New year, new food goals: 2025

I hope you are enjoying the beginning of the new year and some cozy, introspective moments.

It’s time for my annual “food goals” column, and I enjoy sitting down and eyeing the upcoming year with intention.

Last year’s goals included learning how to make homemade yogurt in my new InstaPot. I’m not sure how a year has already passed, but I still haven’t even plugged it in! Oops! I’ve got to add it back onto my list. I also found another item needing some attention: my Smoking Gun. This was a gift to me many years ago that I was super excited about. And then I put it into the cupboard and promptly forgot about it. It’s time to start having fun adding smoke into my creations.

On the baking front, I think this will be the year I’m finally going to learn how to make a great pie crust. I even bought a beautiful marble rolling pin (such a deal on clearance for only $14.99!). It practically was begging me to learn how to use it. We shall see if it sits in the cabinet of neglected gadgets or not… This year also has a number of western Colorado restaurants I want to explore. I hope to take a road trip to Crested Butte and try the delicious-looking bakery and restaurant Breadery, 209 Elk Ave.

While in town, I’m also planning to visit Montanya Rum’s distillery, 398 Riverland Drive, and its tasting room, 204 Elk Ave. I met the owners and distiller at a recent Western Slope Whiskey Club event in Grand Junction. They were delightful, and their rums were very tasty!

In the Grand Valley, Palisade’s cute Haus of Purrl, 105 Main St., has caught my attention, and the

See GOALS, page 2 ➤

These are some if the food-related books on Christine Gallagher’s reading list this year. She also plans to take a trip to Asia in the spring, thus the travel book shown for South Korea.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

ALLAGHER

. Continued from page 1

owner’s food looks terrific. I’m looking forward to trying some of her many options.

While I am in Palisade, I also want to visit the new winery TerraVin Cellars, 349 W. Eighth St.

In Fruita, the new Reckless Brewing Co., 127 E. Aspen Ave., and Camilla’s Kaffe, 206 E. Aspen Ave., are both restaurants on my dining list.

I’m sure there will be several other new restaurants and food trucks opening this year, and I can’t wait to sample them, too.

Across the mountains, I can’t wait to feast at Denver’s new Xiquita restaurant, 500 E. 19th Ave. This is a sister restaurant to the terrific Lucina Eatery & Bar, 2245 Kearney St., so I’m sure it’s amazing.

While over there, I want to take a cooking class at their Create Kitchen & Bar. The classes look delicious and are inspired by a variety of global cuisines. Located at 2501 Dallas St., I think it will be a fun thing to do solo or on a date with my husband.

I’m also going to take a whiskey cocktail class with Stranahan’s talented mixologist, Devin Ershow. Located at 200 S. Kalamath St., Ershow’s creations are amazing, and it should be a great class.

This spring, I’m excited to be heading to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. I will take some food tours and cooking classes while I’m there.

Tours and classes are great ways to discover more about the people and culture. I always love learning new things, and these countries should offer some amazing culinary experiences.

Lastly, I have many food-related books on my ever-growing reading list. They include cookbooks “Smitten Kitchen Keepers” by Deb Perelman and “Vegan Planet” by Robin Robertson, “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara, “The Adventure Challenge Dinner Dates” by Josh Altamura and “Love & Whiskey” by Fawn Weaver.

It would be fun to meet all of those authors. There are so many fascinating people in the food world who are incredibly talented and hard-working.

Some famous chefs I would love to interview are chef and World Central Kitchen founder, José Andrés, chef Alex Guarnaschelli and food historian Sir Simon Majumdar.

While I’m dreaming, I also would love to interview the singer Post Malone, when I’m in Utah for his concert.

I’m sure he has some favorite foods or beverages we could discuss. Right?

Here’s to a wonderful 2025 and lots of culinary adventures! Wishing you delicious food, delightful fun, and wonderful goals and dreams for the year.

Email Christine Gallagher at allthingsfoodchristine@gmail.com.

An InstaPot and a Smoking Gun are two items from past foodgoal lists that Christine Gallagher hasn’t used and now must place on her 2025 list.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

Montanya Rum, 398 Riverland Drive, and its tasting room, 204 Elk Ave., in Crested Butte are on Christine Gallagher’s list of places to visit in 2025.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

These roasted carrots were quickly devoured at Lucina Eatery & Bar in Denver. Christina Gallagher found Lucina to be amazing and is looking forward to trying its sister restaurant, Xiquita, 500 E. 19th Ave., in the coming year.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel