Durango is home to an amazingly talented group of chefs and restaurateurs. One night of the year, they all come together to support an important community cause.
The Sexual Assault Services Organization held its fifth annual Collaborative Chefs’ Showcase on Nov. 7 at the Henry Strater Theatre. For foodies, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy dishes they won’t find on any menu or at any caterer’s event, one prepared by chefs using not only the best of their craft, but with their heart and souls, too.
Serious planning goes on for months in advance, including meeting with Leah Deane from Republic National Distributing Co. and Grand Vin, to create the perfect pairings.
A group of folks made a larger contribution to SASO to go backstage, so to speak, to the kitchen to watch the chefs in action.
Actually, everyone got to watch the chefs in action on the big screen at the front of the theater, and it tended to be moments of frenzy when they were plating dishes for the sold-out crowd, followed by a moment of calm and kibbitzing with a glass of wine until the next course was due.
Maura Doherty Demko, the executive director of SASO, said this is the one night the busy chefs “get to play with each other,” and that seems like a perfect description of what was going on backstage, so to speak.
Mark Daigle, president of First National Bank of Durango, had a vested interest in his meal beyond what was on his plate. His 15-year-old daughter, Melissa, is interning with chef Arnold Safari at the Strater. He invited her to come help with this dinner and watch all these chefs ply their craft, and she was right in the thick of it onscreen.
Safari also carved some of his famous fruit and vegetable centerpieces for the event.
The kitchen crowd enjoyed ahi tuna tartare on cucumber with wasabi cream and tobiko caviar as well as a chorizo croquette prepared by Raun Sutton from the Edgewater Lounge at the DoubleTree Hotel. A third hors d’oeuvre, barbecued oysters with Kansas City-style barbecue sauce, blue cheese and caramelized onions, was the brainchild of Dave Cuntz, now with Carver Brewing Co., but formerly of the Strater Hotel. The collaborative showcase was his idea five years ago, and it’s become popular because once people have attended, they always want to come back the next year.
Those yummy bites were paired with Ferrari Brut NV and Ferrari Rosé from Italy.
The rest of us were noshing in the theater while checking out some great silent auction items. We enjoyed white corn croquettes with duck confit, served with a brandy-poached pear chutney, tomato jam and fresh scallion prepared by Sutton and Korean short ribs and rolled zucchini stuffed with ricotta cheese, pecans, rosemary and Parmesan, made by Cuntz.
The theater crowd was drinking Côté Mas Brut and Côté Mas Rosé Brut, both of which got the thumbs up.
Someone mentioned an amuse bouche floating around called “adult candy,” that was utterly scrumptious, but I never saw it, and it wasn’t on the menu. It was a stuffed date wrapped in bacon, broiled and drizzled with honey.
The appetizer course was prepared by Charlie Curtis of El Moro Tavern. A grilled lamb kefta, it was served with harissa, gingered lemon preserve and micro cilantro and paired with Milbrandt Vineyards “Traditions” Merlot.
Patrick Underwood of Digs Restaurant and Bar drew the salad course. He prepared a mixed green salad with honey-Dijon-white balsamic vinaigrette, sliced pears, prosciutto and toasted almonds, which was served with an excellent Jean-Luc Colombo “Cape Bleue” Rosé.
The seafood entree was an adventurous scallop and octopus sausage in a smoked tomato sauce made by David Stewart and Neal Drysdale of Seasons Rotisserie & Grill. They created the dish in response to Deane’s challenge to create a seafood dish that could stand up to a red wine, in this case, a Faustino VII Rioja tempranillo.
At this point, we had all had enough to eat, but who could say no to a ribeye roulade stuffed with pork belly confit, served with a root vegetable tower, crispy pancetta Brussels sprouts and fall-spiced sweet potato mash with a wine demi-glace? The dish was a collaboration by Ryan Lowe of the Ore House and Rob Blythe of the Mahogany Grille. The Jason Stephens Winery Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was up to the challenge of pairing with the diversity of flavors on the plate.
No meal would be complete without a touch of sweetness, and Kyra Bensik, the lone woman among the professional chefs, prepared what an apple pie aspires to be, an apple pie Napoleon. The layers of puff pastry, mousseline cream and spiced apple slices were topped with a salted caramel sauce. The Quady Essencia orange Muscat was a perfect accompaniment.
Deane worked with Mark Price, a wine broker and importer from Platinum Beverage, to select the pairings. (She even sent him the recipes.) He didn’t want to miss this dinner, so he came down to help her present the wines with each course.
Guest chefs Dennis Morrisroe and Chris Crowl were also on hand, and Emily Spencer and the Strater Hotel Catering and Events team were hustling, too. The dinner must have used every piece of silverware and wine glass in the hotel’s inventory.
Daigle and First National decided to give SASO a larger check in addition to being one of the sponsors of the event, donating $2,500, with five other tables kicking in $500 to match it. That $5,000 helped lead to a total of more than $21,000 raised from the evening, a new record for the event.
Of course, all the fun was in aid of something serious. Every human being needs a few fundamental things – clean water, enough food, a roof over the head and personal safety.
SASO’s work often takes place in the shadows of our community, because despite Steubenville, Ohio, and other rape cases that have made national news, where the victimization continued via cellphones and social media, that’s where sexual assault takes place.
Sexual assault happens everywhere, not only to women and girls of all ages but to men as well. Research has shown that a safe place to talk about it and not going through it alone are key components to healing after becoming the victim of violence. That’s where SASO comes in, holding victims’ hands every step of the way. The fact that so many people from our justice system believe in SASO’s work says a lot to me about how effective the organization is. Both Tom Harms, a probation survivor with the 6th Judicial District and Durango Police Department Sgt. Rita Warfield are on the board and ardent advocates for the work it does.
SASO fielded 215 calls on its 24-hour hotline in 2012, which included 142 crisis contacts, 32 informational calls and 41 follow-up calls. (They’re on trend for even more calls for the hotline this year.)
The organization spends a lot of time educating people about sexual assault, reaching more than 3,500 people for advocacy and prevention in 2012.
I shouldn’t go any further before I mention the rest of SASO’s staff, who do their jobs with passion and caring. Rhonda Ferguson is the advocacy services coordinator; Breana Hesse is the volunteer services coordinator; Wendolyne Warner is the community organizing/outreach coordinator; and Misty Horton is the community education coordinator.
One of my favorites among their programs is the Child Assault Prevention Team, which more than anything gives children the words for what is happening and resources for getting help.
If you or someone you know is or has been sexually assaulted, call SASO’s hotline at (970) 247-5400.
If you would like to support SASO’s important work, mail your check to SASO, P.O. Box 2723, Durango, CO 81302.
And to learn more about its programs, visit www.durangosaso.org.
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It’s cooling down for the birthdays of Susan Lander, Sharon Gordon, Joanne Spina, Julie Shimada, Will Siegrist, Carol Grenoble, Ann Casler, Sharon Harris, Maggie Scott, Lydia Townsend, Cory Gillespie, Christian McPherson, Mike Stone, Marie Davis, Blaine Thomson, Timber Zink, Daniel Latham, Sierra Lillard, Patrick McBrayer, Liz Oetter, McKenzie Rion, Ivey Hermesman, Branden Marquez, Mike Johnson, Tamra Lavengood, Alma Wolf, Jackie Manning, Donovan Schardt, Larry Rardin, Kathleen “K.D.” Duft, Jacob Rudolph, Ken LeRoy, Steve Schlageter, Matt Patton, Marti Kiely, Betty Ann Beauregard, Bill Bishop and Will Berger.
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There’s one last chance to train as a volunteer for the Durango Adaptive Sports Association’s winter program. If you ski or snowboard, and pursue those sports at least at an intermediate level, they want you.
Volunteers teach the joys of winter sports to people with cognitive and physical disabilities. It’s a way to make a tremendous difference in someone’s life and have a blast doing it. (I’ve rarely seen a happier group of volunteers.)
The training for returning volunteers will go from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Durango Community Recreation Center, and for new volunteers from 7 to 8 p.m.
Training is free. Beyond the benefits that come from really making a difference, volunteers qualify for discounted lift tickets to Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort.
To learn more, call the ASA office at 259-0374 or email program@asadurango.com.
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The older I get, the more I want things in my life to have meaning and purpose. Like most Americans, I have more than enough stuff, so if I’m going to buy something that’s not a necessity, I want that money to make a difference.
Tina Miely is apparently a believer in that as well. She is hosting an event for the Roots Project, which is helping the women of South Sudan create a sustainable life through the art of beading and jewelry making.
From 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lost Dog Bar & Lounge, 1150 Main Ave., she is providing an opportunity to do some early, or maybe not so much, holiday shopping.
It’s easy to look at the world’s problems and feel helpless and overwhelmed. While we can’t fix everything, we may be able to help a few women and their families build a better life for themselves as they build one of the newest nations in the world.
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Speaking of early Christmas shopping, our local artists and artisans hold a number of shows at this time of the year, and one of the best runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Strater Hotel.
People often brag about our thriving arts community, but it only thrives as much as individual artists do. This event includes some La Plata County favorites, including Marsha Franklin’s pottery and jewelry, Nancy Conrad’s mixed metals jewelry, Janet Grenawalt’s mosaic art and Jill Davis’ fabric bowls and knitwear ... as well as O’Hara’s Jams and Jellies, San Juan Mountains Mustard, and goodies from Animas Chocolate Co. All in one place.
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Holding gloved hands for their anniversaries are Ben and Kathy Anderson, Reg and Beverly Graham, Don and Mary Southworth and Paul and Betty Ann Beauregard.
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