A few (believe it or not) words from Jason Sheehan

• Jason, I left Denver a few years ago but always checked out Westword to read your column, which is the best I have found around the country. Entertaining and well-written, with good solid dining info to boot. Denver will miss you. Nice work.

• just found out you left Westword - so sad - the ONLY restaurant critic I ever enjoyed reading, and I loved your column above all others in WW. good luck, eat well

• Enjoy Seattle and the new adventure.... I have a feeling you'll be back at some point, but who knows. Have fun preaching the gospel of bbq to the NW. Your column has been a literary staple in my diet for 8 years--we arrived in Denver at the same time, and I think you do great work. Best of luck.

• I am sad you are leaving Denver. I generally do not like to read reviews or critiques of anything because it seems to me most critics take their title to heart. I don't want to hear a writer diss a restaurant - I want to be taken to another world where food is the center and the writer's perspective allows me to visit the tastes and flavors experienced. You are a wonderful writer and I've enjoyed being a vicarious visitor in your many adventures in Colorado. The folks in your new town are in for a treat... thanks again and best wishes.

• I "waited" many a table in Denver (Papillon to 4th Story to Flow to Mel's to...) and in my continuing travels have always followed your gastro-scrawls from my time on the stoves at Cafe Boulud to my Captaining duties at Geronimo in Santa Fe. I am aware of your disdain for South Florida, however I have opened my own Sandwich joint (SandOlab) in Miami Beach and know that there is a fat pile of whatever you'd like stuffed between two slices of crunchy baguette waiting to be made in your honor. -Beau

• Jason, I will miss your Blarney.. we found a good pizza place but never a good Irish bar, maybe in Seattle..As my 94 yr old mother would say"May there be fair weather before you and snow at your heels."

• Things Denver is going to miss: Jason Sheehan

• Months back, I put down the Westword, looked at my husband and proclaimed what I thought was an ingenious idea..."Jason Sheehan should write a book!" Then and I shit you not, I was at the gynecologist's office just a couple of days later with one heel in the stirrup, flipping through an issue of Time and I almost fell off the table...Cooking Dirty. Ran home, googled the book and found out it was being released the next day. Your book blew us away. The chinese restaurant...back alley...basement experience---can't make that up. You are an asshole for leaving. Good luck...you will probably need to get one of those light lamps or something so you don't end up shaking in a corner of your living room suffering from Vitamin D depletion.

• You simply cannot leave. I am shocked. You have ruined my 2010 already. I may have to move to Seattle, even though there is no sunshine there (do you know that?) This is just not advisable.

• Thanks for all the great insights on eating in and around Denver. Also thanks for all the great stories, because after all everyone loves a great story. Your stories pulled me in and provided a great understanding of your background and above all an entertaining review of dining in Denver. Thanks for taking me along for the ride on places I've been or places I'd like to go, or maybe skip. Best of Luck

• Come on, Westword--PAY THE MAN!

• You will truely be missed. Good luck in Seattle. I love it there! You should at least try the nachos at The Pioneer at 2401 S University Ave. I swear that they are the BEST in Denver!

• I am heartbroken that my favorite restaurant writer of all time is leaving. Thank you, Jason, for eight years of pure delight. I will miss the snark, the mini-tutorials and the love. You have chops and integrity. Those who do not understand the "hard-on" for Frank Bonanno have obviously never eaten at his restaurants. Frankie Bones is the real deal. Thank you for recognizing our great chefs (Sean Kelly, Wayne Conwell, Matt Selby, Dylan Moore, I could go on and on), and including our many fine ethnic establishments (Pho 95, Marrakesh, Super Star Asian, Spicy Basil, Domo, to name a few)in the panoply. I'll read you online and miss you terribly here at home. Godspeed, and I hope Seattle knows how lucky they are to have you.

• Sweetie, you don't need a new job, you need an AA meeting. Bottom feeders up! You'll never survive the rain.

• Dude, Go get some tacos from the Rancho Liborio grocery store in Aurora off of Colfax and almost Havana. God damn I love that place. The end of any era in Denver should come about off of Colfax.

• This is very sad. For 27 years I have read all the restaurant reviews in Westword. There is no doubt that the best critic is/was Jason Sheehan. The only hope I have is that the mildew in Seattle will drive Jason back to Denver.

• I'm not a foodie, but every week when I picked up Westword I went straight to the restaurant review. Jason, you have always been a delight to read. I've enjoyed your writing as much as any other columnist in Denver. Good luck!

• Crap--when I started reading this I thought maybe you guys were swinging back to PA (where I am now). Best of luck in Seattle! Keep listening to the Pogues wherever you go. Say HI to Laura. -TD

• Damn! Just when one finds something/one fun to read, a great source of information on a favorite part of Denver life, it goes away. I will really miss my weekly dose of great writing, wit, and restaurant tips. Hope you guys like your new life - be sure to stock up on your mood enhancer of choice to combat those 300 days of rain!!! You can always come back for a few days of R&R in the sun, and to try all our new restaurants...

• Everything that James said goes for me and Frank, you big traitor. I love your style and the fact that you were anonymous for so long--I still couldn't pick you out of a line-up! Such respect for all you've done for Westword and Denver. . .thank you.

• Jason: Hooray for Seattle- Boo for us! You are the epitome of food greatness with the mouth of a sailor. You have never been wrong about a review. My husband and I look forward to going to the places that you suggest. For the next food critic, can you see if they can at least play off your style? You're the biggest reason we read Westword, but now I guess Seattle Weekly has a new fan. You'll be missed, but change is good, right? Take care! For the last Hurrah- check out Pajama Baking Co on S. Pearl Street in Denver. Even if you don't review it at least treat yourself to something delectable. Thanks for making food amazing for Denver!

• Jason, I would like to extend an invitation. A final supper, if you will. Reminiscent of Anthony Bourdain's experience at Au Pied De Cochon...but less painful. I'd love to cook for you again before you take off. No review, no publications, just cooking for someone who truly appreciates food. You know where to get a hold of me. James Rugile Venue

• Say it isn't so. The only good reason to open up Westword is moving on. For what it's worth you are hands down the best restaurant critic this city has ever had. Don't go dude! I second Shells and Sauce as your last review.

• Even though most of our time is spent in Tucson now, I still read your Westword column every week and am sad to see you leave. Guess I will have to start reading the Seattle paper now. We do have relatives there and will have to check in on your hot or nots! Best wishes to you and Laura with your move!

• Congrats Jason! Have fun exploring Seattle. I gained a lot reading your blog: good eats, new favorites, and many laughs. Best of luck in Emerald City. Last review? I'll just look foreward to reading it.

• Best of luck in Seattle... as fine a food scene on the West Coast as there is, outside of SF. Last review -- BOA. I hate "fusion" restaurants, but a place that keeps two disparate parts separate (save for a teeny, tiny bit of crossover) and still does both well is OK in my book.

• Say it ain't so! Maybe it's too obvious, but why not review one of Denver's ___est restaurants? Oldest: Buckhorn Exchange Grossest: Casa Bonita Finest: Kevin Taylor (IMHO) Etc, etc...

• Dammit, Sheehan. Are you gonna make me read reviews of Seattle restaurants just to get a taste of your foodsnark?

• "To me, Clark Kent in a phone booth and Houdini in a packing crate, they were one and the same thing... You weren't the same person when you came out as when you went in."

• Damn, even living 500 miles east in Wichita, and only visting Denver every 10 years or so, I've always enjoyed your work. I hold up your writings as shining examples of culinary snarkitude to my message board buddies. And really, Seattle seems like at best a lateral career move. Good luck, then... and can I move to Denver and take your job?

• Well shit, Jason. That's a major loss for all of us. I loved your voice and will miss it. If we can't have you, I hope we can have Lori instead. I think she'd do a great job. Good luck to you in Seattle. Hope you like the rain!

• You were so excited for Ondo's to open. Have you reviewed it yet?

• This is a huge loss for Denver. Thoughtful, well-written and highly entertaining reviews made your column the go-to spot for me in the Westword every week. Best of luck to you. And I hope we're not stuck with The Denver Post's 'every restaurant is good' tripe as the only option for restaurant reviews in town....

• fuckin hey fuckin sheehan! i take what i said about you back! are you leaving just to fuck with me and to force me to read chaucer or the dive bar bathroom stalls????? fuck! got to give you props on the masterful checkmate 'move' - pardon the pun. comment #5: http://www.westword.com/2009-12-10/restaurants/troy-guard-s-tag-play-that-funky-music-white-boy/

• Congratulations, Jason.

• "It's been a poop. More fun than a sack full of poop and liquor. But I've never been a guy who's good at staying in one poop too long, so I've fixed my sights on a poop even further out there -- and have taken the restaurant critic's job at our sister poop, the Seattle Weekly."

• Well this has just been a helluva day. I go out at lunch only to find some jackass hit my car. I come back and find that Sheehan is abandoning us. I think the greatest compliment I can give you is that anytime you've said a place was good, it was, and any place you said sucked did indeed suck. Being a contrarian, I've never been able to say that about another critic of any medium. My humble suggestion for your last review is the Rackhouse Pub. Not for the food, but instead for the 20 taps of Colorado brew and endless supply of Stranahans. No need to go out in style when you can just go out drunk, I always say.

• Tone: You better have first salvaged the Redbreast tasters Sheehan no doubt still had stashed in that desk. Sheehan: If you let him burn good whiskey, I'm calling together the lads and stripping you of all Hibernian credentials.

• I noticed another reader's love/hate comment and I have to agree. Here is my top 3 lists for each. Love 1. Almost always spot on about the food 2. Great at finding hidden ethnic gems 3. Occasionally writes good prose when not boasting about what a bad ass he thinks he is or some inane detail about his past. Hate 1. Bourdain wanna-be stylistically and often with content, very self indulgent with righting and often self-righteous about food. 2. Thought nobody in town knew what he looked like before his book came out. 3. Has a very obvious hard on for Frank Bonnano I'm actually going to kind of miss you Jason but this town needs a new voice.

• Jason! so bummed you are leaving Denver. YOU are what makes this blog and the restaurant reviews worth reading. Sounds like happy times are ahead for you, so enjoy! Know that you will be missed and you always have a home in Denver...probably several being that you've bellied up to every restaurant and bar in town ;)

• Sorta conflicted here, Sheehanigans: Obviously, I'm happy for you and know the change of scenery will do you a world of good. On the other hand, I feel like junk punching you for putting us in your rearview. Godspeed, amigo. We'll miss you.

• Bring it, mister. And screw green chile. We have a little food group up here called fresh goddamn shellfish. I'm just wondering if my liver can handle the addition of you.

• Read denveronaspit.com, the guy who writes that knows where you should eat.

• Thanks, Jason, for making me aware of some of Denver's best restaurants. And thanks for making me realize that there are indeed hidden treasures in the strip malls and side streets that make up the bulk of Denver's dining scene. I hope that your replacement will continue to shine a light in all corners, rather than focusing on the big openings and trendy hotspots. Eight years ago there were many great places to eat, but you helped us find them. Maybe a few of them even flourished thanks to a growing number of people who were willing to take your suggestions.

• I know that I am being selfish, but this freakin' sucks. Congrats to you Jason and best wishes on your new adventures. You (and your pen) will be truly missed--almost as much as you will miss the sun. As far as what restaurant you should review, I have always been intrigued by the fact that you have never reviewed Barolo Grill. It is probably the most popular high-end spot in Denver that you have remained silent on. Why is that? If it sucks, tell us it sucks. Now if i missed it somewhere, then I am an idiot. If not, let us know what you think. Patricia, Now that Jason is on his way out the door, what are the chances of convincing Robb Walsh to make his way to Denver? I love Lori and I think she would do a fantastic job taking over Jason. However, as Robb is my second favorite VVM writer and I would love to hear his take on the Denver scene, thought I would put in my two cents.

• I was at the Armandino Batali IACP conference event before you were unmasked trying to figure out which guy was you. It was all about meat, so I figured that you'd be there. I guessed that you were a haggard 55 year old 300 pounder. I hated your writing at first; I thought that you were trying too hard and had read "kitchen confidential" too many times. Lately I've learned to like/respect it. I suggest going to the Kitchen in Boulder at least once before you leave to let them change your mind. By far the most consistent restaurant I've been to both in terms of service and food. No, I don't work there...I do software development. I'm "working" from home today. Carry on.

• You fucker! You're the reason I have a list a mile long of places to eat when I'm visiting Denver. Who else is going to keep me up to date on the latest & greatest eats? Now what am I going to read when I need to kill time at work? Damn, Damn, Damn! I'm gonna miss you Jay! I'll miss reading your reviews. I always loved how you could weave a story into the review and describe the food in a way that I could almost taste it. You're leaving some big shoes to fill. Please keep us updated how you're fairing in your new city. Good luck to you & your family. I hope you find Seattle to be as equally delicious as Denver. One question though, You can get your Pho fix in Seattle for sure, & possibly find some decent bbq & burgers, but what the hell are you gonna do when you get a serious jonesing for green chile?

• Just don't forget my bottle of Stranhan's, Slick. It should fit comfortably between the green chile and the breakfast burritos in that UHaul you'll be renting.

• Jason, We are all somewhat surprised to hear about your decision to leave. You should know that you will be missed. Your humor and knowledge has been a benefit to everyone. I wish you the best for your future in Seattle. P.S. How about Shanahan's for a last review. They will be opening on Christmas eve. If you're here till then. Let us know if the steak and seafood is any good.

• Hooray! I feel bad for Seattle, such a great food city and now they have to wade through Jason's interminable banter about grits and pork belly before getting to an actual review. I hope westword replaces him with someone who is not a james beard award winner so I don't have to constantly be wondering how much BS those awards can support. Kind of like the oscars--the really talented people never win.

• You'll be missed. In answer to your questions about where to review: I vote Ondo's Tapas Bar.

• Wowza-you are waaaay cuter than I imagined, I will also have to read the Seattle stuff. How do we apply for your job????

• At least you can listen to KEXP on the radio whenever you want... Make sure to hit up the culinary scene in Tacoma.

• Well, goddamn it, man! How dare you take your insanity and talent to another city? Whose amazing food reviews are we going to read now every week that not only guide us to great grub but crack us up? How are we going to know the best places on Federal to eat? Seattle's gain is Denver's crippling, angry binge-drinking inducing loss. Fine then! Go! We'll still be here when that cheap tramp Seattle shows you that she has fuck-all in the way of good green chili and BBQ. Seriously, though, I hope Seattle treats you and yours like kings. May you continue to find great success and even greater food there. And thank you for an amazing eight years.

• I hope the next guy/gal also refers to the telephone as the "blower." I always got a kick out of that. I suppose we can always just read your stuff online at the Seattle weekly website to get our "blower" fix.

• This sucks. What the hell... I wish you the best, but I don't know who the hell could fill your shoes.

• Joe: Seems only appropriate. Viking funeral and all. And I imagine that with all the booze I have stashed around there, the thing must've gone up like a torch. YouKnowWho: Love you, too, honey. I'm also buying you many flannel shirts and a can of slug repellent. Dave: Granted, the searches can be wonky, but Frasca did get its moment a few years back. Check it out here: http://www.westword.com/2005-04-07/restaurants/fantasy-land Keep those suggestions coming...

• Thanks Jason. If they had blocked your blog at my work, I would have gotten a lot more done. Good luck and enjoy Chinatown. That'll keep you busy up there for a few years. For your finale, do us a favor and review a new place. As sentimental as it might be to review a Denver landmark or a previously reviewed joint, one final insight on an "unSheehaned" restaurant would be appreciated. I could waste a few hours of my employers time searching for restaurants you <i>haven't</i> reviewed, but I figure you know better than I. Thanks again. P.S. If you do a review of Ivar's and say it's good fish n' chips, I'll come up there and jam some carnitas up your ass. Much love.

• I just lit your desk on fire. It seemed like the right thing to do.

• Good riddance! I just wanted to be the first to say it. :) Love you, kiddo. Laura P.S. I want a lightbox for Christmas.

• jason-please reconsider!i always knew you would move on to bigger & better-but i was thinking ny times,post,wsj.,etc.i feel a loss equal to rocky mountain news!i will never read westword again!!!(o.k.-i will,but it will never be the same)! can't you use denver as a home-base,and have the company fly you and your wife to their different cities,for a week at a time? how great would that be-south beach-hawaii-los angeles-even seattle if you really want to go there for a whole week!

• Well, I'm relying on Westword's online search capability, which can be questionable, but I cannot find a "full review" by Jason of Frasca Food and Wine. Frasca is, IMO, the best restaurant not only in the Denver/Boulder area, but perhaps in the entire state. I say go out with a bang Jason and review a place that is one of this area's few claims to national culinary renown.

• Your replacement will have some giant shoes to fill, let me tell you. Kick some ass up in Seattle, Jason.

• what weege said....

• Happy trails. You deserve a fun new challenge, but you'll have a hard time finding green chile - any green chile, let alone the really good stuff - up there in the cloudy northwest. You'll be missed. Last review? Let's say Shells & Sauce, a very good neighborhood joint in a great neighborhood.

• Best of luck in Seattle. Denver will miss your style and intensity.

• wow.. i cant believe that your leaving.. and i truly mean that.. ive come to love/loathe you all at the same time. please take with you my sincerest thanks for making your columns and reviews the first and last thing i read, whether in print or online. your really going to be missed here in denver.

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