Pints and Bites – A Delicious Ode to Colorado
September 24th, 2009
By Joan Brett, CEO, Culinary School of the Rockies
The setting was the Carriage House of Governor Ritter’s Boettcher Mansion. A fall chill was in the air, and the setting sun peaked through the clouds. More than 200 people gathered at the first annual “Pints and Bites” to sample 30 different craft beers from 15 Colorado breweries (members of the Colorado Brewer’s Guild), and to taste 23 delectable menu items using food from five Colorado farms, all prepared by 13 student chefs from Culinary School of the Rockies. What an amazing evening. The food was awesome, the students charmed the guests, and the brewers overflowed with great information and enthusiasm about their beers. The atmosphere was electric.
While enjoying buffalo rib eye, cassoulet of rabbit, mint marinated melon skewers, cherry tomato panzanella, fingerling potato chips, etc. I was honored to chat with First Lady Jeannie Ritter. Her mission is to preserve “Colorado’s Home” and this evening was designed to showcase all that Colorado has to offer. We talked about how her goals to promote localism mesh with those of Michelle Obama.
Our Chef Instructor Adam Dulye said, “It’s an honor to be celebrating craft beer and Colorado food in this historic building. We are so proud to share our farm to table philosophy. This event brought together local and small independent businesses, including a culinary school, farmers, brewers, chefs and students – all of whom make this state thrive.”
I was thrilled and proud of CSR, and reveled in the positive feedback from the guests, how such an event rounds out their farm to table education. Samantha Masur gushed about the “amazing connection between the farmers, brewers and students.” She was “intrigued by the whole experience and impressed by the energy of the crowd.”
Wow!
Tags: Boettcher Mansion, culinary arts, denver, jeannie ritter
