Former Fruition Chef Shakes Up Woodie Fisher | Eater Denver

"Housed in a carefully restored structure that once served as Hose House No. 1, this recently opened Woodie Fisher debuts executive chef Franco Ruiz’s new menu, which will be fully available to guests starting in July after an opening last month that completed a restoration by Focus Property Group and coincided with the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn’s grand opening. Ruiz, who worked abroad and spent six years as chef de cuisine at Fruition under Alex Seidel, centers the menu on seasonal, sustainable, local ingredients and technique-driven cooking, while keeping the food unfussy—'an everyday joint' you might come to weekly rather than only for special occasions, as GM Amy Healy says. The neighborhood-minded, ever-changing summer menu includes starters such as Wagyu beef tartare with egg yolk jam, mustard seed, and chives and crispy chicken resembling chicharrones with house ranch; flatbreads like a charred broccolini flatbread with ricotta, peppers, chili flakes, and arugula; and substantial entrees such as smoked pork short rib with cheddar grits and grilled steak with hasselback potatoes. The drinks program features cocktails (including a Hose House Margarita), wine, and beer. The space proudly reflects its firefighting heritage—the main dining room is lit by a skylight that replaced a dilapidated roof, private dining light fixtures are fashioned from fire hoses, and the venue includes a bar, chef’s table, and patio—and the restaurant is named for Denver fire foreman Redwood “Woodie” Fisher, who died pursuing a runaway hose wagon in 1870. Woodie Fisher is open now for dinner daily from 5–10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5–11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday." - Georgina Rupp