With all the dinners and dining going on at New York City’s revered James Beard House this year, Panzano Chef Elise Wiggins’ braised lamb croquette was one of the 15 favorite dishes of the year as noted on The Beard House official blog.

Wiggins, along with other chick chefs, whipped up the winning dish during the Denver Women Chefs Rules Beard House dinner in September.

And although the fave dish is not currently on the Panzano menu, the similar crochetta di cinghiale is. The crochetta is a wild boar croquette over marbled potatos, carrots, beets, turnips and capers sauteed with salsa verde and demi glaze.

Here’s what the Beard blog said about Wiggins’ winning way:

“The dish was all about balance: the rustic comfort of braised lamb shank tucked within in a refined tuile, the crunchy package collapsing around the tender slow-cooked meat. Wiggins credits a local producer: ‘The lamb that I love to use is from Triple M Bar Ranch. The farmers and lamb ranchers work together so there’s no food waste. When all the best melons are picked, they bring in the lambs to eat up whatever is left over. Just like the old saying, you are what you eat, and that diet makes these lambs the most delicious in the world.’ The croquette was paired with sweet pea-fennel purée, red vein sorrel, and a cinnamon-cherry foie gras truffle, which, in a petite and decadent bite, captured a nostalgic longing for PB&Js…”

For the rest of the Beard House picks, go to www.jamesbeard.org/blog/our-favorite-dishes-2014.

The Royal, owned by the husband/wife team Josh Epps and Christina Smith, owners of Denver’s two Jelly Cafes, will open its doors to the public Saturday at 4000 Tennyson (located adjacent to the also newly opened restaurant Block & Larder). The Royal was concepted by Epps and Smith, residents of the Berkeley neighborhood, after seeing a need for a family-friendly restaurant.

The 1,600-square-foot restaurant will feature burgers, salads, shakes, a robust kids menu and a full bar. The Royal’s partner and Executive Chef David Payne, also executive chef of Jelly Cafes, has developed the menus, which will offer guests fare from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“Named after a theater and popular high-school hangout in my hometown of Detroit, The Royal is designed to also encourage the neighborhood, and entire families, to socialize and hang out while enjoying great food and drink,” Epps said.”With young kids ourselves, we found the lack of a family friendly neighborhood eatery to be a big miss, and are very excited to bring this offering to our neighbors.”

The Cherry Creek North Trunk Show series wraps up from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek North, 150 Clayton Lane. Friday’s trunk show features merchandise from Luca Decor, Nora’s Retro and Title Nine.

Nora’s Retro is a women and family-owned business focused on women’s fashion and encouraging mothers and daughters to enjoy a shopping experience together. Luca Decor focuses on sculptural and functional art for the home and garden, including kinetic art, fountains, furniture, paintings and copper wall art, among other novelty items. Title Nine, described as “evangelical about women’s participation in sports and fitness activities,””features women’s fitness apparel.

Complimentary champagne for shoppers and a chance to win $100 Cherry Creek North Gift Card.

After the trunk show, sip, savor, shop and stroll through the rest of CCN. Shoppers are invited to enjoy free valet parking (with proof of purchase) through Dec. 24. Valet parking is offered from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Visitors can park at one of two convenient vehicle drop off locations.

• Fillmore Plaza (Fillmore Street between First and Second avenues on the west side of the street).
• Josephine Street (between Second and Third avenues on the east side of the street).

Imagine enjoying a Paris shopping experience, a Tuscany culinary escape or a journey to Machu Pichu. These are just a few of the many once-in-a-lifetime adventures that could be yours for $100. The Jewish Community Center of Denver is holding a Choose Your Own Adventure Raffle now through Dec. 29. Purchasing a $100 raffle ticket will provide you with the chance to win one of the 12 grand and second prizes. 

Funds raised by this raffle will enable the JCC to offer value-priced recreational, cultural, educational and social programs to the community, as well as provide scholarships to families that require financial assistance to participate in programs and activities.

Purchase your raffle ticket at www.jccdenver.org/give/choose-your-own-adventure-raffle/.

CBS4 posted a note about reporter Valerie Castro leaving Denver for the bright lights of The Big Apple on the station’s Facebook page Thursday.

Here’s what it said: “Hard to believe, but Valerie Castro came to us as an intern nine years ago. Next week, she’s off to CBS New York. To send her off right on this ‪#‎ThrowbackThursday, we compiled a few bits from her resume reel that got her started back in 2005. Good luck, Val!”

More ‪#‎TBT pics: http://cbsloc.al/1ohuVn4.
Val’s bio: http://cbsloc.al/1C27jc5.

Eavesdropping on a post office clerk and a customer shipping a Christmas package:

Customer: “How much will it cost to get it there by Friday (two days)?”

Clerk: “$55.”

Customer: “What will $10 do?”

Clerk (jokingly we think): “Get the package halfway there.”

One of the nicest nods to Denver’s bustling restaurant scene came from Tuesday’s piece by National Public Radio. The reporter sought the answer to the popular question “What makes Denver so tasty?” when it comes to the dining business, which has doubled in sales over the past 10 years.

He interviewed Food Network star chef Keegan Gerhard, who rolled the proverbial dice on Denver when he opted to open D Bar, the tiny 17th Street eatery with the longest lines. Gerhard and his pastry chef wife, Lisa Bailey, quickly outgrew the original D Bar space and last month opened a spot three times larger in Uptown. The couple shunned the bright lights and big cities in favor of building a business where they wanted to live.

NPR interviewed other top chefs including Jennifer Jasinski, who with business partner Beth Gruitch, owns Rioja, Bistro Vendome, Euclid Hall, and most recently Stoic & Genuine in the redeveloped Union Station. Jasinski upped Denver’s restaurant cred by winning a James Beard Award and competing on “Top Chef Masters”.

Here’s what NPR said, “When you think of the restaurant scene, Denver probably doesn’t come to mind. But that’s just the latest change for a city whose population has ballooned in the last couple of years, thanks in part to a nearby oil and gas boom. Top chefs are beginning to take notice.”

John Imbergamo, perhaps the most trusted man in Denver’s restaurant business, was interviewed for the story on background. Here’s what NPR didn’t discuss, Imbergamo said. “The fast casual segment was ignored but Denver is a hotbed of innovation in that segment of the industry. Chipotle, Qdoba, Tokyo Joes, Noodles, Garbanzos, Pizzeria Locale. Smashburger, the list goes on.  Many of these with elevated quick food are consumer stepping stones to fine dining.”

To read or listen to the rest of the report, go to www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/12/16/371126181/top-chefs-discover-denvers-fast-growing-restaurant-scene?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social.

Four Denver players in the entertainment scene were named “The most influential people in Denver entertainment in 2014″ by axs.com.

The website said, “2014 was a fascinating year for entertainment in Denver. There were major leaps in terms of the changing field of arts coverage, new arts venues being explored and even interactive entertainment options right in the streets of Denver.

“In fact, there were so many wonderful performances, contributions and creations that this list certainly could have featured 30 or 40 names. However, there are a few people who’s work in 2014 truly stood out, making these four creative individuals among the most influential voices in entertainment in Denver this year.”

They are Brian Corrigan for Oh Heck Yeah, a street arcade in downtown Denver in June and July; former Denver Post theater critic John Moore, who parlayed his talents into becoming the senior arts journalist for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Chris Zacher, founder of the Levitt Pavilion, a new amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park and funnyman Adam Cayton-Holland as part of The Grawlix comedy show.

For more on each recipient, go to www.axs.com/the-most-influential-people-in-denver-entertainment-in-2014-32388.

It was a teen dream come true for Evergreen sisters Caitlin Powell, 16, and Sidney, 13, when their band Facing West landed a record deal recently with Pando Records, a Warner Music Group Label.

The Powell girls were formerly known by Two Girls With Guitars, but changed the name to Facing West.

According to 9News, the band’s first single “Anchors” will be released nationally in early January. The rest of the album will be released in March.

Facing West posted this on their Facebook Page:

“Big move 4 us! Facing West is now with Pando Records we ‪#‎rejoice‬and give thanks!… way more to come in 2015! Grateful for your support.”

Their father Tim Powell helps manage Facing West. His wife, Catrina, home-schools the girls.

“Their hard work, talent and God’s blessings continue to surprise us,” Tim Powell told 9News. “The girls are over the moon excited.”

For the rest of the story, go to www.9news.com/story/entertainment/2014/12/15/facing-west-record-deal/20437851/.