TABLE TALK: Palmer Lake Paravicini's changes name

Paravicini's Italian Bistro, 75 Colorado Highway 105 in Palmer Lake, is sporting a new name with some new menu items.

Owners Franco Pisani and Ted Sexton are calling the restaurant La Zingara, which they say means "the gyspy."

"The place in Palmer Lake needed its own identity," Pisani said. "The food will be made in my style but a little different from Old Colorado City. There's a lot of items on the menu that are under $10."

An addition to menu at Palmer Lake is Neapolitan-style individual pizzas. "They run $5.95 to $7.95," he said. "We've added some steaks and seafood items, too."

Happy hour at the Palmer Lake eatery is 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., when it serves a menu of small plates for $5.

Call 481-2222 for reservations.

Flying wings
Award-winning Wild Bill's Buffalo Wings has moved from Union and Academy boulevards to 4747 Flintridge Drive. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays, except during football season, when it is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 594-4094.

Tapas on the menu
Lauren Stuart, owner of the Cooking Naturally school, and James Davis, executive chef at The Blue Star, will team up for a Spanish Tapas Dinner at Stuart's home, 6 p.m. July 24. There are eight tapas on the menu, including fennel and orange salad with grilled shrimp, and grilled salmon with sauce romesco. Cost is $75 per person.

For reservations, call 527-9356 or e-mail strartml@earthlink.net.

French connection
I found a new dining destination in Denver: Le Central, with the logo "An Affordable French Restaurant," at 112 E. Eighth Ave. (at Lincoln Avenue). It's two little houses attached to each other, with rooms added on. I first experienced the eatery when I attended a monthly cooking class (held on the last Tuesday of the month).

I spotted mussels on the menu at the April 28 class and got more interested. They had not just one version of mussels but 11 ways of saucing the bivalves. We went for the Portugaise, with a sauce made of white wine, Spanish chorizo, tomatoes, garlic and coriander. It was very good. Our friend ordered Normande, with a rich sauce of mushrooms, white wine, onions, garlic, brandy and cream. An order of two dozen steamed mussels served with unlimited french fries goes for $9.99. It was plenty for two people to split.

Visit lecentral.com to see the amazing menu. Call 1-303-863-8094.
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