TABLE TALK: Have a ‘secret supper' taste of Provence
How does dinner on the sunny coast of Provence sound? Without the expense of an airline ticket, to boot?
I thought so.
Then you’ll want to tap into Greg Soukup’s “Southern French Secret Supper” at 6 p.m. Friday at his Blue Sage Café, 5152 Centennial Blvd. The menu includes an assortment of Provençal appetizers, Soupe au Pistou (veggie soup with pesto) Provençal Roasted leg of Lamb, Herb Salad with Goat Cheese, Quince Tart, Apple Tart and Dried Fruit Tart. Like a glass of red wine or rosé from the Côtes de Provence? Look no further. And don’t forget port or cognac to pair with desserts.
You can take your own bottles of wine and spirits to enjoy with the meal. Cost is $35 per person. Call 332-1375.
Soukup offers monthly cooking classes, too. Next up is his “Southern French Supper” class at 6 p.m. March 8. The class is a combination demonstration and hands-on. You dine on the foods prepared, and you can take your own wine. Cost is $40 per person or $70 per couple. Call 332-1375. Visit creativecateringsolutions.com.
Gumbo winners
There were five professional and 11 amateur teams stirring pots to earn bragging rights in the Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-off, held in Mantiou Springs Feb. 9. Here are the winners:
Professional
• First place: Springs Orleans, Colorado Springs
• Second place: Milo’s Pizza and Po Boys, Boulder
• Third place: Tapateria, Colorado Springs
Amateur
• First place: Brian Walzel, Centennial
• Second place: Gus Bootle, Colorado Springs
• Third place: Chris Meyer, Colorado Springs
• People’s Choice: Cindy and Steve Maniscalco, Colorado Springs
• Showmanship Award: Meyer’s “Truck Load Gumbo” theme
Online ordering
Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill celebrates its fifth birthday by offering guests online ordering at OrderGarbanzo.com. You choose your food, pay for it, and the food will be ready for pick-up when you get to the restaurant.
Wine dinners
Mark your calendar:
• The Craftwood Inn, 404 El Paso Blvd. in Manitou Springs, offers seven courses prepared by Brother Luck, executive chef at the eatery, 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Winemakers Susie Selby, of Selby Winery, and Michael Loykasek, of Three Finger Wine Company, will present and talk about their wines. Loykasek will feature his Gunfighter wines. Cost is $78 per person. Call 685-9000. Visit craftwood
.com.
• Jake & Telly’s Greek Taverna, 2616 W. Colorado Ave., offers “Wines of Greece” with five Greek wines paired with a four-course meal. The first course features Avgolemono (egg-lemon soup with rice), which is back on the regular menu. Cost is $55 per person. Call 633-0406. Visit greekdining.com.
Menu specials
• P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, 1725 Briargate Parkway, offers two special drinks for Chinese New Year, through Feb. 24: Bubble-T-INI, an adult bubble tea with Absolut Cherrykran vodka shaken with Aperol liqueur and cranberry juice and garnished with lychee boba pearls; and Lucky V.S., a twist on the classic Sidecar cocktail with Courvoisier V.S. shaken with Cointreau, lemon and sugar. Call 593-8580. Visit pfchangs.com.
• IHOP has introduced three hearty varieties of Griddle Melt breakfast sandwiches: Omelets jazzed up with a choice of spinach, roasted peppers and cheese; smoked ham, peppers and onions; or sliced ham, Swiss and American cheeses. Visit ihop.com.
Southern France wine lesson
The Curious Palate Tasting Class at Soirée Events and Celebrations, 1003 S. Tejon St., will feature French wine regions found in the South of France, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 27. Cost is $25 per person. Call 633-8313. Visit coloradosprings
venue.com.
Opening
Mabel’s Café, 513 Manitou Ave. in Manitou Springs, celebrates its grand opening on March 2. The eatery, located in the Business of Art Center, serves light breakfasts and soups for lunch — one of which is always vegan and gluten-free. Cost is $2 for a cup of soup and $3 for a bowl. Coffee goes for a buck a cup. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays;
nd 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 685-1861. Visit thebac.org.
“KVOR Table Talk”
Guests for “KVOR Table Talk” radio show noon to 1 p.m. Saturday on 740 AM:
• Anne Malone, who with her husband, Chris, owns Camerons Products, 2547 Durango Drive, talks about new kitchen and smoker equipment they are carrying that makes meal preparation simple, with almost no fat. Call 390-0505. Visit camerons
products.com.
• Bonnie Simon writes about locally owned businesses and her homesteading experiences on her website, hungrychickenhomestead.com. She talks about how to get started raising urban chickens.
• Elizabeth Youngquist, program chair for the Colorado Springs Wine Festival, talks about the event’s wine seminars, cheese and wine pairing, luncheon, tastings and winemaker dinners. The festival is March 7-9. Call 634-5583. Visit
csfineartscenter.org.
• J.L. Fields, a vegan lifestyle coach and educator, talks about being a vegan and a series of classes she offers about plant-based diets. Classes are 6 to 7:30 p.m.: March 4, “Vegan Transition and Cooking Basics”; March 11, “Staying Plant-based at Work or School and in Social Situations”; March 18, “Your Compassionate Closet and Home.” Cost is $15 per class, or $40 for the series. Email to info@jlgoesvegan
.com. Visit jlgoesvegan.com/beyondmeat
lessmondays.
—
Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to teresa.farney@gazette.com, 636-0271, Twitter @tffoodie
or Facebook Teresa Farney.