Modmarket’s newest location on 16th and Champa in downtown Denver opens this month.

Every item on the menu is made from scratch from simple ingredients. The menu changes throughout the year to take advantage of seasonal items.

Denver-based Modmarket, which operates six restaurants throughout the metro-Denver area.  The Company expects to open at least six locations in Colorado and Texas during 2014, totaling 12 at the end of the year.

Modmarket delivers farm-to-table food in a fast, affordable format that fits with today’s modern lifestyle.  Modmarket, named a “Hot Concept” by “Nation’s Restaurant News” in 2013, is changing customer expectations of what a $10 dining experience can offer.

To see a menu and to view locations, go to www.modmarket.com.

The Four Seasons Denver Hotel, 1111 14th St., blew the socks off invited guests last week when it debuted the Blow-Dry Bar, a posh pampering place inside the hotel’s spa.

The menu of services includes a list of blowouts from the basic at $65, to a formal up-do at $95 to a bridal up-do at $120 and more in between.

You can also get a scalp massage for $30, conditioning treatment for $35, and makeup application for $65.

For reservations, call 303-389-3020.

In honor of the Winter Olympics, Lucky Strike, an upscale bowling alley chain, has created the Soch-eezy Burger a hand-packed, all-beef patty rubbed with thyme and roasted garlic, topped with melted Swiss cheese and a creamy mushroom stroganoff sauce served on a toasted ciabatta roll.

The burger, the chain’s February Burger of the Month, was created by Lucky Strike Denver chef Francisco Quintana. The Soch-eezy Burger will be sold in all venues (except San Francisco and Polaris) through Feb. 28. Lucky Strike Lanes has two venues in Colorado: The Denver Pavilions downtown and at Belmar in Lakewood.

In celebration of Lucky Strike’s 10^th anniversary as a company, it has rolled out a Burger of the Month program to showcase the creativity of its culinary team.  Each month, Lucky Strike founder and CEO, Steven Foster, national culinary director, Kip Wotanowicz and vice president of marketing, Romy Mehlman, will select the winning burger submitted by its culinary team members to be sold at participating Lucky Strike locations the following month.

At the end of the year, the top-selling specialty burger will be permanently added to the Lucky Strike menu in 2015.  To view photos of the winning chef and burger each month, or to post feedback or a review of each burger, fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #getluckyburger on Twitter or Instagram, and leave comments on its Facebook wall.

For more information, visit www.bowlluckystrike.com/menu.

The burger of the month at Lucky Strike, the Soch-eezy, a tribute to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. (Lucky Strike photo)

Four Seasons Hotel Denver announced recently that Jim Guttau (pronounced as in Utah) has been named its director of public relations, replacing the fabulous Dana Berry, who was recently appointed director of public relations at the new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World.

“I have seen Denver grow into a world-class city in my 10 years here, and downtown Denver is flourishing,” Guttau said. “With Four Seasons as the iconic tower in the heart of it all, I am thrilled for this new opportunity and aim to elevate our visibility in the city.”

Guttau returns to Four Seasons, as he was previously director of public relations for Four Seasons Resort Vail. He was instrumental in the rebranding of its signature restaurant, Flame, and increasing the property’s involvement in the Vail community, such as the Vail Valley Foundation.

Prior to Four Seasons, he owned and operated Guttau PR, a boutique firm specializing in nonprofits, hospitality and lifestyle clients.In eight years, Guttau and his firm received several awards, including ones from the National School Public Relations Association and the National Kidney Foundation.

An active member of the community, Guttau is a past president of Denver Art Museum’s CultureHaus and has volunteered for numerous local nonprofit organizations—from Volunteers of America to SafeHouse to Human Rights Campaign.

A graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Guttau first embarked on a career in elementary special education, but eventually followed his passion for restaurants and hospitality.

“My new position at Four Seasons combines my experience in hotels, restaurants, spas and community relations,” he said. “I’m excited to implement innovative ideas with our talented team at EDGE Restaurant, the hotel and the Spa.”

For more information on Four Seasons Hotel Denver, visit www.fourseasons.com/denver

Jim Guttau is the new public relations director at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. (Four Seasons photo)

The Mendelsberg family had a lot to smile about leading up to the Denver Broncos game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

They were hanging out at The Edge bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver for Maria’s birthday, but scooted to Sports Field at Mile High Station five hours prior to kick off so the Mendelsberg men could snag some autographs and photos.

They did manage to pose with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and CBS Sports analyst and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

Some of the players were willing, but some were prima donnas. No matter, it turned out our way in the end! Go Broncos and kill it in the Super Bowl.

Ken Mendelsberg, right, posed with CBS Sports analyst Phil Simms at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver on Sunday. (Ken Mendelsberg photo)

Ariana and Ethan Mendelsberg posed with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver before Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. (Ken Mendelsberg photo)

The downtown branch of Elway’s steakhouse, co-owned by Denver Broncos quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway,  is undergoing renovations which began in early January with an anticipated unveiling in early spring 2014.

Colorado-based design and architecture firm, Rowland+Broughton, was selected to spearhead the redevelopment with several high-profile hospitality projects already in its portfolio.

One new feature of the ambitious project is a chef’s table, which will accommodate up to 12 guests with a private viewing window into the bustling kitchen. Décor will feature rich-colored leathers in earthy tones to complement the upgrades, which will include the new, locally sourced stone wall on the back of the bar in the dining room.

The lounge area behind the hostess stand soon will act as an extension of the restaurant and will feature a stone fireplace along with community-style high-top tables and banquette-style seating creating a new space for walk-in guests to dine, gather and meet.

The bar itself will expand with upgraded tables and stools and banquette seating along the curved wall. All new seating areas will come equipped with charging stations while the entire restaurant will continue to offer Wi-Fi access.

Steve Janicek, general manager, said, “We are thrilled to undergo these improvements to the restaurant which will only enrich the overall guest experience while generating additional seating to meet the high demand we continue to see. I’m happy to share that since most of the work is being done overnight, Elway’s Downtown will remain open for the duration of the renovation.”

Rowland+Broughton Architecture and Urban Design is a Colorado-based architecture firm with studio offices in Aspen and Denver. The firm provides residential, commercial, hospitality, interiors and urban design services that are sustainable and modern.

The Ritz-Carlton Denver is a four-time recipient of the coveted AAA Five-Diamond award, the first and only in the Mile High City, and is ranked Four-Stars by Forbes Travel Guide. The hotel also features the Forbes Four-Star winning Ritz-Carlton Spa and a new outdoor terrace.

Are you ready for some broomball? The hearty competition at downtown’s Southwest Rink at Skyline Park will be the locale for the return of the Broomball Challenge Tuesday and Thursday nights through Feb. 6.

The Downtown Denver Partnership invites all businesses, posses of pals, alumni associations or other gathered groups to challenge their rivals in an icy match.

Two teams of six to 12 adults using brooms and a ball to try to score more goals than their opposition will take home bragging rights. Registration proceeds will benefit Volunteers of America and the Parade of Lights.

What is broomball, you ask? It’s a non-contact sport similar to ice hockey played in sneakers. The object is to score more goals than the opposition while preserving all of your teeth.

Gather a team, challenge a rival, pick a date and time to play. Teams must be co-ed (two women must be on the ice at all times). Each game consists of two 20-minute periods with a five-minute halftime.

Choose game times at 7:30, 8:30 or 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Registration is $200 per team. For more information, go to www.southwestrink.com or e-mail southwestrink@downtowndenver.com.

Broomball is a sport played with an actual broom that is taped up and ball smaller than a soccer ball. Some players use specially-made sticks.

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver announced that Dewiet Miller has accepted a promotion as director of operations for the Mile High City’s only AAA Five-Diamond hotel.

The last three years Miller served as director of food and beverage at the downtown property, overseeing all F&B and culinary operations including Elway’s Downtown, the steakhouse located on the lobby level of the hotel. In his new role, he will spearhead daily hotel operations for the rooms and food and beverage divisions.

Miller joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2000 with the opening of the golf and beach resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall, Jamaica, where he spent five years in various food and beverage positions. Prior to arriving in Denver, Dewiet worked in St. Thomas as director of operations for The Ritz-Carlton Club a 105-unit/286 room fractional ownership resort.

The customer service fanatic (he’s tops in my book) is an avid Denver Nuggets fan who enjoys all sporting activities and the beauty of the Rocky Mountains with his family.

Dewiet Miller has been named the new director of operations for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Denver. (Ritz-Carlton photo) 

Thrillist Nation, the online food judge that drives me crazy because of its overwrought writing has come up with a list of the 16 best burgers of 2013. Two Denver burger makers made it on the coveted top 16 list. They are:

“Best Cheese Overload, If That Existed, But It Doesn’t: The Thrilled Cheese
Burger Radio, Denver
“Created exclusively for you beautiful Thrillist readers, this thing is built between two grilled cheese sandwiches and includes two patties, two slices of American cheese, three bacon strips, and a big hunk of mac & cheese. This is not kosher, but it is very delicious.”

Note: Burger Radio is a food truck that promises “high-frequency grub” with announcements of where the truck is through Facebook, Twitter and its website (www.burgerradio.com).

“Most Reliable Burger: The Three Corners Larkburger
Larkburger, Denver
“Shown at this year’s Denver Burger Battle, a patty sits among bacon, crispy jalapeños, masa-crusted tomato, and Tillamook cheddar. Bacon and jalapeños seem to be the only things we can count on these days. Thanks, guys.”

Larkburger has more than a dozen Colorado locations, including downtown Denver, Washington Park, Arvada, Boulder, Greenwood Village, Littleton and Broomfield. A new location is coming to Centennial soon. For more information, visit www.larkburger.com.

Check out the entire list at: http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-burgers-of-2013-the-year-s-best-burgers-thrillist-nation?utm_content=feature&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Thrillist%20Weekender&utm_campaign=12.22.13%20WKNDR:%20These%20are%20the%2016%20best%20burgers%20of%202013