Kachina’s Beignets
So you’re heading to Boulder, but you need a Bloody Mary? Hop off 36 and head toward Kachina Southwestern Grill in Westminster for their Wild West Brunch. Attached to the Westin hotel, Kachina is easily accessible and boasts a Bloody Mary Bar that is a meal unto itself.
Despite its inevitable association with hotel kitsch, Kachina’s first impression is warm and funky all at once. Diners are welcomed by a flickering fireplace and a southwestern décor that is, pleasantly, more modern flea market than central Texas. The kid’s room is a particularly appealing feature for diners with young guests. Kids can relax, watch movies, play games and top their free pancakes with a colorful variety of do-it-yourself additions like sprinkles, marshmallows, and chocolate chips while the adults sit back and relax.
Get creative with your Bloody Mary.
The Beignets are a wonderful way to begin unwinding. Light and sweet with a caramel dip, the beignets provide just the right amount of sugar rush before your first trip to the Bottomless Bloody Mary Bar. But your first trip won’t be your last. Bar manager Nick Tarsi will help guide you through the jars of add-ons like ancho bacon, bison jerkey, prosciutto and manchego skewers and chorizo stuffed olives. First, though, pick either well or a rotating selection of house-made infused vodkas and tequilas for your Bloody Mary. Oh, and don’t be afraid to try the spicy or tomatillo mix options instead of the classic Bloody mix, you can always get another. The chili infused tequila, tomatillo mix, and cumin salt on the rim (with two bacon stirrers) was my favorite concoction.
While Kachina’s brunch offerings venture into the unique, it may be a better bet to stick with simpler options (or the loads of Bloody Mary garnishes). Dishes like the Fried Quail + Jalapeno Waffle and the Borega Benedicto, Kachina’s spin on the classic benedict that tops fry bread with braised lamb along with the obligatory poached egg, sounded tempting, but the waffles were bland and mealy, the quail over cooked and greasy, and the benedicto suffered from cold temperatures after a long trip out of the kitchen.
There are plenty of other options, though, if your hunger needs more than a loaded Bloody Mary to kick start your weekend. The “Cowboy” Burrito and the Green Chili Cheeseburger were both big enough to fill up a CU football player and the Trio of Guacamole is the perfect choice for munching while you try that second, and third Bloody Mary.
The fully loaded Bloody Mary Bar
Though the dining room can fill up quickly with hotel guests for weekend brunch, Kachina is definitely worth a pit stop for anyone who enjoys a southwestern kick to their morning complete with a crispy chicharone skewer on their Bloody Mary.
Kachina’s Wild West Brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 7-2pm. The Bloody Mary Bar is set up on Sundays only from 10am-2pm.