466875 Wed Dec 05 23:33:19 -0800 2007 1 6 Southwest 0 3183934 Great friends,Chad and his wife Buffy are coming down from Denver for the Christmas holidays so that they both can undergo some elective surgery. They will be staying at the Ritz and are looking for some places that will deliver along with some nearby spots for lunch and dinner. They are looking for free-range beef and fowl along with some wine stores that have esoteric, obsequious and mildly pretentious selections Any suggestions? Wed Dec 05 23:33:19 -0800 2007 132946 NitroGen 1 3184034 They will be next door to the Esplanade shopping center, home of Au Petit Four, one darn fine little French cafe. Everything I have tried has been absolutely stellar. They could likely eat there for the whole time and be very happy campers. The wine shop to go to is Sportsman's on 32nd Street as Camelback. The service I have received has been mixed, from people very passionate about wine to the slightly clueless. You'll be able to separate the grain from the chaff very quickly in that case, trust me. Once they're done at Sportsman's, they would do well to stop at Delux in the strip mall diagonally across from the strip mall that contains Sportsman's. Yes, we do like our strip malls, why ever do you ask? ;-) Delux has quite possibly the best burgers in the state, using great all-natural grain fed beef and primo toppings. Their alcohol selection mirrors the rest of the menu; small, but very well chosen. As a bonus, they are open until 2 AM. Thu Dec 06 03:13:17 -0800 2007 3183934 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester