Part 1:
 

Part 2:
 

 Here’s the Scoop from the Gabby Gourmet Restaurant Show on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

My guests were the folks from the Ritz Carlton and Elway’s downtown. Robert Bogart, chef, Allyson Freeden, PR , Justin, sommelier, and Dewitt Miller, Food & Beverage Director

NEXT WEEK WE ARE AT THE SHOPS AT VALLAGIO—BETWEEN MARCO’S AND RUSSO’S
WE WILL FEATURE Marco’s, Russo’s, Street Kitchen, Asian bistro, and the soon to open Hella Burger!!!!

We have a fabulous new dinner on July 10
Elway’s Downtown
Sunday, July 10, 2011
6.30

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver
1881 Curtis Street
(303) 312-312-3107

It’s summer and picnic time---and we are having a special one at Elway’s Downtown. Their picnic food is oh so good-so come picnic style and have some ‘GOURMET” PICNIC FOOD, fun, and a special night. The price is $38 per person inclusive of tax and tip.

Family Style presentation:
Asian Ribs
Fried Soft Shell Crabs with Horseradish Tartar
Slopper Sliders
Crispy Southern Fried Chicken
House made Potato Chips
Chilled Watermelon and Shrimp Salad
Elway's Signature Coleslaw and 3 bean Salad
Chili Cheese Cornbread

Snacks on the Table to Share:
Pimento Cheese Skewers
Deviled Eggs
Buffalo Corn Dogs

Dessert: Classic Apple Pie
Peach Cobbler with Stranahan's Whiskey Anglaise

Drinks: Sangria
Coolers of Ice Cold Beer
Pitchers of Lemonade and Tea
 
Tomorrow, Sunday, there is a Disco Brunch and costume party at the Corner Office—I am one of the judges of the costumes. Come on by for brunch and party.

This Tuesday, the 19th, is the night we are celebrating Passover at Strings Restaurant for the second Seder. And we have Rabbi Foster conducting the service which should be great fun for all. And Noel will be doing the cooking of traditional dishes—but it is not kosher. Hope to see you there.
You can still get some last minute orders at the Bagel Deli for a perfect meal at home. 303-756-6667.

We had a fabulous dinner at Terra at Encantado Resort in Santa Fe. Charles Dale made it very special with great choices from the entire menu. Read all about our trip on May 1 on the webpage.

On the way home, we stopped at Harry’s Roadhouse—it is tradition!!!! Ours-and we loved it—18 years-5 to 6 hundred meals for breakfast and lunch each day!!!! We had a divine burrito, chili eggs, bacon, toast, and great potatoes too.

Lunch at Randolph’s at the Warwick was a great treat. The place is so bright and pretty and the lunch menu is one of the best in town. We had the grilled tuna-burger, the salmon special with veggies in puff pastry, and a strawberry salad with greens and salmon. The sweet potato chips are addictive. And DO YOU KNOWA---There is a Randolph’s VIP package where you get points for dining—or drinking!!! With great prizes as rewards.

We had a fabulous birthday dinner and fun at Strings. The evening was perfect. We had fabulous food, wine, and service with Patrick too---and the birthday cake from D-Bar Desserts was beyond heavenly—but I got there too fast. First we had super wine and great rolls. Then we had the new brie salad, asparagus and duck confit salad, and gnocchi. All are on the new menu. Then we had the most divine ahi tuna, Poisson, flank steak, quail, and halibut cheeks for entrees—again, all new and all incredible. And of course, we told you about the dessert. It was a great celebration for Mark—and for those of us who came to the dinner.

We had a lunch meeting at Annie’s Café and we all had omelets—not all the same, but we ordered breakfast for lunch-and had toast, cottage cheese, and applesauce to go with.

Dinner at Solera was great. They have redone the restaurant and it looks so pretty. Dark green walls, great lighting, and comfortable seating add to the ambience. The patio is super and the happy hour crowd was very excited as well. The wine list is outstanding with many by glass at great prices. We had super bread and the famous calamari to start. Then we had paella, chicken, and salmon for entrees and all were very good. Tres leche cake was the dessert choice, but the butterscotch bread pudding looked great to me---at another table and could not ask!!!!

TV was a hoot-if not in a hurry... and early, as the President was giving a speech. We featured the restaurants at the Shops at Vallagio---and the table was one of the prettiest ever. That was thanks to Gourmet Fine Catering-our pals who are on 40th and Colorado and host Give Paws. They were the caterer at District 475, the event center at the Shops—and what a great job they did. Then the rest were awesome as well with Marco’s Coal Fired Pizza with the fabulous pizza and chicken wings, Russo’s with Brian Laird doing octopus carpaccio, a fabulous steak salad with Brussels sprouts, and lamb stew from lamb shank and done with potato gnocchi and goat cheese. Last, but certainly never least, Street Kitchen Asian Bistro with Mary of Parallel Seventeen showed off my favorite pork ribs (best ever), shrimp balls, a dim sum item, sushi with Asian pico de gallo, and the best fried rice with shrimp and an egg. The Gourmet Fine Catering Spread was divine with apps of Thai beef salad, beef cheek tostados, corn grits with scallops, and more. There were cheese platters, and desserts to die for.

I was invited to a dinner at Edge at the Four Seasons to preview the new menu and it was great. We had fabulous wines, and the great epi bread. And then the tasting menu was terrific. The tuna tartar is amazing, as were the pork belly, onion soup with goat cheese bruschetta and duck confit, and the prosciutto, melon mach salad. Entrees were just as great with halibut with citrus braised fennel, and Colorado lamb with morel mushrooms, potatoes and ramps. The dessert of bananas foster, rum baba, semifreddo and toffee sauce ended the great new items served. Of course, service was perfect.

We had a terrific dinner at Root Down as usual. It was mobbed, service great, and wine so good too. We had the new radish zucchini ribbon salad, duck sliders, crab enchiladas and the 3 chili chicken. All were marvelous—as was the chocolate pot de crème with a chocolate ice cream cone on the side. The food is so innovative and delicious.

The new lunch menu at Strings brings lots of spring sandwiches—and wow—I was watching the diners and many of them were enjoying all the new additions. And now you get your choice of sides—fun---we had Gabby’s chicken salad sandwich with a side of great cucumber salad, and the grilled chicken with homemade chips on a great bun.

We went to the new Tag Raw Bar in Larimer—Troy Guard’s latest venture—and it was incredible!!! Walk down a few steps to the walkway from the Square to the garage and you will find this funky, fun spot that has some of the best food ever. We had popcorn and seaweed done like none other for the amuse. Then we went to town and had the Marcona almonds, the hiramasa tiradito (to die for), the Hawaiian ahi jalapeno, really to die for), the smashed cucumber, the haricot verts with garlic shoot kim chi, and foie gras with kumquat marmalade. But we did not stop there. Then we had Colorado lamb loin with sunchokes chips, fabulous sushi with spicy dipping sauce, and the awesome ahi cube with avocado puree. We did not end until we indulged in desserts like you have never had: beet with chocolate, raspberry, mascarpone, and Haupia which is toasted coconut puree, mango and pineapple gel. Both were addictive. The wine, beer, and cocktail list are awesome too. Wines are great but Joshua’s cocktails are just wow!!! Ask for the jalapeno something---they will know and you will love it. Service is great as you sit at the bar and interact with the staff. Prices are affordable, and the place rocks. It is tapas that shine, and you will be smiling when you dine at Tag Raw Bar.

Now on to the Show today:

Guests
Allyson Freeden Public Relations Coordinator Ritz Carlton
Justin Jelinek- Sommelier Ritz Carlton
Dewitt Miller- Food and Beverage Director at Ritz Carlton

Question of the day:
How many bottles of wine are in the wall of wine that surrounds the famous wine table at Elway's at the Ritz Carlton? 1584

Elway's Downtown:
Happy Hour- 2-6
$3 draft beer, $5 select wines and $5 martinis, most bar food on special, too including those fabulous crispy asian ribs!!!!!

Justin Jelinek recommends these Spring wines-
Sities de bodegas- Verdjo
Chateau du Casse- White Bordeaux

Chef Robert Bogart, Executive Chef at Elway’s downtown, called in as he couldn’t join us in the studio. Hope his little one is feeling better soon!
Called in to talk about the fabulous Summer Picnic at Elway’s downtown
Will be casual and very fun with all the picnic goodies……except the ants!
Amazing menu you will have a great time and it will sell out quickly, so call soon….go the dinner nights tab for more information

In answer to Monica’s question, Chef Robert says:
Prime Rib- To hold it ...roast to 120degrees and then put in the alto-shaam and hold until needed.
Home oven- set at just under 200 and still will keep at appropriate temperature for a couple of hours.

Callers:
Maggie-
Loves Encantado
Went to Martini's bistro in Longmont and loved the steaks
923

Monica-
Was in for Elway's downtown happy hour last week. Loved it and wants everyone to know about how great it is.
Fixing dinner tonight with Prime Rib and Dewitt will send recipe
400

Lydia-
460

Kathy-
Rootdown....duck sliders, crab enchiladas all just amazing
298

John-
Dixon's has lots of special dogs for Ballgames

Priscilla-
Guessed Barrolo for the radio commercial
1100

Hedy-
About that goat....is at a table and a man from NY said that his daughter won a goat and that we can find "Rocky Mountain Goat"
1500

Nancy-
Went to Hideaway Steakhouse and loves it. Had a great dinner!
Venue in the Highlands ...had interesting beer...some craft beers that were good.
Rootdown for brunch ...had guests and there were "gushing"
1161

Diane-
New brew pub in the old red room
900

David-
Where to find a bowl of fruit that is not just melon?
1052

Barbara
Happy wishes for all on the Passover holiday and Easter as well
920