Nibbles

Serious ramen slurping on a Sunday afternoon at Sachi Sushi
A deep need to slurp noodles finally directed me one Sunday to one of Boulder County’s quintessential hidden gems. Osaka-born chef Tsukasa Hibino stands smiling behind the counter of Sachi Sushi in a back corner of the Niwot Market next to the deli. Don’t let the no-frills, uber-casual atmosphere distract from the memorable Japanese fare quietly served here since 2005. For 15 of those years, insiders have made pilgrimages here for the eatery’s Sunday-only bowls of real ramen and cold ramen salad.
I meditated on a big bowl of Chef Tsukasa’s spicy miso ramen. The rich, cloudy, long-simmered bone broth was filled with a tangle of perfectly chewy noodles. It was crowned with pickled veggies, bits of pork, crispy seaweed, half a hard-boiled egg, a slice of fish cake, green onions and sesame seeds. It was good to the last satisfying slurp.
Arrive early on Sundays if you want ramen. It’s like those barbecue joints: Ramen is available only until it runs out. Fans are in line as soon as Chef Tsukasa’s counter opens. https://boulderreportinglab.org/newsletter/%f0%9f%8d%b0-she-started-baking-gluten-free-cakes-in-boulder-now-theyre-sold-nationwide/

Come hang out around the table this Thursday

Be part of the tasting audience for Kitchen Table Talk!

Would you like to be a member of our studio audience for Kitchen Table Talk broadcasts from KGNU's new studio? KTT airs on the first Thursday of every month 8:30-9:30 a.m. It is KGNU’s monthly gathering of local food notables. John Lehndorff hosts the show with chef Daniel Asher. If you are a morning person (arrive by 8 a.m.) and would like to be part of our studio audience at KGNU Community Media & Cultural Center, email [email protected].

On Oct. 1 our guests are Jessica Benjamin and Rachel Caraluzzi, authors of a new Boulder cookbook. Joining them are legendary chef Antonio Laudisio and Ariel Cooke, owner of the Walnut Cafe, who contributed recipes to the cookbook. They will offer the audience tasty tidbits from the restaurants, talk about the state of Boulder’s restaurant scene, offer cooking advice, and take questions from the audience.

Listen to Kitchen Table Talk:
Streaming at kgnu.org
88.5 FM / 1390 AM Boulder + Denver
93.7 FM Nederland + 98.7 FM Fort Collins + 99.1 FM Denver

as Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant has called Boulder County home for almost 40 years. Throughout that time, they’ve built a dedicated following that has kept them going no matter which pocket of the community they have occupied.

They started out at the tail end of the 1980s at a location off Hwy 93 near the Eldorado Springs tunnel. Owner Tsehay Hailu says that location was instrumental, as its tiny size helped shape their loyal and familiar customer base early on.

In 1998, they moved to Boulder, and their following came with them as many more welcomed them with open arms and stomachs. This would repeat itself when they moved once again in 2014.

Now in Lafayette at 802 S Public Rd, their following is stronger than ever, churning out a type of cuisine that is known for being communal.

The Indulgence Guide 2026 - Yellow Scene Magazine When it comes to culinary indulgences, we are lucky that we have such a range of establishments to turn in the Front Range.

Colorado just beat New Mexico in the chile wars. The Pueblo chile has been nominated for the 2028 American Innovation Coin, and former Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace is ready: 'New Mexico can keep arguing, but we'll point to the coin.' https://www.9news.com/article/life/style/colorado-guide/pueblo-chile-pepper-nominated-one-dollar-coin-mint/73-2954dd88-7cf9-4156-bf52-1812a3d1e88a?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_9NEWS_(KUSA)

It took seven or eight years of saving seed, growing the next crop, and selecting another single plant until Bartolo had a stable, uniform variety. He called it the Mosco, in honor of his uncle. He started to build up seed and shared it with farmers in the early 2000s, and his new variety of chile soon became one of the most popular in the region.

From that one progenitor, Bartolo has continued to select for new or improved characteristics, releasing a hotter variety called the Giadone. There’s also the round Pueblo Popper, as well as some ornamental varieties in the pipeline. As of fall 2025, he had seventy different lines of chiles growing in his garden in Rocky Ford.

Finding Roots: Creating the Pueblo Chile | History Colorado Finding Roots: Creating the Pueblo Chile - The Mosco chile is a staple of Colorado cuisine. But the story of its journey from Oaxaca to Pueblo reveals a deeper story of agriculture and migration that shaped the Colorado we know today.

With fall baking season here, I made the mistake of looking at the expiration dates on the herbs and spices in my pantry. Some like basil that I use a lot were bought recently but I found 5-year-old allspice and some elderly nutmeg - now mostly expensive sawdust. Plus: I have one 40-year-old spice from mom I keep for sentimental reasons.
What is the OLDEST spice on your shelf?

Thanks to our friends at KGNU Community Radio for inviting us in to talk bears, fruit trees, and AppleFest this morning on Radio Nibbles!

https://kgnu.org/community-fruit-rescues-melanie-hill-joins-radio-nibbles-to-talk-apples-bears-and-more/

I wrote a piece for the cookbook about some of the historic Boulder restaurants that contributed recipes including Magdalena's and The Med

It’s official, Boulder Bookstore will be carrying A Bite of Boulder: Volume 2! Grateful to have their support & excitment to have the book on shelves✨

📍 Where else should you be able to grab the cookbook? 📚Tag your favorite retailers and bookstores where you would want to find it!