Remember when “take me out to the ball game” meant a meal of peanuts and crackerjack along with a hot dog and beer?
So imagine what a healthy home run that Aramark, Coors Field’s exclusive concessionaire, is hitting with the introduction of a sustainable garden located at Gate A of the ball field.
The Colorado Rockies and Aramark have partnered with The Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University and Designs by Sundown to produce the on-site garden, which will provide the concessionaire with herbs and vegetables for use in Coors Field’s Mountain Ranch Club menu and build-your-own salad station.
The design of “The Garden”, which is its official name, mimics a baseball stadium with raised beds terracing upward from The Garden’s “infield” to the outfield, to the stands. Ornamental flowers, followed by herbs, followed by vegetables will be on display for fans that pass through Gate A over the course of the Rockies’ season.
The beds will be constructed of beetle kill pinewood sourced from Morgan Timber Products of Fort Collins. The plantings will be propagated at CSU from seeds adapted to the Colorado climate.
The installation of The Garden marks a further commitment by the Rockies and Aramark to develop environmentally friendly programs in alignment with Major League Baseball’s recent green focus.
On the other side of the snack spectrum, Aramark has added plenty of indulgent items that will be offered starting with the home opener today. They are:
* Sausage on a stick – Italian, smoked cheddar, spicy Polish sausage.
* Carnitas nachos – tortilla chips smothered in green chili queso topped with pork carnitas, jalapenos, pico de gallo and sour cream.
* Smothered empanada – topped with former Bronco Mark Schlereth‘s Stinkin’ Green Chili, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and sour cream.
* Pizza nachos – fresh fried pizza dough chips topped with house-made marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, diced pepperoni and sausage.
* Rib eye sandwich – a 4-ounce rib eye served with sliced Havarti horseradish cheese, topped with onion tanglers and tangy gold barbecue sauce.
* Souvenir refillable popcorn.
Laird lands at Sarto’s
Since talented chef Brian Laird left Barolo Grill, after a 12-year stint in command of the kitchen, he bounced around Denver’s dining scene between the now-shuttered Russo’s down south to the now-shuttered RockBar on East Colfax to Sketch at 101 Broadway.
I don’t think that Laird knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. But the boy wonder (he looks younger than his years) finally has landed at a spot I think he can call home. Sarto’s, a northern Italian eatery poised to open in the fall in a vacant century-old property at the corner of Eliot and 25th Avenue, will be the centerpiece of an emerging neighborhood between Highland and Sports Authority Field.
Laird and majority owners Taylor Swallow and Kjsa Gotlin share a passion for northern Italian cuisine, which will be adapted to reflect contemporary tastes.
Laird will craft a seasonal made-from-scratch menu featuring locally sourced products, hand-selected Italian specialty items, antipasti creations, house-made pasta and wood-fired selections.
A floor-to-ceiling bar will feature custom cocktails, Italian wines and beers, as well as a handful of domestic selections. The space will seat 90 indoors and include covered patio seating outdoors.
Adjacent to the restaurant will be Sarto’s Pantry, which will offer quick bites for lunch or dinner including soups, sandwiches, salads and pizzas, plus take-home ingredients such as fresh pastas, sauces, meats and cheeses.
For more information, visit www.sartos.com or www.facebook.com/sartosdenver or follow on Twitter @sartosdenver.
Singin’ and dancin’ in Denver
“Ballroom with a Twist”, a super show coming to the Buell Theatre June 8 and 9, combines celebrity pros from “Dancing With the Stars” with “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance ” finalists.
The international dance production, with stunning costumes and performances that push the boundaries of ballroom dancing, features “Dancing With the Stars” competitors Jonathan Roberts, Anna Trebunskaya, Tristan MacManus and Chelsie Hightower. “American Idol” finalists are Gina Glocksen (season six) and Von Smith (season eight). “So You Think You Can Dance” finalists are Randi Lynn Strong, Jonathan Platero and Legacy.
“Dancing With the Stars” Emmy-nominated Louis van Amstel’s choreography brings sizzling dance moves and fancy flash to this family friendly evening.
Single tickets for “Ballroom With a Twist” start at $20. To charge by phone, call Denver Center ticket services at 303-893-4100 or buy online at www.denvercenter.org.
Good eats in Estes
If it works for Denver, why can’t it work for Estes Park?
Estes Park Restaurant Week takes place from April 12 through 25. The deal? Enjoy a three-course meal for only $20.13.
The week winds up with Taste of Estes on April 25 with area restaurants participating at the Conference Center at Rocky Mountain Park Inn.
Some participating restaurants in Estes Park Restaurant Week will offer breakfast and lunch specials or upgraded dinner packages at $30.13 or $40.14. More restaurant and menu information at http://www.dineestespark.com/Page_2.php.
Mornings with Moreno
I told you recently that CBS4 has hired Britt Moreno from KSAZ-TV in Phoenix, as Alan Gionet‘s other half on the “CBS4 Morning News” at 5 and 6 a.m. as well as on the noon news.
The news is that Moreno will make her morning debut on Monday.
“We are very pleased to have Britt join CBS4,” said news director Tim Wieland. “She is a great journalist who connects with viewers and will be a strong addition to our talented team.”
Moreno, who is bilingual, is originally from Austin, Texas. She attended Trinity University in San Antonio, where she received degrees in communications and Spanish. For more information, call 303-861-4444 or visit www.cbsdenver.com.
Texas native Britt Moreno will join the CBS4 morning newscast on Monday. (Photo courtesy of CBS4)
Playing footsie
This couple takes togetherness too far: John and Joanne Davidson each are sporting (not cowboy) boots on their right feet. John hurt his foot and Joanne, The Denver Post Society editor, sprained her ankle.John wass scheduled to get his boot off Thursday.
No boot-scooting boogie for Joanne and John Davidson (Photo from Joanne Davidson's Facebook page)
Eavesdropping on a woman talking about her friend’s recent mammogram: “She said when the lady asked her if she had any implants her reply was, ‘Well if I did I was robbed!'”
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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