TABLE TALK: Chef cooks up delectable surprises
Venison Consomme with brunoise root vegetables. Colorado Trout atop endive, poached pears, basil and braised red cabbage, tossed in walnut vinaigrette. Elk Carpaccio with brandied blackberry compote topped with sage dust. Braised Bison Short Ribs with porcini polenta and shaved asiago. Saga Blue Cheese Flan.
Think you're reading the menu at one of The Broadmoor restaurants or the Craftwood Inn? Think again.
This was the menu for a Nov. 19 five-course wine dinner at Mac-Kenzie Place, 1605 Elm Creek View (Union Boulevard and Fillmore Street), a newly opened retirement community. Neil Davis, the executive chef, wowed us with the delicious, expertly prepared food, and Brandon Witham of Two Rivers Winery & Chateau in Grand Junction plied us with wine.
The white-cloth dining room at MacKenzie Place is called Palmer's Restaurant, and it's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Dinner entree prices started at $8 and topped out at $24 for prime rib. There's a bistro for more casual dining.
Call 633-8181 for reservations.
Shuga's gets more ambitious
Shuga's, long-known as a hipster bar with great salads, soups and sandwiches, is now dabbling in entrees. It's keeping it small: one entree per week, served until it runs out.
But if last week's beef bourguignon was any indication, Shuga's is also keeping it delicious. Upcoming entrees include Curried Chicken Mughlai, Frank and Bean Cassoulet and Pork Chops and Apples. A (not that) small order is $8.50. A large is $12.50.
Shuga's is at 702 S. Cascade Ave.
Will eat for charity
Here's an easy way to help less fortunate residents in the region: Dine out on Wednesdays.
More than 20 local restaurants have pledged to donate 10 percent of their sales on the first three Wednesdays in December to The Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund. The participating eateries include: Chick-fil-A (all Colorado Springs locations), Extreme Pizza (North Academy location), The Famous: A Steakhouse, Rumbi Island Grill, the Craftwood Inn, Edelweiss, Indigo Joe's, Jake and Telly's, King's Chef (both locations), Solo's Restaurant and Steaksmith and others.
Home, sweet home
Four teams of iron chefs competed to build the most magical gingerbread houses ever during the Masterpiece Chef Challenge, held Nov. 8 as part of the Child Nursery Centers' Gingerbread & Jazz Gala.
The two-hour competition was held on the second floor of the Historic Day Nursery, where guests at the party could watch while the house construction took place.
The judging panel included Colorado Springs chefs Brian Sacks, The Famous' executive chef; Raymond Hernandez, The Center for Creative Leadership's executive chef; and Lenny Helzer, Crowne Plaza Hotel's head bakery chef.
The First Place $500 Winning Entry was Santa's Bake Shop, created by Paragon Culinary School contestants Heidi Cottrill, Vanessa Dykstra and Stephen Sanchez.
The Second Place $250 Winning Entry was the 1950s Diner, created by First Presbyterian Church Culinary Department's Cathy Smith, her daughters Ginger and Jasmine Smith, and Karen Clarke.
The Third Place $125 Winning Entry was Twas the Night Before Christmas, created by Little London Cake Shoppe contestants Jane Vasterling, Sue Sanicky, Rueben Russell and Samantha Yanez.
Honorable Mention and Outback Steakhouse Gift Certificate Winning Entry was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, created by Garden of the Gods Gourmet contestants Stephanie Slaton and Toni Williams.
These houses, along with 19 smaller gingerbread houses that Child Nursery Centers students and teachers created, will be on display through Jan. 1 at the former Chico's, 115 N. Tejon St. downtown, sponsored by The Equity Group.
Cook for people with allergies
One in 25 Americans report having food allergies, and diners are increasingly asking for special meals.
Now, there's a 60-page guide called "Welcoming Guests With Food Allergies" with tools to train restaurant staffs to safely prepare and serve food to guests looking for those special meals.
Visit www.foodallergy.org/welcomingguests.html for a free download.
More pizza
Borriello Brothers has opened its fourth store at 229 S. Eighth St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Party space available
Ken Healey, owner of the Briarhurst Manor, let us know that in these hard economic times businesses are canceling big holiday parties and deciding to have their parties at the office.
"We had two companies walk away from their deposits for our ballroom on the 5th and 13th of December," he e-mailed.
If you are looking for a place for a holiday get together or a post-holiday party in January, call 685-1864.
The Briarhurst will be open Christmas Eve serving a buffet or a five-course dinner. Children younger than 4 eat free, and kids 4-11 eat for half-price.
Mission Inn closes restaurant
The voice message at Mission Inn Restaurant, 6799 N. Academy Blvd., says, "After 32 years in business, with a heavy heart, we have decided to close the restaurant. The bar will be open Wednesday through Monday, 3 p.m. to close."
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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.
