* Seems the staff at The New York Times wasn't thrilled with readers' comments posted on the newspaper's Web site (http://travel.nytimes.com/200 8/08/10/travel/ 10Hours.html#) after a "36 Hours in Denver" story that ran in the Aug. 10 travel section.

The comments, of which there were nearly two dozen, have disappeared from the site. Too bad, because readers took some justifiable swipes at reporter Eric Wilson, who listed a paltry two restaurants in his 1,515-word salute - if you can call it that - to the Mile High City.

Wilson writes, "There's no getting around Denver's culinary specialty, red meat, the starring attraction at Old West-themed barbecue joints all over town." I'm sorry, folks, but while Denver has a healthy crop of steakhouses, red meat is hardly a "starring attraction" in Denver's overall dining climate, and where on earth did Wilson get the idea that The Fort and the Buckhorn Exchange - the only two restaurants he mentions in his piece - were worship temples of barbecue?

That's a bunch of bull testicles, which you'll find at The Fort, alongside tamale pie, grilled quail, roasted duck and elk. The fact that The Fort serves a modernized, New World barbecued duck quesadilla must have thrown Wilson off the stagecoach. And a quick glance at the Buckhorn Exchange's menu unfurls nearly 50 dishes, only two of which - the ribs and a lone burger - are barbecue derivative.

* Pencil Monday in on your calendar for the Slow Food Summer Harvest Social at Carbondale's Six89 (six89.com/events.tpl), when some of Colorado's best chefs - Frank Bonanno (Luca d'Italia, Mizuna and Osteria Marco), Ryan Hardy (Montagna, Aspen), Shane Coffee (LuLu Wilson, Aspen), Kelly Liken (Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail, and Rick and Kelly's American Bistro, Edwards); Ian Kipp (Ella, Carbondale), and David von Hotlen (Artisan, Snowmass) - prepare a multicourse dinner paired with wines to benefit the Roaring Fork Valley's Slow Food organization. Tickets cost $96.89 for Slow Food members and $126.89 for nonmembers. Call 1-970-963-6890.

* From barrel to bottle, imbibers of bourbon are gearing up for a spirited journey from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at Morton's DTC (8480 E. Belleview Ave.), when the steakery welcomes three whiskey "professors" who plan to take guests through a marathon tasting of premium small-batch bourbons. If you're up for a glorious hangover, tickets are $45 and may be purchased by calling 303-409-1177.

* You know it's football season when local restaurants start kicking off food and drink deals to coincide with the cheers and jeers.

At Belola, the downstairs lounge at LoLa (1575 Boulder St.), sports fans can watch the games on a big- screen TV while tackling chilaquiles, shrimp, chorizo, braised chicken- or vegetable-stuffed tamales, mini-kegs of Heineken and pitchers of margaritas and sangria.

At Nine 75 (975 Lincoln St.), you can catch all the Monday-night action while scoring big on cheap PBR and Bud Light, half-price mojitos and martinis and budget-priced bar grub like bratwursts, chicken wings, corn dogs, fish tacos and hamburgers.