TABLE TALK: Broadmoor nearly sweeps festival's trufflemaking contest

The Broadmoor is on a winning streak.
The resort recently won Forbes’ (formerly Mobil’s) long-awaited fifth star for the Penrose Room. This past weekend, the pastry team almost made a sweep of the truffle contest at the Holiday Chocolate Festival. The event was held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Hall, where dozens of chocolatiers and chocolate vendors offered samples and sold all things chocolate.
I was a judge — not a tough gig. The moment I arrived, I was whisked to a side room, where the contest organizer had 26 paper plates holding samples of the truffle entries.
The Broadmoor took two of the three prizes: Chef Randy Mikulas won the Grand Champion ribbon for his Thai Truffle Pops; Chef Pamela Manovich won the Non-Traditional Truffle award for her Chipotle Truffle; and, Chocolate Avenue USA in Highlands Ranch in Denver won for Traditional Truffle for the Caramel Apple with Cinnamon Truffnie. Truffnie is a play on truffle and brownie, because the candies are square and have a doughy consistency.
Take a peek at the array of truffles and the winners at gazette.com under Top Videos.

Dine out to help out
Kick off the Christmas season by dining out for a good cause. There will be a tasting of Champagnes, Cognacs, ports, single-malt scotch, wines and beer with hors d’oeuvres at Café 36 in the Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1, to benefit The Crawford House, which provides transitional housing for homeless military veterans. Cost is $65 ($35 tax deductible). Tickets: Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 N. Circle Drive, 389-0973 or e-mail Steph@StephanieCardwell.org.

Turkey drive
You have until Nov. 25 to support “A Gobble for All” turkey drive that benefits Care and Share Food Bank. Drop off a frozen turkey at any of the four Panera Bread stores and you will get a $1 coupon to apply to a “You Pick Two” meal.

Coming soon
Barbara Carlton, who recently was a chef at the Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa in Litchfield Park, Ariz., is going to open Bobbi’s at 208 N. Union Blvd. around the first of December. The menu will have special sandwiches, gourmet salads and Chicago-style pizza. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
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CONTACT US: Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to teresa.farney@gazette.com or call 636-0271. Do you manage a restaurant? Send us your e-mail address so we can keep in touch.