I am very fortunate that an amazing friend who resides in Denver asked me to dinner at the Hop Alley while I was in Denver for business travel. I adore exploring and finding new quirky neighborhoods in each city I visit.

I often find getting away from the tourist areas and on to the local areas allow far greater exploration. The Hop Alley is located in the Rhino arts district, an area laden with a newly thriving art & restaurant scene. The Hop Alley serves modern Chinese prepared with a myriad of ingredients, sauces and spices.

I was truly taken aback by the dishes we ordered as each was more tantalizing than the one before it. I was on a food journey that I savored.

The dishes are family style but the presentation and look are far from your local Chinese eatery. We had the steamed eggplant with Sichuan bean sauce, hot & sour sautéed vegetables, duck rolls and the summer sashimi. Each dish was beautifully presented with dazzling tastes. We paired our meal with some brut rose sparkling wine and it was a match made in the food heavens.

Denver you all know how to eat and can’t wait to return and continue my culinary exploration!