Denver Sunset (photo by Neet, courtesy of morguefile.com)

In moves that echo the courage of pioneers who settled the American West, Denver’s intrepid entrepreneurs have boldly opened a smattering of restaurants in the face of a weak national economy.

Whether seen as courageous or foolish, they might just be some very smart business people. The Denver Post reports, “So far, it's paying off surprisingly well. These new eateries are, by and large, finding an enthusiastic clientele, strained economy or not.”

The Post reports that chef and owner Benny Kaplan of Shazz Cafe and Bar is, “A committed devotee of locally and sustainably harvested ingredients and handmade items.” Mr. Kaplan told the Post, “We make everything from scratch. We roll all our pastas every day. We make our own bread. We bring in fish whole, not prepped.”

Using high quality ingredients at Shazz means customers must pay a bit more than they would for standard fare, but the owner reports, "So far, business has been great. We're not doing two turns a night, but given the economy, it's been great."

Frank Bonanno was “already busy with three restaurants,” but that didn’t stop him from opening Bones, an Asian-inspired noodle bar. He’s keeping costs down by purchasing in quantity, beef in particular. The Denver Post quotes him, “By using the whole animal, your cost per pound goes down. And the bone marrow is really selling."

The Post’s article referred to more eateries enjoying success in Denver, Root Down and Twelve among them. It’s nice to hear that boldness and quality can lead to success even in worrisome times.

If you’d like to read the Denver Post article cited above go to: The audacity of dinner