Real Broncos fans are revving up for this season with the new shot in the arm of Peyton Manning, who has the potential to bring pizzazz back to our football team.
Epicurean Catering, the exclusive food purveyor to suite holders at Sports Authority Field, is setting its palates and culinary prowess around the growing excitement of Manning playing for the home team.
“We’ve sold out the suites and club level,” said Adam Hammond, Epicurean’s executive chef and general manager. “There’s so much excitement with Peyton. We are bringing in disposable products to be green. It’s a big standard we hold ourselves to.”
Epicurean hosted invited guests from the Broncos’ organization and the press to taste new menu offerings available to suite holders at the Broncos stadium this year.
Most meals are themed to the opposing team, such as gumbo when the Saints come marching in, or ribs when Kansas City invades.
The themed packages include two starters, two salads, two proteins, vegetable and starch, one carved item and two desserts. Epicurean prefers to offer individual desserts to cut down on waste.
“We are trying to focus on a 100-mile menu,” said Stephanie Blackford, Epicurean communications director.
To achieve that goal, Epicurean is working with Alan Preblud, executive director of the company We Don’t Waste. The company collects unused food from various purveyors in an effort to recycle to those in need.
“We provided over 40,000 meals last season, which is 120,000 servings,” Preblud said. “In two years, the stadium has provided 10,000 meals and 30,000 servings.”
Hammond said that the Manning factor has already affected suite sales.
“We’re trying to bring it up a level. Suite holders, get excited for the season.”’
Fire assistance
The Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery Denver lent a hand to support and honor Colorado’s firefighters battling blazes across the Front Range and throughout the state.
The winery held a First Friday last week to collect funds for the Waldo Canyon Firefighters Fund, which supports the public and volunteer fire department’s battling of the wildfires in El Paso and Teller counties.
Guests sipped a selection of specialty wines, snacked on pizza and rocked out to a band.
Qdoba Mexican Grill, based in Colorado, was to host a daylong fundraiser on July 10 to benefit American Red Cross Colorado Wildfires 2012, enabling continued support of local families and communities affected by the wildfires.
Guests that donate a minimum of $1 to benefit Wildfires 2012 at any Colorado Qdoba restaurant were to receive a coupon for a free order of chips and three-cheese queso as a thank you.
In turn, Qdoba was to match the total funds collected up to $50,000.
Udderly awesome party
Community contributors and Robinson Dairy founders Eddie and Susan Robinson celebrated a special year with 300 of their closest friends during the heartiest of parties a week ago at Cherry Hills Country Club.
Most of Denver’s who’s who attended, except for a few notable locals who must have been out of town or they would never have missed such an opulent occasion.
The party was to acknowledge three milestones in the Robinsons’ life together: Eddie’s 80th birthday, Susan’s 66th and the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary.
As Susan said, that added up to 171 years, which was symbolized by 171 candles on the mock pink and orange birthday cake.
“It’s nice being able to work without a budget,” said niece Ellen Robinson, who put together the amazing party.
Susan, who gave a brief speech during the sit-down dinner, acknowledged Ellen’s abilities.
“I was blessed to marry into a family with a party planner,” Susan said. “If you’re having a party, use her, or you’re really dumb. Thank you all for being here, and I wish all of you the same kind of life that Eddie and I have been blessed with.”
Susan introduced Eddie by saying, “I want to have Mr. 80-year-old stand up, please.”
Eddie addressed the gathering: “My grandfather used to say, ‘I hope to see you next year.’”
The awesome event started with open bars, seafood and sushi stations, and appetizers trays circulated by the skilled and charming Cherry Hills staff.
Dinner was followed by dessert bars and dancing with music from one of Jerry Barnett’s Moment’s Notice stable of bands that played everything from Earth Wind & Fire classics to Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” Guests moved and grooved on the dance floor.
A good time was had by all.
Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column is new in the newspapers and on the websites of Colorado Community Media. Parker, who also writes for Blacktie-Colorado, will give insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. She can be reached at parkerp1953@gmail.com or at 303-619-5209.
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