Restaurant Show on Saturday, December 26, 09

This week's PLAYBACK
Part 1:


Part 2:



Here’s the Scoop from the Gabby Gourmet Restaurant Show on Saturday, December 26, 2009.

The day after Christmas and the last Saturday of the year, we are celebrating in studio.
My guests were Steve and Joey Miller (son and grandson) and Ellen Gray of the new Colorado View Magazine.

We had great prizes—
A gift certificate from Piatti in Cherry Creek
2 gift certificates-worth $50 each-for anything in Larimer Square. Thanks to the folks in Larimer Square for that one.
And a blue tooth from Phone Gear in The Cherry Creek Mall Kiosk!!!

The question of the day—how many copies of Colorado View did they print-25,000

Everyone won a subscription to Colorado View
If you want to subscribe or see more-including my article
www.coloradoview.com

I want to wish every one of you a very Happy New Year and thank you for being so loyal to me—with the radio show, webpage, TV, and my new restaurant guide. I appreciate all of you and all you do always. To the restaurants, chefs, and all who help me constantly with charity events and come to the rescue all the time-you are the best and this is what makes my job so great-and having all of you as friends is the most special. I never stop being in awe as you all come to help on all occasions—sickness, parties, successes and more. I hope that all of you have a healthy great year and that you will choose to spend it with me. For everything, Thank you.

We have to start with brunch at Root Down. It is incredible!!! The offerings are super and the food is just wonderful. We had the mushroom omelet (wild mushrooms are sautéed and diced) with cheese and onion cream fraiche, the chorizo omelet, eggs Benedict with great potatoes, pancakes that are amazing with a fried egg, and the egg sandwich with ham or bacon---and each was so good. It was birthday week so we all got a complimentary cupcake—yum!

Shanahan’s is open!!!! It is gorgeous, huge, and more appealing and warm than many steakhouses. Seating is such that the noise is not as loud as well. The bar is spectacular, the dining area, the patio, wow!!! And the food is terrific. Marc Steron does it again with partners. The food was great-the bread is fabulous—we then had a divine tuna tower and perfect crab cake. The salads of beet salad and tomato and burrata were super too. Then we had the strip, the filet, the scallops and the salmon-all were wow!!! And the mac and cheese is the best-spinach was another side we picked. And then the gigantic chocolate layer cake and ice cream served with sauces in bowls to make your own sundae. And the most fun is that the wine list has affordable and delicious options. Good for them.

We went to Las Brisas for dinner. They are now open on Sunday nights. We had a very pleasant evening. The place looks lovely and we had salsa and chips, the appetizers of coconut shrimp, lamb chops, and great mussels. Entrees were the burrito, soft fish tacos, and mahi with rice and vegetables. We were too full for dessert.

Was going to Strings for lunch but Dudley had to go to the doctor so I picked up my fresh turkey club sandwich-get over there when they are available-they are super wow!!! I did put in a request to have it on the regular menu.

Shanahan’s second visit was even better than the first—it is fabulous. We had great wines, beyond incredible service and perfect food. We had the tuna appetizer again, the great bread and the best oysters Rockefeller. We also had divine onion soup, shrimp cocktail, seafood soup, onion rings, and house salad with super bacon. Entrees were the filet, the strip, the chicken (yeah and incredible), and Alaskan crab legs. We had the mac and cheese, asparagus, and Lyonnaise potatoes too. Then the apple crisp was the big winner for dessert.

One more trip—and now think we have sampled everything. The official opening is Christmas Eve and I must say, they have done more practice than any place imaginable. We had rolls instead of bread—a new possibility here. Then we had the best beef Carpaccio and the crab cake. Then came seafood stew, the Caesar salad and the house salad with avocado dressing. Entrees were rib eye, strip, halibut and salmon. Sides were divine creamed corn, creamed spinach and Lyonnaise potatoes. Dessert was the layered chocolate cake with ganache. The wine and service are perfect here. If practice makes perfect, Shanahan’s is well on its way.

Joey and I had a date to go to Elway’s Cherry Creek for lunch to see his idol-Chef Tyler Wiard. Tyler was incredible and so was lunch and so was Joey. He had the smashburger and fries-and ate them all and finished with warm chocolate chip cookies and gelato. I was thrilled with my chicken sandwich and their potato chips (my fav)!!!! Thanks to Tyler and staff for everything all year long.

TV was beyond exciting with great gifts-anytime!!!! Not only for Christmas but wow—the buche de noel from Das Meyer Bakery is unbelievable-and so is his turkey pot pie!!! Then Edible Arrangements brought fabulous fruit bouquets. City Bakery with Michael Bortz brought raves with his apple cinnamon coffee cake, Christmas stollen, and fantastic cookies. Marzyck was amazing with prepared foods like duck confit, mashed potatoes and ratatouille, the cheese platter with the best pimiento filled cheese wrapped in nuts, Colorado cheeses, stilton, nuts fruit and the tamales. Trudy Fruity brought their fantastic fruit cake filled cookies, ginger fruit cake cookies and more, and then the great Wine Jester showed off their wines of all prices-a wall of $10 and under and anything else you might want-and gifts and gadgets that are great—and Chris opened a bottle of champagne to show us how!!!! Thanks to all.

Dinner at Highlands Garden Café is just perfect for the holidays. The decorations are spectacular!!! It is a fairyland and so gorgeous. They close for a week before Thanksgiving to decorate and I have no idea how they get it done in a week. All of you coming to the Gabby dinner on January 14 will see them as they are staying up. Our dinner was wonderful. We had several of the creative salads which are amazing to start. Then we had tuna, trout, paella, and pheasant and each dish was excellent. We passed dessert. If you are coming to the dinner, you have a treat-if not, get out there and enjoy the cuisine—and the holiday decorations.

Christmas Eve at Strings was divine-wonderful as always and such a treat-it is a very special night. They had a special menu-or from the regular menu. We had fabulous salads, and then duck, pork, salmon, chicken and pasta. And our special 5 year old had chicken fingers and her pasta. Sorbet and fruit was the dessert—service and wines were fabulous too. It is a great tradition.

Christmas night at India’s—another tradition—was incredible. The place was mobbed but everyone was so very happy. The food and service here shine. There were families, celebrations and just diners. We had onion fritters and chicken wings-both are incredible. Then we all shared tandoori chicken, sag paneer with lamb, chicken tiki masala, eggplant, shrimp curry, and fish masala—and of course rice, raita and salad and mango chutney—and chai tea and mango lassis too. Dessert was galub jamon, mango ice cream—and chocolate cake.

Kathy had a great meal at Las Brisas and adored her visit to India’s She got a turkey pot pie from Das Meyer—they are the best-and her favorite restaurant Le Chateau.

Steve and Mary vote Frasca number one at all times.

Lydia got a wonderful roast at Tony’s Meats and her favorite is Bistro Vendome.

Paul loves Sushi Den and wants wholesale kitchen goods.

Jeff loves Tag, Mescal, Proto and My Brother’s Bar.

Monette’s favorite is La Cueva-an oldie and very goodie on E. Colfax and Dayton

Diane has been to Root Down, Il Posto and Locanda del Borgo and liked them all.

Alma loves the new Brio and Osteria Marco.

Cliff has favorites—Piccolo and Romano’s.

Ty’s--- Nonna’s on Leetsdale is his favorite.

We talked about the new magazine, new restaurants, and all sorts of fun things.
Again
Happy new year to all.

Gabby