It’s good to be Jennifer Jasinski.
Earlier this week she snagged Denver’s first James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, now word comes from a super secret source that Jasinski’s follow-up act will be a spot on season 5 of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”
The rumor mill is all over the blog-0-sphere, but confirmation literally fell into my lap during dinner the other night.
No one’s talking on the record, but you can take this to the walk-in. One blogger actually spotted Jasinski on the “Top Chef Masters” set, along side famed New York chef David Burke.
Jasinski is the chef/owner of Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Euclid Hall, who first arrived on Denver’s dining scene as top chef at Panzano, a kitchen now helmed by the equally talented Elise Wiggins.
Stay tuned for details when Bravo lifts the cone of silence.
FirstBank bash
On Tuesday, FirstBank held a look-see for invited guests to get a glimpse of the landmark 100 St. Paul redevelopment of the space that is expected to be completed in 2015, which will significantly change the landscape of Cherry Creek North.
One of the key tenants of the redevelopment, headed by Denver Tech Center godfather Bill Pauls, CEO of The Pauls Corporation, is Del Frisco’s Grille, an upscale bar and grill dishing out modern American cuisine.
Del’s used its older sibling – Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, a pricey prime steak house in the Tech Center – to cater the affair.
The Del Frisco’s Grille space in the new 100 St. Paul project will include a huge rooftop patio, a one-of-a-kind fixture in Cherry Creek North. Can’t wait! Another key tenant is Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty’s Denver headquarters (http://www.fullersothebysrealty.com/eng).
During his speech, Pauls said, “FirstBank decided this site (as is) was not the best use. They had a beauty contest for developers and we’re honored that you selected us …This is a huge iconic building with FirstBank’s name on it. By the way, we still have space left (to lease).”
At the party, we sampled Del’s fare including absolutely divine ahi tacos (tuna tartare, avocado and spicy citrus mayo), truffled deviled eggs (oh my!), filet sliders and cake lollipops.
Count on a knife fight between Del’s and Cherry Creek Grill, a persnickety place that needs to go down. Del’s is user-friendly and judging from the sampling of the fine fare, it’s going to be a delish dining experience.
The Denver space will be the seventh Del Frisco’s Grille location.
More on the menu at www.delfriscosgrille.com.
All American
History Colorado kicks off a summer of exploration of local and national military history at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, with the opening of The American Soldier: A Photographic Tribute on May 25 and continuing through Sept. 2.
This national traveling exhibition features 116 enlarged photographs that capture images of American soldiers, beginning on the Civil War battlefields in 1861 when the new medium of photography first documented the grim realities of war, to the war in Iraq.
“Spanning nine wars, I’ve often wondered what the exhibition photographs have in common,” said exhibition curator Cyma Rubin. “These photographs have power. They have an ability to reach people … each image has a life of its own.”
For complete information, go to www.historycolorado.org.
Drew crew
Comedy Works South at the Landmark has landed a big fish: Television personality/actor Drew Carey will perform there on June 21 and 22.
Show times are at 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. both days. Ticket prices are $26 per person. Advance tickets are available by calling 720-274-6800 or online at www.comedyworks.com.
Drew Carey will perform at Comedy Works South at the Landmark on June 21 and 22.
Chef’s best
Charcoal, the fab fare eatery at 43 W. Ninth Ave., is cooking up a special chef’s dinner at 6:30 p.m. May 16 featuring the culinary talents of Charcoal chefs Greg Lucero and Max Kofoed.
Here’s a sample of the menu to tempt your taste buds:
Pan-seared sea bass with risotto cake; pan-roasted rabbit with braised greens, sorrel puree, grits stuffed morel mushroom and rhubarb lemon tart.
Cost is $50 per person or $70 with wine pairings. Reservations: 303-454-0000.
SOL woman
SOL Store of Lingerie at 248 Detroit St. is offering a toast to the mom in your life from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in honor of Mother’s Day.
The day includes champagne and strawberries, a photo booth for a picture together or to create a personalized card, an opportunity to enter to win the Mother’s and Daughter’s Day in Cherry Creek North sweepstakes (valued at $700 with gift cards to Antoine du Chez for mani/pedis, makeup application and blowout, bra fitting at SOL; shopping at Show of Hands; lunch at Vinue).
For last-minute mom shopping, SOL has selections from sleepwear designer Josie Natori. Bright colors and prints are the hallmark of the Natori brand and SOL has an extensive selection from negligee short robes to Aphrodite gowns.
More information at www.sollingerie.com.
Wine time
Twelve students from the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business will plan and implement the annual DU Vin Wine Festival on May 16 and 18.
DU Vin will feature culinary experts and winemakers who will meet to enjoy some of the finest varietals and raise scholarship funds for KSHM students.
On May 16, a multi-course gourmet dinner will be prepared and served by renowned chef/restaurateur Frank Bonanno with his culinary team and KSHM students.
There will be a reception before the dinner and each course will represent a dish offered at one of Bonanno’s restaurants. Tickets are $125 per person, and complimentary parking will be provided.
On May 18 from noon to 4 p.m., the grand tasting will be held with vintners, wine vendors and food experts pouring high-end wines from around the world paired with local food prepared by the student culinary team from the Knoebel School.
Music will be provided by students of DU’s Lamont School of Music, and tickets are $52.80.
Both the DU Vin wine pairing dinner and grand tasting will take place in the Joy Burns Center building on the University of Denver campus. Tickets can be purchased at www.knoebelevents.ticketleap.com. More information at www.duvinfestival.com.
T-shirt talk
A breast cancer patient who had a double mastectomy spotted a T-shirt with these words: “Yes, they’re fake! (my real ones tried to kill me).” I get it, but ouch!
Eavesdropping on Facebook: “I just ate a bite of wedding cake that was so good, it actually made me want to get married. Now that’s a darn good cake.”
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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