Patrick DuPays’s Z Cuisine Bistrot And À Côté Bar A Absinthe In Denver’s Highlands

One part luxe, one part vintage,  Z Cuisine and its neighboring twin sister À Côté are Denver’s trendiest francophile gems. Tucked away on a hilltop behind beautiful wrought iron gates, lies a brick enclave serving up delectable Parisian fare and smart cocktails that will satiate your thirst for the unexpected. A twist of grapefruit perhaps, try the La Vie en Rose. A lavish salad with French chévre or sample a specialty Z Cassoulet – your mouth will thank you. Dip a potatoe fingerling in the Fondue du Colorado pomme pomme made of local colorouge cheese melted with confit garlic, white wine and crème fraîche – you will be hooked.

 

 This Parisian Bistro and Authentic French Absinthe Bar, provides intimate tabletops in which to sip and savor with friends, and sets the scene for first date perfection. As if it jumped out of the pages of your favorite novel, the relaxed neighborhood eatery is cozy and ecclectic, complete with chalkboard wine menu, chandeliers, and the green lady looming. Enjoy the soft glow of moonlight and a cool breeze filtering through window panes ajar on autumn evenings, or warm yourself with a sugarcube doused in a fine Absinthe when the ground is blanketed in winter white.

 

Impeccable attention to detail in both food and drink are attributed to Chef/Owner Patrick DuPays, whose culivation of local and organic ingredients sashay across your palette. “Simplicity and authenticity would be the words that define my background. Mix that with the places I’ve traveled, Chefs I’ve worked with and learned from, countries and regions I’ve visited, exotic produce I’ve discovered, to that add 22 years of cooking experience and the whisper of the seasons and you obtain Z Chef de Cuisine : Patrick DuPays.”

Ahh, the whisper of the seasons is undoubtably present when devouring a gourmet dish from Z Cuisine, as a budding menu outcrops often. Everything at Z’s is handcrafted with careful consideration of offerings from ’les marches fermiers’ or local farmer’s markets. “Markets are the heartbeat of a community. When I’m traveling the first thing I want to do is to find a market place, It’s a great way to discover and learn about the people, find local food vendors, enjoy a taste of the region and experience a vibrant and colorful scene…If you are wondering about how to cook with fresh herbs, a mushroom or what accompaniment will be good with a vegetable or a fruit—talk with the farmers, they are extremely knowledgeable about their crops, they are wonderful and passionate people that work very hard to bring you their best, I and other Chefs will team up with organic and natural farmers and work with them to bring you the best,” explains DuPays.

Zagat rated three years in a row, and recipient of its coveted Best of Denver titles are well deserved, yet despite its countless accolades, this quaint diamond in the rough has managed to keep a low profile and remain true to its passion for French cuisine.

DuPays welcomes guests to join in on a “Chef’s Talk” once a month where friends and lovers of the culinary arts gather to rediscover what Colorado soil has to offer. Stop in for a glass of Parisian wine or one of Z’s infamous martinis and take a look around. Everyone from locals up the street, to Denver’s business elite and famed musicians have been spotted here.

 

2245 West 30th Avenue

Denver, CO 80211

(303) 477-1111