Prevue July-August 2018 - 44

W

Whether it's menus that incorporate indigenous
ingredients or innovative mixology programs
that highlight liquid nitrogen and chemical
reactions, these Southwest cities offer
meetings and incentives groups a taste all
their own.

COLORADO SPRINGS
"While Colorado is known for its craft beer,
Colorado Springs has truly come into its
own," says Kathy Reak, senior director
of convention sales at Visit Colorado
Springs. "The region is home to 30+
microbreweries and distilleries, as well as
a few craft coffee houses. We've even
developed a special passport that features
deals at 24 of these local spots."
The Crafts & Drafts Passport is
downloaded instantly to attendees' phones
for free and highlights the destination's
diverse craft beverage scene. From
microbreweries to moonshine, groups can
enjoy free drinks, tastings and discounts
at a range of participating venues in the
Pikes Peak region. Rocky Mountain Food
Tours guides groups to five diverse culinary
destinations in easy walking distance of the
historic downtown district, and includes
a chance to meet some of the local chefs

44 | prevuemeetings.com

who helped to shape the region's cuisine.
Food Truck Tuesdays is another popular
downtown event, featuring 12 local food
trucks serving meals, snacks and desserts.
The Broadmoor has a number of
unique culinary programs on offer, including
"The Magic of Pasta" where groups can
join the team at on-site Ristorante del
Lago for a day of preparing authentic
Italian pasta and rustic cuisine. While in the
summer season, "From the Greenhouse"
takes groups to Broadmoor Farms, the
property's greenhouse complex, to learn
about the planting seasons and the fruits
and vegetables used in several dishes.
New at the Broadmoor is Cafe Julie's.
Modeled after a Parisian patisserie, it
serves house-made gelato, artisan bread
and exclusive handmade chocolates from
a chocolate kitchen where attendees are
able to watch the chefs in action. Groups
can spend the day with pastry chef Adam
Thomas and learn the finer points of
working with all variations of chocolate.

DENVER
Denver has seen an explosive growth in
dining options with more than 245 restaurant
openings last year and four Denver chefs

ranking as semifinalists for the prestigious
2018 James Beard Awards.
"Many groups are incorporating
experiential culinary activities into their
meetings and events," says Rachel
Benedick, VP of sales & services for Visit
Denver. "Whether it's closing down a city
street to have a block party with local chefs
or heading off-site for a wine blending class
or local food tour, attendees are looking
for local experiences, and getting to know
a destination's culinary scene is one of the
best ways to explore."
The Inventing Room is a unique
culinary experience that began as a catering
company but now has a permanent
location. They create interactive food
samples that bubble, steam and pop using
ingredients such as liquid nitrogen and
techniques like compression. Sample menu
items include nitro chocolate and cinnamon
popcorn and Twizzler space foam.
"One of the more interesting culinary
trends today is the modern day food hall,
and Denver is really leading the charge
on this with several of these concepts all
around the city," says Benedick. "These
spaces provide unique settings for group
dinners, off-site meetings and more."
http://www.prevuemeetings.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July-August 2018
