Black Cat

Black Cat Restaurant Review:

In case you're curious, there is no black cat slinking through the dining room of chef-owner Eric Skokan's sleek Boulder bistro. There is, however, an exhibition kitchen that showcases Skokan's culinary wizardry --- a wizardry that seamlessly makes its way onto the powerhouse plates festooned with seasonal, fresh ingredients, many of which are plucked straight from his nearby 130-acre organic farm and pastures. Saffron asparagus risotto captivates with the addition of fava bean shoots and mushroom ragoût, while a salad spotlighting raspberries is bolstered by beet mostarda and blots of goat cheese and blue cheese. We're enamored, too, with the duo of Colorado beef matched with kimchi and smoked strawberries as well as the duck with compressed cherries, celery root purée and melted onions. Skokan also offers a $68 tasting menu, available paired with wines (an additional $48) from a boutique list, which changes as often as the menu and is full of eclectic obscurities, a testament to Skokan’s fearless, and confident, palate.