The Colorado Restaurant Association’s 24th annual Blue Ribbon Reception, deemed by legislators as their favorite party of the session, got underway Jan. 7 on the evening of the first day of the 70th General Assembly. Usually held on the 38th floor of downtown Denver’s Grand Hyatt Hotel where guests had a stellar view of the city skyline at sunset, this year’s well-attended event was instead staged in a large ballroom at the historic Brown Palace Hotel. Though physically closer to the ground than previous receptions, there was plenty of haute cuisine to be had and many high-ranking officials to enjoy it.

Numerous legislators and their guests, as well as members of CRA and the Colorado Hotel and Restaurant Association, mingled and indulged in an array of savory and sweet items which were displayed at various stations along the perimeter of the expansive ballroom. Participating restaurants were The Airplane Restaurant, The Broadmoor, The Fresh Fish Company, Hurricane Grill and Wings, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Lala’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria, Mangia Bevi Café, Metro State University Denver, Off Sixteenth Restaurant at The Crowne Plaza, Outback Steakhouse, Range, Seattle Fish Company, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Tamayo, Tana’s Delights, Texas Roadhouse and Chowder Room.

CRA president and CEO Sonia Riggs made sure that guests recognized the importance of the restaurant and hotel industries, which she hailed as the cornerstone of the state’s economy. Any doubts? Chew on this: Over $10 billion in sales comes from the food service industry, which is also responsible for $695 million in state and local sales tax revenue. Plus, Riggs added, the restaurant industry alone employs about 264,000 in 10,800 eating and drinking establishments in Colorado.

One half of all adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some point during their lives, according to CRA, and one out of three adults got their first job experience in a restaurant. And in Colorado, 75 percent of the restaurants are independently owned, single-unit operations.

“Use us as a resource,” she bade the legislators, who typically deal with several issues each year that affect the food service industry. “It takes only a slight change in laws to turn a profitable restaurant into an unprofitable business.”

Also there was Paul Aylmer, chairman of the CRA board, as well as the legendary Pete Meersman, who preceeded Riggs as the head honcho of the trade organization who now offers advice as their chief strategy officer.

Among the legislators in attendance were the key leaders from both chambers, House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Boulder and Senate president Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs.

Hullinghorst, who said she hasn’t missed a single CRA Blue Ribbon Reception since she was elected to the Statehouse seven years ago, called the traditional event “clearly, always the best of the year for us as legislators” and said she hopes to attend next year’s as well when she completes her tenure at the Capitol.

“One of our major goals is to make sure everyone takes advantage of the economic upturn, including the middle class. One of the most important things,” said Hullinghorst, is helping small business, and the restaurant industry is a huge component. “We really appreciate what you contribute to the economy and jobs and want to have a very good partnership with you,” she stated.

Next was Cadman, who breezed through the crowd and shouted into the microphone, “Yum-m-m-m-ie!”

This is a premiere event, he said, which unites legislators on the first day of the session and gets them off to a good start. He joked that the great grub and drinks might also be appreciated at Sine Die, when the legislature officially adjourns, so that lawmakers can like each other again after the 120-day session.

Never at a loss for injecting a little humor into politics, Cadman offered the attendees a little marriage advice. When he was first married 24 years ago, he explained, the best thing to keep the marriage going was to say, “Honey, I love you and what can I do for you?”

Now, two dozen years later, Cadman related, the best thing he can say to his wife is, “Honey, let’s go out to dinner.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a former restaurant owner himself who seemed to know many of the political and food industry folks there, offered brief remarks as he touted the importance of the industry. He looked relaxed as he talked, although his appearance there was just one of several on his busy schedule that night.

The CRA-affiliated restaurants in attendance produced a dizzying array of food for all palates. Even our normally voracious food writer couldn’t try everything, though some dishes definitely stood out.

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, with three locations in Colorado, served up some delicious barbecue pork tacos complete with all the fixings. A generous amount for a sample, this dish is one that our food writer had no trouble finishing. Mangia Bevi Café may have won most beautiful dish with their thinly sliced, blush pink beef carpaccio wrapped around Italian breadsticks and finished with parmesan and micro arugula. Much to our dismay, the booth for Metropolitan State University did not have the sweetbreads they advertised; however, the bacon wrapped dates they did have were lovely.

Range, a restaurant newly opened in the Denver Renaissance Hotel, was definitely ahead of the game (wild game, that is), with their elk-in-a-blanket: elk sausage, wrapped in pastry and served with cranberry relish and mustard. Seattle Fish Company’s crab cakes and shrimp cocktail were both solid dishes, but even more memorable was the stunning booth display, which showcased a gorgeous assortment of seafood, including a lobster that looked like it could have been plucked from the water minutes before.

Baking company Tana’s Delights stood out among so many savory dishes, and left the crowd abuzz (literally) with their decidedly boozy baked goods, including a lemon raspberry vodka cake and chocolate cherry bourbon cake.

— maggie@coloradostatesman.com

See full photo coverage in the Jan. 23, 2015 print edition.