Denverest meals

Columbine, hazing college football team, Jonbenet Ramsey. Colorado has claimed its fair share of national headlines, but not always for things we'd like to be known for.

With Denver hosting the Democratic National Convention, the spotlight is on us again, and—depending on your politics—it might even be for something positive!

So how can we show these fine delegates, media personalities and celebrity suck-ups that we're more than just a state where rednecks like to spit tobaccy in their empty Budweiser cans?

Well, food for one. We may be a "cow-town," but there's so much more to our culinary scene than steak and cheeseburgers (although the latter were invented in Denver in 1935). Here are some dining experiences that are more "Colorado" than John Elway getting thrown out of Cherry Creek Grill.

Rocky Mountain Oysters: Rocky Mountain Oysters are interesting. Why we need yet another euphemism for testicles is beyond us, but apparently the term ‘oysters' makes them sound so much more delectable than calling them Rocky Mountain, say, nads for example.

For the uninformed (a.k.a. the ones yet to go out with a Denver friend and get suckered into ordering them while thinking they are, indeed, oysters), these tasty little morsels are actually deep-fried bull or bison testicles. Go ahead; pretend like you're on "Fear Factor," just minus the prize money and public humiliation.

Three to try: Buckhorn Exchange, The Fort, Coors Field

Denver Omelet: The Denver - usually made with ham, green peppers and onions—is the perfect choice for the morning after post-convention drinking with the Kennedys. Plus we heard Obama likes them. And you know what that means. Yep, all of Hollywood likes them too.

Three to try: Rocky Mountain Diner, Sam's No. 3, Denver Chophouse

Microbreweries: We Coloradans are pretty proud of our mountains and outdoors prowess—can't you tell by the way we all drive Subarus and dress like we've just gone for a hike? But what really puts a bounce in our Crocs-clad step is the fact that we have the second most breweries per capita in the country.

If you need to knock back a few in order to get through listening to Al Gore drone on yet again about his Nobel Peace Prize (My God, are they giving those things out like candy?) and his good buddy Leo DiCaprio, then check out one of our microbrews.

Three to try: Walnut Brewery, Rock Bottom Brewery, Southern Sun

Green Chile: If you'd like to get beat up in Denver, you could a) scream "Lewinsky!" at a Democratic delegate meeting, or b) say New Mexican green chile is superior to our spicy sauce of the same name.

Sure, green chile may not actually be green in color, but I'm sure the chiles were grown organically and delivered to the restaurant in ethanol-powered hybrids, driven by hippies planting saplings along their way. And the majority of profits go to freeing Tibet. Really, I promise.

Three to try: Pete's Kitchen, Juan's, Brewery Bar