 at Civic Center, 101 W. 14th Ave. in Denver. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, but during the last week (Dec 17-23) the hours are consistently extended and are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. While entry gates to the market close at 9 p.m., the Festival Hall is open until 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Entry is free. More information, including an events calendar, is available at christkindlmarketdenver.com
