Trader Joe’s announcement Monday that it will open a fourth Colorado location on the Southwest corner of Seventh and Logan was the best thing to happen to Capitol Hill since the governor’s mansion moved into the ‘hood.
And since I live five blocks from the new TJ’s site, I was especially delighted to hear the news, although I’ll have to figure out how to transport a boatload of signature Trader Joe’s products.
Trader Joe’s spokeswomen Alison Mochizuki confirmed Monday’s Internet buzz. “Although we don’t disclose what goes into the decision-making processes of selecting a location, Denver is filled with foodies and we are looking forward to being part of this wonderful community,” Mochizuki said when I asked what drove TJ’s to secure a Cap Hill site. “Beyond this, we don’t have any additional comments.”
The space, directly across the street from the popular Govnr’s Park Tavern at 672 Logan St., is currently occupied by an empty Century Link warehouse. The Trader Joe’s store, which is slated to open next year, will be approximately 11,600 square feet.
It will not carry its famous Two Buck Chuck wine — nor any other liquor — because the one store with a liquor component will be the Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard location in accordance with Colorado liquor laws that restrict retailers to one liquor license.
Other previously announced stores will be in Greenwood Village and Boulder, and also will open next year. The Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe’s began in 1958 in the Los Angeles area, and since has grown to more than 390 stores in 35 states. More at www.traderjoes.com.
Well done
Denver James-Beard-Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski earned a chance for redemption when she returned to the “Top Chef Masters” competition last Wednesday on Bravo.
Viewers thought Jasinski, who owns Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Euclid Hall, was thrown out of the contest like some weeks-old leftovers, but she roared back in the online sous chef competition to win her reentry.
Last Wednesday’s elimination challenge was to create a fish dish, and Jasinski (paired with Douglas Keane, who had immunity) was victorious while winning $5,000 for her charity of choice, Work Options for Women, a Denver-based organization that teaches impoverished women skills to put them to work in the food service industry. That makes a respectable total of $15,000 that the Denver chef has won so far for WOW.
Chef Jennifer Jasinski’s winning John Dory dish (with fellow chef Douglas Keane) that netted $5,000 for Work Options for Women. (Bravo TV photo)
Only three episodes remain on “Top Chef Masters” (8 p.m. Wednesdays our time). Vote for Team Jasinski at www.bravotv.com/top-chef-masters.
Tix on sale today
The Denver Film Society is honoring Denver’s legendary former concert promoter Barry Fey with a screening of “Under a Blood Red Sky,” with special performances by The Samples and Madam Sin, beginning at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 26 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, where the U2 concert was originally filmed.
Tickets are $20 (all fees included) and on sale beginning today at www.ticketswest.com, King Soopers stores or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT.
Tech Center tastes
The 13th annual Taste of the Tech Center, brought to you by The DTC|Greenwood Village chamber of Commerce, will tantalize taste buds on Sept. 18 at the XJet Hangar at Centennial Airport.
The event (from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. general admission or from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for VIPs) features tastes from more than 40 South Denver restaurants paired with wine samples.
For tickets call the DTC|Greenwood Village Chamber at 303-290-9922, e-mail admin@gvchamber.com or go to http://business.dtcchamber.com/events/details/13th-annual-taste-of-greenwood-village-7871.
Stand by for take off
Mariel, a women’s boutique at 3000 E. Third Ave., will feature evening wear for the fashion show finale at Flight to Luxury. (Photo courtesy of Mariel)
Fashion, jets, sports cars and luxury Cuvee Ventures villas will come together under one roof on Sept. 20 for the fourth annual Flight to Luxury event benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
The evening’s goal is to raise $750,000. The Signature Flight Support private jet hangar at Centennial Airport will house the red-carpet event showcasing elite elements of high-end travel: Cuvee’s custom-couture villas in locations around the world, first-class private jets by Jet Linx and luxury sports cars by Ferrari of Denver and Sill-TerHar Motors.
Also featured will be a couture fashion show from local Denver boutiques, cuisine and drinks from some of the Mile High City’s top eateries and a silent and live auction. CBS4 sports anchor Vic Lombardi will emcee the event.
For more information and tickets, go to www.flighttoluxury.com.
Swept
Le Grand Bistro and Oyster Bar, 1512 Curtis St., provided the winning chef and bartender, selected by a panel of judges, at the Art of the Cocktail Friday at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Denver.
Chef Brad Yard took the food category with his roasted tomato gazpacho with cucumber coulis, garlic breadcrumbs and Granata Farms purple basil.
The winning cocktail, created by Audrey Smith, was the Bangkok Rose made with Absolut cilantro lime vodka, house-made smoked hibiscus simple syrup, house-made grapefruit bitters, fresh lemon and lime juice, fresh basil and served up and garnished with hibiscus flower and basil.
Each first-place chef and bartender were awarded $500 cash, plus an overnight at The Ritz and breakfast at Elway’s Downtown.
People’s choice winners were Smith for her Bangkok Rose cocktail and Elway’s for its tacos.
Here are a few selected photos from Saturday’s ninth annual Denver Food and Wine, presented by US Foods:
These young ladies helped serve cocktails to the Denver Food and Wine crowd Saturday. Below, celebrity chef Brian Polcyn wows the crowd with his charcuterie knowledge at the Viking Culinary Chef Showcase. Bottom, Panzano chef Elise Wiggins also was a participant on the Viking Stage.(Photos by Stevie Crecilius)
Subscribe to my column and earn beer here
This evening at 6 p.m., the winning name will be drawn for two VIP tickets to Denver Beerathon. Anyone who’s a veteran or newbie subscriber to this column will be eligible to win. Sign up to subscribe (come on, it’s free!) at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker and you will be eligible for this and future drawings.
The first Denver Beerathon, on Saturday, features a self-guided tour of 26 downtown-area bars, pubs, taverns and restaurants offering special deals for ticket holders.
The VIP ticket directs beer lovers to check in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. is at Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant (1735 19th St.), and includes a VIP-only party with a buffet, prizes and giveaways and a $20 Uber car service pass plus a $25 day of event pass (new Uber users only), Altitude Peak Fitness two-week unlimited pass, $99 room rate at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel among other goodies.
The link for $99 rooms at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (regularly rooms are about $350) is: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/denverbeerathon. More information on the Beerathon at www.denverbeerathon.com
Eavesdropping on two women at a bar: “I think I’ll get a Michelada.”
“Did you just say, ‘I’ll meet you later?'”
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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.
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