TABLE TALK: Ritz chef Jason Gust changes grills

The revolving kitchen door is once again swinging.

This time it's Jason Gust, who has left Ritz Grill as executive chef to join Ryan Blanchard at Antlers Grill. Blanchard is the new executive chef at the hotel, and Gust will join his culinary team as sous chef. Gust had been working his magic at Ritz Grill for almost 13 years.

And the winner is ...

Not surprisingly, Jason Gust was the top toque at the Celebrity Chef Cook-Off during the Colorado Women's Living Expo on Oct. 12. He just seems to always wow judges with his inventive food. Think Hawaiian blue prawns crusted in their shells with pumpkin powder, arugula, goat cheese with strawberry Pitazitu and strawberry balsamic gastric - one of five courses he prepared during the hourlong contest. He had ground the prawn shells into a fine powder to use as a breading for the fish.

After Gust served his second course, judge Otho Spencer, of Otho's Cookies and Brownies, stopped keeping score because everything had been perfect, and he figured the rest would be, too.

Even with Otho giving Gust a perfect score, competitor Rachel Brown, executive chef at the Briarhurst Manor, did herself proud. She prepared duck six ways. After Otho's score was combined with my score and that of James Davis, executive chef at Blue Star, the chefs were just two points apart.

Gust won $300 and a certificate.

Warehouse specials

The Warehouse Restaurant and Gallery, 25 W. Cimarron St., is the place to be for happy hour. You can get a draft beer for $2 or half-price martinis along with half-price bar menu appetizers 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. If you dine there on a Saturday evening, you can get a bottle of wine for half price. There are wine dinners on the second Saturday of each month. Call 475-8880 for reservations.

Free food in Pueblo

To celebrate the opening of the first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Pueblo, 3230 N. Elizabeth St., the eatery will offer free burritos 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Or show up at 3 p.m. Nov. 1, the official grand opening day, when the first 100 customers who purchase a burrito, taco, salad or bowl will receive a Chipotle T-shirt and a free-burrito card for the next visit.

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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.