Penny Parker On The Town: Diamonds in the Rough tourney creates new friends and raises money

I have had the rare privilege of being asked to participate (a.k.a. play) in the Hyde Park Jewelers charity golf tournament for the 14 years that it’s been in existence.

But the night preceding the tourney can be even more of a reunion between  athletes  and journalists who gathered on Sunday at Elway’s Cherry Creek for an amazing dinner and event led by one of my favorite media personalities, Les Shapiro (host of radio and television).

Not only was the dinner amazing – I’m saying steak and crazy corn with guacamole and pepitas  – but our lovely “Table 26″ was filled with the might and right.

Kudos to Elway’s executive chef Tyler “Wizard” Wiard and his team for putting out a ton of food in a timely manner. You guys rock!

Game day

Because Les Shapiro is so good to me, I got to play as a “celebrity” fifth at Cherry Creek Country Club on Monday for the Hyde Park Jewelers Diamonds in the Rough golf tournament  (presented by Rolex, where’s mine?) to benefit Youth Biz,, Judi’s House and the Global Down syndrome.

My patient teammates were David Blake (from the Colorado state’s attorney’s office and son of Ernie Blake, a blessing to our Denver community for his fundraising efforts), who was the best stick in our fivesome. Also deserving kudos was Abby Perlmutter (daughter of Congressman Ed Perlmutter), who can hit a mile-long drive not Ed, but Abby.

And rounding out our fivesome were brothers Gary and Steve Pettit, who own and run Starwest Productions out of Arvada. Check them out at: www.estarwest.com.

Any way you slice it, we had a blast!

Jackson needs some love

Tim Jackson after his Rhode Island biking accident. (Courtesy of Tim Jackson’s Twitter account)

1515 special event

Save the date for some awesome cuisine when 1515 Restaurant at 1515 Market St. hosts a series of “1515 Test Kitchen” dinners featuring sous vide techniques and molecular gastronomy beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 4.

The multi-course dinners, a collaboration between 1515 chefs Jonas Halstead and Garren Teich, will take place the first Sunday of every month and include molecular cooking demonstrations as well as Q&A sessions with the chefs .

Seats are $55 per person or $95 with wine pairings. Reservations can be made by calling 303-571-0011. The menu includes:

Amuse Bouche
“Fruit Salad” | strawberry juice, green apple foam and green tea powder
Wine pairing: Ca Del Sarto Prosecco, Friuli-Venezia Guilia, Italy

First Course:
Shrimp and corn “chowder” | house-made pancetta, red fish caviar and oyster crackers
Wine pairing: Dopff & Irion Pinot Grigio, Alsace, Germany

Second Course:
Compressed heirloom tomatoes | horseradish foam, tomato sheet and lotus chips
Wine pairing: Marchesi Guadagni, White Blend, Tuscany, Italy

Third Course:
Seared duck breast | molecular truffled gnocchi, pistachio encrusted cherries, Mandarin orange and duck constructed cream
Wine pairing: Louis Jadot Bourgogne (Pinot Noir), Burgundy, France

Fourth Course:
Sous-vide New York strip |crispy beef salad, sweet and sour tamarind demi, edamame sphere with sriracha salt, king trumpet mushrooms and sous-vide egg yolk
Wine pairing: Josh Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast, California

Dessert:
Reconstructed apple pie | Granny Smith and Gala apples, “snicker doodle” caviar, apple puffs, caramel dippin’ dots and cinnamon powder
Wine pairing: Andrew Quady, California Orange Muscat NV.

For reservations call 303-571-0011.

Fore!

My dear friend Lisa Holste is debuting her women’s golf clothing line at a lunch at EDGE Restaurant and Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver on July 31.

It’s an active wear line for women who play golf or tennis and will be available to order at www.ellabelle.com. The health conscious menu for the fashion show, includes a mini lean and green smoothie, roasted tomato soup, watermelon frisee salad and a lemon cream fruit tart.

Ellabelle is an active wear line made in Los Angeles that focuses on apparel fit for the golf course, tennis court and beyond. Guests can register to win prizes including an ellabelle golf bag and two spots at the exclusive Double Cross Vodka dinner with LPGA player and two-time major championships winner, Cristie Kerr, at EDGE on Aug. 7. Reservations: 303-389-3050.

Eavesdropping on a man talking about the dessert at the Elway’s Cherry Creek dinner prior to the golf tournament: “It’s a chocolate brick.”

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.