Cap City Tavern’s Owner Dino McTaggart Talks Denver Foodie Scene

Cap City Tavern’s Chef Dino McTaggart Talk Denver Foodie Scene

 Owner of Cap City Tavern, Dino McTaggart served up a creative recipe at Denver’s Bacon And Beer Festival. The restaurants chef, Thomas Newsted, prepared a Potato Bacon Torte with Bacon Caramel. To break it down- that is smoked bacon layered between thinly sliced potatoes with cream, 30-day aged parmesan cheese and fresh thyme, accompanied by bacon caramel and fresh chervil.

Here’s Dino McTaggart’s take on the Denver foodie scene.

• Carri: What trends do you notice around bacon and beer in Denver specifically?
• Dino: The trend in bacon & beer in Denver to me is the “sexy” direction the chefs and brew masters are going with their creations.  You could see it at the festival, the amazing creations with micro greens and house cured bacon and such and the beer that tasted light with hints of fruit.

• Carri: What is most unique about the Denver food culture?

• Dino: We have so many independent restaurants with talented chefs and it’s not like we are all competing. We are all just trying to knock it out of the park inside our own 4 walls.
• Carri:. Where do you find inspiration to cook up new menu items?
• Dino: I eat out constantly, watch the food net work and when I do cook at home I try to challenge myself.
• Carri: What can customers expect when they visit?
• When I purchased Cap City Tavern almost 6 years ago the kitchen didn’t really do much of anything. We just recently hired Thomas Newsted, an accomplished chef who has worked with Kevin Taylor & Jennifer Jasinski. We are working on a new menu that will help Cap City realize its true potential.