Many people have a cake for their birthday. But how many people have a whole table of cakes?
The guests at Gisela Lott’s 60th birthday found themselves confronting a cornucopia of confections, courtesy of Lott’s sister, Renate Rudolph, who flew in from Munich to participate in the festivities and bake up a storm.
The display actually has a name, “Kuchenfest,” or feast of cakes and, boy, was it. A Scharzwalder Kirschtorte, known to us as a Black Forest cake, the Viennese Sachertorte, made with apricots, several different cheese cakes and a redwine cake – 10 in all. Rudolph spent several days baking the goodies and preparing some savory fare, such as German meatballs, to ward off the sugar high.
But to get guests in a party mood – what, the table full of cakes didn’t do it? – the party started with glasses of Italian prosecco as they arrived at Gisela and Bill Lott’s home. For those who weren’t full of cake and appetizers, Rudolph also served a hearty meat soup.
Each table was set with a different china pattern, heirlooms from Bill Lott’s family. He was a little apprehensive about using them, especially the delicate rose china that had been his grandmother’s. But nothing was broken, and all that fragile china is safely stashed again in the cabinets.
Guests toasted the birthday girl with champagne and serenaded her with “Happy Birthday to You” in English and “Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück” in German. And because Durango Choral Society music director Linda Mack Berven was on hand, they sang in harmony.
People from all facets of Lott’s life attended, from her work as a nurse, her neighborhood, as an avid skier at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, while singing with the Durango Choral Society and keeping fit with Zuma dancing.
Gisela Lott, of course, is grateful for the cards, gifts and high spirits that accompanied her landmark birthday. She told me she sends a big danke sehr to her sister for the creativity and hard work. Rudolph is now back in Germany, recovering from throwing a memorable party and having lots of fun during her two-week visit.
Katherine Reynolds, who served as my correspondent for this story, said the party has set a new bar for locals. I’ll say, when you’re flying your baker in from across the Atlantic Ocean!
Belated birthday greetings, Gisela.
HHH
Spending their birthdays recovering from one snow storm and bracing for the next are Fausto Miranda, Katie Maxted, Brian Govreau, Jeff Thulson, Rachel Priest, Betty Perry and Nik Stransky.
HHH
They went, they sang, they conquered. When the Colorado Music Educators Association invited the Durango Children’s Chorale to perform at its annual conference in Colorado Springs, little did they know the treat they were going to enjoy.
They sang in four-part harmony, they sang in Portuguese, they used hand signs. In fact, they rocked. (Although they didn’t actually sing rock music.)
Music Director Amy Barrett had them in the palm of her hand. One parent sat next to a teacher who had attended all the performances and said this was “bar none” the best she had seen at the conference. Robin Randolph – who served as my correspondent on this item – said she had tears in her eyes watching them shine. Randolph is the administrative assistant for the chorale.
You can’t go on a road trip without having some fun.
The crew headed to the zoo the Friday morning of their trip, where they found the ideal time to visit is in the winter. They got to see zoo personnel feeding the elephants and cleaning the penguin habitat (while the elegantly tuxedoed birds waited patiently for their pool to be refilled).
They got up close and personal with giraffes, and they were allowed to feed them treats of lettuce. (Whatever happened to “Please do not feed the animals?”) A young baby gorilla kept trying to steal kale from its mama, and a 2-month-old orangutan was too cute for words.
An afternoon of roller skating tired the children out enough so they could focus for their rehearsal before the big day.
We have such a tendency to take our local talent for granted. It’s times like these, when they outshine their peers, that we are reminded just how excellent they are.
Congratulations to all of you – and thanks for doing us proud.
HHH
Sunday was the eighth anniversary of the fire on Main Avenue that destroyed three historic buildings and several businesses. It was the seventh outing for Burning Down the House, the celebration of Seasons Rotisserie & Grill rising from the ashes better than ever.
Owners Karen and Wayne Barger have dedicated the proceeds of the anniversary’s dinners to The Hundred Club in honor of the firefighters who risked their lives that day every year at Burning Down the House.
The Hundred Club supports first responders and their families in times of injury and death. It also provides scholarships for their children. In other words, The Hundred Club thanks them for their service and shows them the community has their backs.
Executive Chef Dave Stewart and his crew created some special dishes for the evening, including Jenn’s orange & black cheese tortellini with fire-roasted red peppers served in saffron-basil broth; pan-roasted California halibut presented with crispy polenta, sautéed asparagus and fire-roasted romesco sauce; LB Farm lamb saddle, with house-cured pancetta, wood fire-grilled asparagus and red wine-lamb au jus; a wood fire-grilled Angus ribeye steak, served with truffle fries, roasted Brussels sprouts and black pepper demi-glace. Wianno oysters from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Eagle Rock oysters from Puget Sound, Washington, were served with a charred jalapeño-and-blood orange mignonette.
The special dessert for the evening was burnt toast ice cream with smoked sea salt caramel. Wicked.
But that wasn’t the most special thing of all. Retired Durango Fire & Rescue Authority and current Upper Pine Fire Protection Fire Marshal Tom Kaufman prepared his award-winning chicken-green chile-cheese stew as the soup of the day.
Karen Barger is known for her wine “stash,” and she pulls out some special bottles for the evening. On Sunday, she selected what she called “one of the world’s most perfect whites,” a 2013 Grüner Veitliner Nigl “Freiheit” from Kremstral, Austria; and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Turley, a “nice, full red,” as she called it.
Even a snowstorm couldn’t keep people away from an evening like this – special food and wine for an important cause.
HHH
Celebrating another year of connubial bliss are David and Sharon Mantor and John and Pati Sandhaus.
Many congratulations to Reid, 93, and Sari Ross, almost 87, who are celebrating their 65th anniversary today.
“That’s 65 years with one man, not lot of years added up in with several men,” Sari Ross said with a laugh.
HHH
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