Susan's Travels Tours + Trips

General Manager Von DeLuna said, "Kimpton as a company has always been pet-friendly and Hotel Monaco Denver is no different. We welcome pets of all shapes and sizes and consider our furry guests a top priority because we know how important their pets are to our human guests.”

The Hotel Monaco Denver imposes no additional charge or deposit on guests who have their animals stay in their room and there is no size or weight limit. The hotel offers dog walking and sitting services; an exercise area within walking distance; and a list of nearby veterinarians upon request. Complimentary pet services and amenities include pooper-scooper bags; an in-room bowl for food and water; a doggie mat; a dog park map; and walks by loving staff.

WOULD YOU LIKE A FISH WITH YOUR ROOM? Traveling without your pet? No problem. Hotel Monaco Denver is happy to provide you an in-room, named goldfish (Gus, Bradley, Susie, Frank or Lucy) during your visit. (Oh, and if your stay-at-home fish gets jealous, consider giving your own aquatic companion a chic Kimpton Fish Hotel and Condo. www.kimptonstyle.com.)

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE. The intimate European-style Hotel Monaco Denver occupies two connected repurposed buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: the stately 1917 Railway Exchange building and the sleek 1937 Art Moderne Title Building, both designed by the notable Colorado architectural firm Fisher & Fisher. The vaulted star-spangled lobby ceiling by veteran hospitality designer Cheryl Rowley crowns a colorful and comfortable gathering space whose walls are hung with Western-themed pieces by Hampton Hall.

CHEF ELISE WIGGINS DAZZLES AT PANZANO. The star of Hotel Monaco Denver’s AAA Four Diamonds restaurant Panzano is Chef Elise Wiggins, named Colorado Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation. Wiggins is the charming and energetic heart of a cooking team that moves with ballet-like precision preparing Panzano’s signature Northern Italian dishes and it is a delight to watch as it all happens.

Wiggins said, "One of the things I like best about the layout of Panzano is the chefs’ counter, 15 seats right in front of the cook line. As a chef, I love stopping and talking to tables in the dining room but there’s nothing better than interacting with guests while they’re enjoying their food right in front of you at the chefs’ counter.”

Wiggins’s specialties include Carbonara a la Panzano (tagliatelle with house-cured pancetta, Grana Padano and cracked black pepper, topped with a fried egg), Crespelle ai Funghi (mushroom stuffed crepes, fonduta sauce and white truffle oil) and the award-winning Caesar Griglia (grilled hearts of romaine, anchovies, garlic and Parmesan). Save room for Dolci, perhaps a Torta di Carota (carrot cake with Meyer lemon curd, pine nut brittle and crème fraiche gelato), a Ricotta Cannoli (house made ricotta, with pineapple syrup and basil oil) or Panna Cotta al Cioccolato (garnished with mint Devon cream and candied walnuts).

Wiggins also merges Panzano’s Northern Italian focus with gluten-free dietary concerns to create Cavolini di Bruxelles (fried Brussels sprouts tossed with apple cider reduction, pistachios, rosemary salt and sliced green apple), Piccolo Pollo (slow roasted petite chicken stuffed with duxelles and speck with a black cardamon risotto and hazelnut pan jus) and Costole Breve (braised short ribs with sweet potato puree, mushroom demi and a truffled vanilla bean foam).

Named one of America’s top restaurants by Zagat, Panzano’s motto is Chi Mangia Bene, Viva Bene (who eats well, lives well) and Chef Elise Wiggins sees that it is so.

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Hotel Monaco Denver is at 1717 Champa St., four blocks from the Colorado Convention Center, three blocks from the Denver Performing Arts Complex, and within walking distance of historic Larimer Square and 16th Street Mall. For information visit www.monaco-denver.com or call (800) 397-5380.

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AND REMEMBER: "While we are postponing, life speeds by.” Seneca (B.C. – 65 A.D.)

Susan Cohn is a member of Bay Area Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com.