This year’s James Beard Awards semifinalists – which many consider the Oscars of the restaurant industry – were announced Tuesday with several nods to Denver-area nosheries.
Here are the contendahs:
Best Chef Southwest: Alex Seidel, Fruition; Max MacKissock, The Squeaky Bean; and MacKissock’s wife, Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja (which should make for some interesting pillow talk).
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jorel Pierce, Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen (who works for owner Jasinski).
Outstanding Wine Program: Frasca, Boulder.
Outstanding Restaurateur: Frank Bonanno, owner of Mizuna, Luca d’Italia, Osteria Marco, Russell’s Smokehouse and more.
Outstanding Bar Program: Williams & Graham.
Finalists will be announced on March 18; Awards ceremony (a fancy-schmancy affair in New York City) is May 6.
From left: Business partners Beth Gruitch and Jennifer Jasinski, Squeaky Bean chef (and Jasinski’s husband) Max MacKissock and restaurant consultant John Imbergamo at last year’s James Beard Awards in New York City. Rioja chef Jasinski and MacKissock have been nominated for Best Chef Southwest as part of the James Beard Awards.
Alert the fire department!
Fire extinguishers had better be handy when Denver Mayor Michael Hancock flambes Bananas Foster during a press conference and photo op at 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the Hospitality Learning Center at Metro State University of Denver to kick off the ninth annual Denver Restaurant Week(s), Feb. 23 through March 8.
The mayor will be flanked by up to 354 of Denver’s top toques dressed in their “white and blacks” during the event. Denver Restaurant week (the largest in the nation) features more than 350 metro restaurants offering multicourse dinners for the “Mile High” price of $52.80 for two (or $26.40 for one).
For a list of restaurants and menus, go to www.denverrestaurantweek.com.
And speaking of DRW …
Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St., is letting late-night diners create their own $52.80 menu off the eatery’s regular dinner menu if you make a reservation after 9:30 p.m. and mention the promo code “Vestal Virgins.”
Diners can choose any appetizer, entree and dessert for $26.40 per person. Signature items include Panzu Shrimp, Madras Grilled Venison and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Reservations available on Feb. 24-27 and March 3-6. Maximum table size is six guests, and the offer will be extended to five tables each night.
Reservations: www.vestagrill.com or at 303-296-1970. Don’t dinner dawdle, these slots will go pronto!
Sips and sweets
As a veteran Girl Scout from a gahzillion years ago, I try to support the annual cookie sales – even though I don’t need the calories.
So, I’d rather lend a promotion push by letting Blacktie subscribers know about a clever tasting pairing of wine with cookies to benefit the Girl Scouts of Colorado.
Co-hosts and PR princesses Wendy Aiello and Leanna Clark are throwing a pairing party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Clark’s home, 4020 E. Sixth Ave. on the south side of Sixth just two houses east of Colorado Boulevard.
Imagine a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with a frosted lemon cookie or the Samoa chocolate and coconut chewy and crunchy cookie with a robust Cabernet paired by Pete Marczyk, owner of Marcyzk Fine Foods & Wine.
To RSVP, e-mail wendy@aiellopr.com.
Wedded bliss
The Embassy Suites Denver – Downtown, 1420 Stout St., have named betrothed couple Robin and Jeremiah the winners of the $30,000 “Win a Wedding” contest.
More than 10,000 people voted in the online contest, which was held on the hotel’s Facebook page.
The lucky couple will tie the knot in front of 100 family members and friends on May 18 in the Crestone Ballroom inside the hotel.
The adventurous couple – they jumped out of an airplane on their first date – have been together for nearly four years and got engaged last Thanksgiving. In their video submission, they told how they wanted to win the wedding because Robin’s indecisive nature has prevented her from starting the wedding planning process.
“The response from the public was just tremendous,” said Embassy Suites general manager Ed Blair. “Now we are excited to see how people vote on all of the details and to work with our great vendor partners to give this couple a truly magnificent wedding.”
Voting starts today on the hotel’s Facebook page to select all the wedding details from the dress to the entertainment. Each week there will be three options to vote on.
In support of the two other finalist couples – Jen and Chad and Sara Rose and Chuncey – and to thank everyone who voted for them, the hotel will throw the couples a catered reception valued up to $16,500 in food and beverage.
“We truly enjoyed getting to know all three of the couples; they each have such a unique story to share and we appreciate all of their hard work,” Blair said. “We made the offer with the hope that we can still be an integral part of their big day.”
The Embassy Suites Denver – Downtown is a Silver LEED certified all-suite hotel. The lobby features a 13-story sky curtain and Aspen tree accents along the walls. The hotel offers complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast for guests each morning as well as a hosted manager’s reception every evening.
For more information on the hotel, visit http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/colorado/embassy-suites-denver-downtown-convention-center-DENESES/index.html or call 303-592-1000. Complete rules for the Win a Wedding promotion can be found at www.denverwinawedding.com.
Art from the heart
The Madden Museum of Art, 6363 S. Fiddlers Green Circle in Greenwood Village, is opening Inspired by Art: The Building of a Legacy, which showcases the artwork collected by John and Marjorie Madden during their 50 years of world travel, exploration, philanthropy and office building development, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. March 16.
The permanent installation is the sum of 50 years of collecting and is curated by Museum of Outdoor Arts’ executive director and co-founder Cynthia Madden Leitner. The opening celebration will feature traditional Irish fare, cocktails, refreshments and Celtic-themed entertainment.
John Madden formed the John Madden Company, a real estate development business, in the mid 1960s, which continues to operate today. The Maddens call Denver home. For more information, go to www.maddenmuseum.com.
Eavesdropping on a woman at Trillium: “I can’t turn off my charm just because I’m married.”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
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