BY MIGUEL OTÁROLA, @MOTAROLA_EATS

The cold spells seem to have left us in the past, so I fired up my grill yesterday and invited some friends over for surf and turf. I threw in a bit of everything: beef short ribs, leftover frozen fish, pork chops, zucchini, bell peppers and eggplant. Not my best work -- the eggplant was a little tough and the ribs were rarer than I prefer -- but I'm in this grilling business for the long haul.

On to the restaurant news of the week.

EDITOR'S PICKS

A new class of Latin American coffee shops is gaining steam in Denver

READ

Historic Denver school reopens as a cafe and beer garden

TIP POOL

What do you or your family like to cook on the grill?

MORE HEADLINES

• ‘My vision of retirement’: Sushi Den co-founder opens small chef’s counter restaurant
  
• Denver restaurant on track to open despite death of much-loved chef/owner
• Venezuelan restaurant Catira opens in Greenwood Village
  
• Cuban bakery opening in former Curtis Park coffee shop
• HashTAG’s latest location, rooftop patio open downtown next week

EAT THIS

Lo Stella Ristorante

Have you ever had a pasta stop you in your tracks? I had a lot on my mind and not that much in my stomach when I sat down for a weekday dinner at Lo Stella Ristorante in Denver's Golden Triangle. The Rigatoni alla "Carillon" ($29) is one of several pasta dishes on the menu, smothered in a zesty vodka sauce and topped with smoked pancetta and, as always, optional parmesan cheese. My worries began to ease when I tried my first bite, soon replaced by waves of intense flavor.