A three cheese blend. Artichoke hearts. Sauteed spinach.
We’ve all had it somewhere, at some some point. But this here, this version of spinach and artichoke dip was and is next level.
The way The Metropolitan Downtown in Cheyenne Wyoming prepares their dip is both richer and lighter, fluffy almost, and with a surprising and delightful pop of citrus (lime?), like a vase of lemons in an otherwise dark wood room. It brightens the mood, makes your eyes go wide and soul dance a bit at the audacity of it all.
Unlike a vase of possibly faux citrus fruit, this dish will please your eyes AND your insides.
Cheyenne, as a place, is worth a visit on its own but this dip, this small plate at this new art deco jewel in the Wyoming capital city’s hand, is worth a three hour roundtrip day trip up from Denver. I mean, mix in a stroll around the vibrantly verbose Cowgirls of the West Museum, a bit of used literature and vinyl shopping at Phoenix Books & Music, and some skee-ball at Flippers’ on either side of lunch at The Met and you’ll have enjoyed a fine, fine day out.
In a way, not to stretch a narrative I’m in the vaguely process of writing, but in a way this dip, its memorable flavor and bold presentation, is a metaphor for the wild western city itself: familiar, and rooted in a proud tradition, but not complacent, not sitting still, not interested in relying solely on the past to move itself forward.
