Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market's choicest ingredients home with them and cook up a feast.

Pete and Barb have guests in town this week, including Barb's sister, Mariah, who, says Barb, has taken over the Marczyk home kitchen. Last night, she cooked a no-fuss halibut dish for the Marczyk clan, which Barb insists is "stupid-easy and good" -- and judging from the short list of ingredients, she's right. "Use the freshest fish you can find," advises Barb, who recommends pairing the halibut with a bright white wine like the Purato Catarratto pinot grigio, available at Marczyk Fine Wines for $9.99 a bottle.

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Denver dumpling enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief: Lao Wang Noodle House reopened today, several days after Chung-Ming and Tse-Ming Wang had closed the place for renovations.

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Pizza Public took over the former Veronica's Bases space.

Pizza Public is set to open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4.

It's taken over the space that was once home to Veronica's Bases Loaded, a definite dive bar. But according to Pizza Public's Facebook page, this new spot will be a "pizza-tapas-wine restaurant/bar with a nice highland upscale feel."

Les Delices de Paris, the charming bakery at 600 South Holly Street, will reopen at 7 a.m. tomorrow after being closed for remodeling.

"We have a big, new pastry case for new pastries," explains French-born Christelle Donat, who co-owns the spot with her husband, Gerard. "New paint, too. It's a new store! Come by tomorrow and see for yourself."

And get there early if you want to snag the pastries that won Best Breakfast Pastries in the Best of Denver 2008.

Gooey Applebee's chicken wings, only "$.18" each today through Friday.

If they want to celebrate today's news, Denver residents don't have to spend like Peyton Manning in order to cash in on the newest Bronco's impending arrival. As soon as it was reported that Frank Tripucka's retired number 18 could be on Manning's back this fall, restaurants and bar specials started swirling around that number.

The short list of where you can eat like a Man-ning:

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What are two things that people really want right now? You guessed it: new flavors of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and more Republican primary coverage. Last week Ben & Jerry's announced that it is debuting Greek frozen yogurt, bringing back "Chocolate Therapy" (chocolate ice cream, choco-cookies and chocolate pudding swirl), and adding "Walk Down the Rocky Road-ish" (toasted marshmallow ice cream/swirl with chocolate covered almonds) and "I like to Nougat, Nougat" (sweet cream ice cream with fudge wafer cookies chocolate nougat swirl). Meanwhile, the GOP primary candidates are bringing back the 1950s -- but their retro views on birth control might go over better with a side of ice cream.

Here are five GOP-inspired flavors that Ben & Jerry's should consider introducing. Cherries on top are optional.

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J. Wohletz

Taco Bell is currently making the same mistake that gets you in trouble playing Risk: dividing your army. Taco Bell undoubtedly owns the late-night fast-food crowd, and it doesn't seem to be hurting at lunch or dinner, either. But thrusting its big burrito into the already crowded breakfast scene is only a good idea if Taco Bell can produce morning eatables that offer customers something different, good and more affordable than they can get at Burger King, McDonald's or Subway.

Well, Taco Bell got the affordable part right, but not so much sexy with the rest. I went, I ordered, I ate...and afterward, I had to rinse out my eat-hole with a glass of stale Evan Williams to get the taste out and dull the pain of my shattered expectations. Here's a photo tour of Taco Bell's new breakfast items. No amount of Fire sauce could make me order any of this again.

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J. Wohletz

St. Kilian's new owners: Jon Marsh and Veronica Martinez.

St. Kilian's Cheese Shop is a boutique-style gem within walking distance of Mondo Vino and The Denver Bread Company -- making Highland Square a convenient stop for gathering party supplies -- and it specializes in French, Spanish and Italian cheeses, with a few select Swiss and Dutch wheels, and cheddars from Ireland and the U.K.

Former shop owners Hugh and Ionah O' Neill sold the shop in November 2011 to nine-year customer and cheese enthusiast Jon Marsh and his fiancé Veronica Martinez. It was a fairly seamless changeover, and Hugh even helps out at the store from time to time.

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J. Wohletz

What makes City, O' City such a marvelous place to dine and drink? The location, right in the heart of downtown, the staff's ability to make the best mocha latte I've had in quite a while, and the quirky-vegetarian treasures on the menu -- notably the signature house-pickled vegetables.

I ordered the pickled vegetable plate on a whim while dining out one evening with my girly-pals, and once the plate hit the table and the first slice of pickled lemon cucumber hit my mouth, I ignored my friends and gave the food my unfettered attention.

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J. Wohletz

There's an "it" couple that everyone wants at their party every Christmas -- the duo that livens up the festivities, gives the crowd something to talk about, and adds that certain something to make the gathering memorable.

This pair, for example: a delicate bite of a smooth, hand-dipped pomegranate-raspberry-rose chocolate and a sip of 2008 Chapoutier Banyuls, a rich, red dessert wine. This is a coupling that encompasses fragrance, flavor and feel, and it's perfect for either a swanky soiree or a nightcap for one.

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