It came from Boulder... yes, I know that may sound like the start of an eerie science fiction movie, but really, ¡cálmate! You see, some of our friends up north have now graced Denver with a second branch of the popular South American gastronomic emporium, Cují Foods. As you will no doubt notice upon entering, many of the products in this cozy "rincón" hail from Venezuela, as do the owners ("cují" is in fact a tree from that part of the continent). Some of my personal favorites here are the heat-and-eat products in the cooler, for times when I'm craving a moist Cachapa (cheesy corn cake), some Pastelitos (chicken or beef turnovers), or even a couple of Cachitos (hearty ham buns), But really, I need to get my act together, and cook a meal or two myself - and luckily, Cují has plenty of suggestions for me there too. If I need a little meat, I can just stop right by the door and pick out some Tapa de Cuadril (Argentinian beef rump cap) or a few links of Morcilla (blood sausage from Colombia). Numerous cheese and other dairy products are available here too, from earthy Queso Guayanés, to creamy Nata Criolla, to tangy Queso Telita. I mean really, I can cut down my shopping list quite handily here - and these are only a few of the phenomenal food finds available at this address. Is your sweet tooth especially needy today? Well, you'll find plenty of options to quell that particular "hambre" here. I would personally recommend some rice/wheat bites packed with dulce de leche (Toops), a little tin of hazelnut wafer rolls (Pirucream), or some chocolate cream-stuffed cookies (Marilu) - or all three if you really want to get festive. If you prefer snacks of the salty variety, how about some cheese puffs (Tris and Pepito are two varieties you will most likely see) or even Batata Palha - Brazilian shoestring potatoes. (Yes, I know those traditionally go on stews like Estrogonofe de Frango, but honestly, I can eat them right out of the bag). Ay, I just realized that strangely, I haven't yet said anything about beverages - which is a little odd since that tends to be one of my favorite grocery sections. So let me close out by telling you about - for example - Papelón con Limón (sugarcane/lime juice), Té Canela (cinnamon tea), and of course, Café Paramo (one of Venezuela's favorite coffees), all readily available at Cují too. read more