TABLE TALK: The Broadmoor scores its 37th Five-Diamond Award
Good news about The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave., keeps piling up like powdered sugar on beignets.
First up, the resort received the honor of the American Automobile Association’s Five-Diamond Award for Excellence for the 37th consecutive year. The Broadmoor is the only hotel in the country to receive the AAA designation every year since its inception.
Next, the hotel announced the appointment of David Patterson as the executive sous chef for the resort’s restaurants. He came from the Adour Restaurant, an Alain Ducasse restaurant, at The St. Regis in New York City. During his five years with Ducasse, Patterson traveled the world working in the great chef’s restaurants in Paris and Monaco. Think Plaza Athenée, Benoit Bistro and Louis XV at Hotel de Paris.
Last, but not least, afternoon tea has returned to the resort 3-4 p.m. Saturdays. The West Tower lobby is the sunlit area where you can enjoy hot pots of tea with little sandwiches and sweet treats. Prices range from $9-$32. The Julie Penrose Selection, the classic afternoon tea, includes tea served with watercress, smoked Norwegian salmon and egg salad tea sandwiches, scones with crème fraîche and raspberry preserves and tea pastries. Cost is $32 per person. À la cart selections are available too. Call 634-7711. Visit broadmoor.com.
Chefs in the news
A couple of chefs are making names for themselves.
• Brian Sack, executive chef at The Famous, A Steakhouse, 31 N. Tejon St., will be included in the Best Chefs America, a guide to chefs in the United States as selected by their peers. The editors of the publication made 50,000 phone calls and interviewed more than 5,000 chefs to identify who they considered to be the best chefs. The book will be available online at amazon.com and in bookstores in March. In addition to the chef listing, the book includes emerging food trends, unusual ingredients and other culinary happenings across the United States.
• Aran Essig, executive chef for the University of Northern Colorado, won a contest that sent him to the prestigious Bocus d’Or Culinary Competition in Lyon, FranceCQ in January. The event ia a biennial, prestigious international chef competition. Essig is a graduate of the Art Institute of Denver and a mentor chef for the American Culinary Federation apprenticeship program.
Mardi Gras happenings
Springs Orleans, 123 E. Pikes Peak Ave., will host a Fais do-do (a name for a Cajun dance party) Brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 9. You will enjoy authentic Louisiana fare and live entertainment. On Fat Tuesday (Feb. 12) there is an all-you-can-eat-crawfish boil for $20 per person in the Silver Ballroom at 7 p.m. Specials both days include $2 Abita draft beers, $5 hurricanes, $12 crawfish boil (per half pound) and $13 chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya. King Cake goes for $5 per slice and if you get the gold baby in your slice you win a $15 Springs Orleans gift certificate. Call 520-0123. Visit springsorleans.com.
Closed for remodeling
Panino’s, 604 N. Tejon St., will be closed for about two weeks while the owners remodel the space.
Opening
Mexi-Blues BBQ & Burgers, 6620 B Delmonico Dr., has opened serving a dual menu of Mexican and barbecue dishes. Hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Call 264-6394. Visit mexi-bluesbbq.com.
"KVOR Table Talk"
Guests for "KVOR Table Talk" radio show on 740 AM, noon to 1 p.m. Saturday:
• Anne Malone, who with her husband, Chris, owns Camerons Products, 2547 Durango Dr.CQ, talks about the new kitchen and smoker equipment theycarry. Call 390-0505. Visit cameronsproducts.com.
• Bonnie Simon, writes about locally owned food businesses and her homesteading experiences on her web site, hungrychickenhomestead.com. She talks about some of the businesses she likes and how to get started raising urban chickens.
• Mali Hsu, founder and chairwoman of Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute, talks about the Chinese New Year Celebration at City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa St., at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 9. This year’s activities include traditional lion dance, kung fu demonstrations, traditional Chinese dances, Chinese yo-yo demonstrations and Chinese musical performances. “Chinatown” offers an assortment of Asian-themed merchants and a “Taste of China” with food vendors who offer food for additional cost. Cost at the door is $5, $4 for military and students. Children under 5 are free. Call 287-7624. Visit cscci.org
• N. M. Kelby, author of “White Truffles in Winter,” talks about her book that imagines the world of the remarkable French chef Auguste Escoffier, who changed how we eat through his legendary restaurants at The Savoy and The Ritz. She is the special guest at the “Salute to Escoffier,” at The Broadmoor, Feb. 8-10 where she will speak and sign books. Call 634-7711. Visit broadmoor.com.
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Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to teresa.farney@gazette.com, 636-0271, Twitter @tffoodie or Facebook Teresa Farney.
