3 Colorado restaurants make New York Times list of 50 favorites

 
 

The New York Times has released its annual list of the best restaurants in the United States, and this year, three Colorado spots took their places alongside foodie destinations in cities like Miami, New Orleans, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nashville and, of course, New York.

Two of these restaurants are relatively new — and focused on Asian cuisine cooked by second-generation chefs, something that represents the rising influence of AAPI culture in Denver.

The third touts a lesser-known restaurant in Pagosa Springs.

The first selection, Denver Vietnamese restaurant Sắp Sửa, doubles down on the national media’s love for the 15-month-old old business at 2550 E. Colfax Ave.

Since the husband-and-wife team Anna and Ni Nguyen opened what they call their ‘nontraditional Vietnamese restaurant,’ they have been stacking accolades, including … a James Beard semifinalist nod,” the newspaper wrote in part. “All well deserved. Their trứng và trứng alone would warrant the praise. Described simply as “soft scrambled egg, brown butter, fish sauce, trout roe, rice,” the dish coaxes the humble egg into an improbably rich, custardy realm.”

Bon Appetit named Sắp Sửa among the best new restaurants in the country just two weeks ago.

 
 

The second restaurant to make the list is Yuan Wonton, which opened last year at 2878 Fairfax St, in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. “After four years as a beloved food truck, chef Penelope Wong’s dumpling operation found a brick-and-mortar home last year. Part of the joy here is the variety of choices, several of which rotate. There are Hong Kong-style “YW OG” wontons in Sichuan chile oil, tom kha chicken wontons, Chinese chive pockets and steamed chashu pork bao. All are expertly constructed with handmade doughs,” the New York Times wrote.

And finally, the New York Times noted the enticements of Meander Riverside Eatery, an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Pagosa Springs.

“Tucked into the southern reaches of the San Juan Mountains, Meander is a gem of a country restaurant. The chef Justin Jacobs spent time in the kitchen at Frasca, in Boulder, among the region’s most renowned restaurants, but has left the white-tablecloth life behind. The menu here is unapologetically eclectic, with quality ingredients, especially produce, and sure-handed cooking keeps it coherent,” the New York Times wrote. “A Dutch baby topped with a creamy lump crab meat mixture made a novel twist on breakfast for dinner, while a “patio smoked” bratwurst, made in house, was a deftly spiced version of that quintessential cased meat.”

Read More at DenverPost.com

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Tudor Charm To Timeless Elegance

 

Clients of West + Main agent Doug Yetman: Chelsea + Andrew

The home was in great condition and had been lovingly maintained by the previous owners who had owned it for 20 years and even updated the kitchen sometime in the 1990’s
— Doug Yetman

West + Main clients Chelsea and Andrew purchased their Hilltop Tudor in one of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods with the help of agent Doug Yetman in 2021.

"The kitchen and dining areas still retained the closed- off nature found in many homes of this time period,” he explained. “They longed for modern, classic styling and an open concept that would be a compliment to their home but also more functional--especially with two young sons running around!"

The couple worked with local company Evoke Custom Home Builders to design and build at space with elegance and functionality that would still be in keeping with the existing charm of the home.

BEFORE:

“The kitchen was formerly set between a formal dining room and a casual kitchen dining area,” said Doug. “They shifted the entire kitchen to the back of the house so it could be more integrated with the backyard and take advantage of the back of the wonderful western sunlight.”

The renovation also created a wonderful and expansive butler's pantry that helps with storage and during entertaining in their formal dining room!

AFTER:

 

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Just Listed: Charming Orchard Residence with Vaulted Ceilings!

 
 
 

Amazing opportunity in sought after neighborhood, The Orchard.

This stunning residence boasts soaring vaulted ceilings highlighted with wood beams, creating an inviting atmosphere with character throughout. Featuring an ideal floor-plan with the spacious living room, dining room and kitchen all on the main level, this home is truly set up for easy updates with the buyer's personal touch. To add to the charm, the eat-in kitchen features the most delightful window encased dining nook that makes you feel like you are sitting in the backyard surrounded by nature. The kitchen overlooks the massive, yet cozy, great room with impressive vaulted ceilings and grounded with a wood-burning fireplace. Also on the lower level is an additional bedroom, perfect for guests or an office space, another 3/4 bathroom and conveniently located laundry room. Step outside onto the beautiful stamped concrete patio to the serene backyard oasis, featuring mature trees and lovely landscaping - ideal for outdoor gatherings or peaceful morning coffee. The upper level features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a generous primary suite with a recently remodeled 5 piece ensuite bath and wallk-in closet. The spacious private deck overlooking the backyard is the cherry on top of this ideal primary suite retreat. The basement offers endless possibilities to add another bedroom and/or bathroom or create the perfect flex space. Meticulously maintained by it's original owner, this home offers the ideal canvas with character for it's new resident's personal touch. Just blocks from the elementary school (Belleview), middle school (Campus) and high school (Cherry Creek) in the highly sought after Cherry Creek School District and around the corner from Cherry Creek Reservoir. Surrounded by $2M+ homes, you don't want to miss the opportunity to get into this amazing neighborhood!

Listed by Sarah Riggs for West + Main Homes. Please contact Sarah for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(303) 935-8787
hello@westandmain.com

Presented by:
Sarah Riggs
303-503-7186
riggs@westandmainhomes.com



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What does the Fed Cut mean for Mortgage Rates?

 
 

Today, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.5%, marking the first reduction in over four years.

This shift shows the Fed’s focus has moved from fighting inflation to supporting the slowing job market. While inflation has eased since its peak in 2022, the Fed is now concerned about rising unemployment. The rate is now down to 4.8% and could drop further by the end of the year as the Fed works to make borrowing cheaper.

For mortgages, this cut could lead to lower interest rates for both home loans and refinancing. Mortgage rates don’t directly follow the Fed, but they’re influenced by moves like this, especially through bond yields. As borrowing costs decrease, more people may be able to afford homes or refinance their existing mortgages at lower rates, potentially reducing their monthly payments. With more cuts expected, the outlook for mortgage borrowers looks promising in the months ahead.

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The Latest Builder Trend: Smaller, Less Expensive Homes

 
 

Even though affordability is improving, buying a home can still feel tough right now.

But here’s some good news: builders are focusing their efforts on building smaller homes, and they’re offering key incentives to buyers. And both of these things can be a big help if you’re worried about finding a home that’s right for your budget. 

Builders Are Building Smaller Homes 

During the pandemic, homebuyers were looking for larger homes—and many could afford them. Builders responded to that demand and created bigger spaces to help people with things like working from home, setting up home gyms, and having extra rooms for virtual school.

Now, with affordability as tight as it is, builders are turning their focus to smaller single-family homes. Data from the Census shows how significant this trend toward smaller new homes has been over the last couple of years (see graph below):

 
 

But why would builders want to build smaller homes right now? At the end of the day, builders are going to focus on building homes that meet current market demand – because they want to build what they know will sell. And the number one thing homebuyers are looking for right now is better affordability. Since smaller homes typically come with smaller price tags, both buyers and builders have shifted their focus to homes with less square footage. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports:

 “. . . home buyers are looking for homes around 2,070 square feet, compared to 2,260 20 years ago.” 

And according to Orphe Divounguy, Senior Economist at Zillow:

“Not only are cash-strapped buyers continually seeking out lower-cost options, but developers are changing what type and size of home they’re producing to try and meet that need.” 

How a Newly Built Home Can Help You Achieve Your Homebuying Goals

So, if you’re having a hard time finding something in your budget, it may be time to look at brand-new homes that have a smaller footprint. When you do, you may get a few other fringe benefits that can help on the affordability front – like price reductions or mortgage rate buy-downs.

According to the most recent data from Zonda, more than half of builders are offering incentives, some of which are mortgage rate buydowns. And those perks could help lower your future monthly housing payment too. John Burns, CEO of John Burns Research & Consulting, shares:

The monthly payment matters more than anything else and builders have responded with smaller, more efficient homes.”

Not to mention, with new home construction, you’ll also get brand new everything, have fewer maintenance needs, and get some of the latest features available. That’s worth looking into, right?

Bottom Line

With builders focusing on smaller homes, you have more budget-friendly options when it matters most. If you're thinking about buying a home soon, work with a local real estate agent to see what’s available where you want to live.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

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