Here’s a request from Jenna Johansen, Denver’s contestant on Bravo’s “Around the World in 80 Plates”:

After my participation on Around the World in 80 Plates, the opportunity has come up to vote for FAN FAVORITE.

I would really appreciate every single vote that comes my way to swing the fan favorite vote to the cheerful chef who speaks all the languages:) This may seem like a silly and small thing to ask for, but your five minutes weekly for the next few weeks until the winner is announced means the WORLD to me. (PS you want to watch the finale!!!)

There are two ways to vote, and here are the rules:
Please vote 10 times EACH WEEK by texting “Jenna” to 27286 (BRAVO)
Please vote 40 times EACH WEEK via http://www.bravotv.com/live-vote/around-the-world-in-80-plates/vote

Voting resets each Wednesday night

Fan Favorite gets $10,000.00 and this definitely will help with future opportunities. 
I really, really, really want to win. I cannot do it without a lot of help!
I sincerely appreciate any and all votes you send my way.
Please send this roshe run suede information to anyone you think may be interested in helping Team Jenna win!!! (forward the email, ask your staff to do it during line up, ask your mom:)

Every vote matters.

I am very grateful for your help. Thanks for supporting the Colorado girl!

The American Wine Society – Denver Chapter invites you to sip and savor sparkling wines from around the world during Summer Sparklers and Skewers, a benefit for Project PAVE, beginning at 6:30 p.m. July 18 at The Washington Park Boathouse (Exposition between Downing and Franklin).

Sparklers include Spanish Cava, Italian Prosecco, American sparkling and French Champagne. Project PAVE provides mental health counseling to abused children from low income families (www.projectpave.org).

Parking for the Boathouse is available along the perimeter of the park or there’s limited parking within Wash Park.

Tickets are $50 and available at www.blacktie-colorado.com. For more information on the American Wine Society, go to www.aws-denver.org.

The Four Seasons Hotel Denver was the only Denver hotel named to the coveted Travel + Leisure 2012 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey list, which was announced Monday.

“We are thrilled to be selected by the Travel + Leisure magazine World’s Best Awards readers’ survey,” said Thierry Kennel, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Denver.  “As one of Denver’s newest hotel properties, it’s a tremendous honor for our team to be given this award—especially as the only hotel in Denver to make the top 50.”

Four Seasons Hotel Denver, a 239-room property in downtown Denver, was included in the list of Top Large City Hotels in the Continental U.S., ranking No. 31 out of 50.
The results of the 17^th annual Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards survey revealing readers’ favorite hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, car-rental agencies, spas, safari outfitters, and tour operators are listed on www.TravelandLeisure.com, and will be included in the August digital editions on iPad, NOOK Color and Kindle Fire, and is the cover story of the August issue of the magazine, on newsstands July 20.

Freedom Service Dogs of America, a nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs for people with permanent disabilities, is the beneficiary at Posh Pad, Pups & Pinot from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences Denver.

Proceeds from the event – which includes a tour of a $5 million luxury residence on the 37th floor, appetizers and drinks on the third floor pool terrace and jazz from the Adam Bodine Trio – will provide more service dogs to returning veterans.

Freedom Service Dogs clients and their custom trained dogs will be on hand for the event.

To purchase tickets, e-mail info@freedomservicedogs.org or call 303-922-6231; ticket price:  $100. For more information on this dog-gone good organization, go to www.freedomservicedogs.org.
 

Special guest winemaker Chrissy Whittman will present the wines of Wild Horse Winery during a reception and dinner at Ambria, 16th Street Mall and Larimer, beginning at 6:30 p.m. July 24.

Executive chef Gabe Balenzuela will whip up a creative four-course culinary feast paired with Wild Horse wines.

The menu is:

Course 1 - Ceviche with aleppo pepper, grapefruit, red and yellow bell pepper, EVOO, paired with Wild Horse Malvasia Bianca – Heirloom Grape Vines.

Course 2 - Lobster ravioli of cabbage, lobster beurre blanc, Colorado farmed vegetables, paired with Wild Horse ‘Unbridled’ Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard 2010.

Course  3 - Duck confit with Isabelle Farm greens, cherries, bacon lardons, paired with Wild Horse ‘Unbridled’ Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County 2010 and Wild Horse ‘Cheval Sauvage’ Pinot Nois, Santa Maria Valley 2008.

Course 4 - Affogato of chocolate ice cream, coffee reduction, hazelnuts, paired with Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2009.

The reception starts at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7. roshe run suede femmes Reservations required: 303-623-8646.

Cost is $85 per person with tax, gratuity and parking included.

I much prefer a mountain get-away after the snow melts. Before the full summer season gets going, Vail, Beaver Creek and Avon are great places to visit for savings on hotel rooms, restaurants and shopping.

A gal pal and I recently spent two consecutive weekends in Vail where we beat the heat of the metro area, stayed in places new to us, dined in restaurants we hadn’t tried yet and found bargain shopping and a giant farmer’s market and art show.

“There’s no other experience in the high country like Vail in the summertime with an unlimited selections of activities in an idyllic setting in the shadow of the Gore Range and along the picturesque Gore Creek,” said Kristin Yantis, spokeswoman for the marketing group Vail Summer. “Front Range visitors can escape the heat by visiting Vail where daytime zx 630 temperatures are warm but nights offer perfect sleeping weather with cool mild temperatures.”

On the first weekend adventure, we stayed at The Sebastian, a Timbers Resorts Hotel & Residence Club in the heart of Vail Village. The lobby is lushly decorated with spectacular furniture, sculptures and paintings including works from Mexican artist Manuel Felguerez, whose art was commissioned specifically for The Sebastian.

Especially worth noting were the standard amenities in the hotel including full-sized shampoo, conditioner and lotion, and complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks stocked in the room’s refrigerator.

Tip: Do not miss the bacon Bloody Mary at The Sebastian where they serve it with a full strip of crisp bacon as a garnish.

The second weekend we stayed at the fabulous Four Seasons Hotel Vail where we dined at the hotel restaurant Flame and indulged in ginseng facials and a manicure and pedicure in the spa. The Four Seasons staff and services met the expectations guests should have for a high-class hotel.

On July 6 and 7, Mr. On the Town and I are staying at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain and are playing golf at Red Sky Ranch and Golf Club where Greg Norman and Tom Fazio each designed an 18-hole course. I will report on the Westin post-visit.

More information: www.redskygolfclub.com; www.westin.com/beavercreek; www.fourseasons.com/vail; www.thesebastianvail.com.

Magnificent Matsuhisa

Eavesdropping on two women at CU Boulder: “I’m going to hell, but I’m okay with that!”

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.