But there are other chefs -- kitchen kingpins like Elise Wiggins, the exec chef of Panzano -- who practice what they preach, and beginning today and continuing through Sunday, July 31, Wiggins is swaggering "Summer Local Week," seven days of eating dedicated to celebrating the state's food riches. She's created a four-course menu, available at both lunch and dinner, that utilizes nearly 100 percent local ingredients, and her dishes are all designed to be paired with Colorado wines, beers and cocktails.
In addition to her local-centric tasting menu, Wiggins plans to roast a Triple M Bar Ranch Colorado lamb on the Panzano patio during the day, while simultaneously giving out tastes of Rocky Ford melon sorbet. Best of all, five percent of sales from the tasting menu will be donated to the Denver chapter of Dress for Success.
And speaking of that tasting menu, here's the lineup:
First Course
Pan-seared scallop with grilled local corn, prosciutto and basil Pairing: Infinite Monkey Theorem Semillon
Second Course
Grilled Caesar salad Pairing: Avery White Rascal
Third Course
Whole roasted rosemary Colorado lamb, gnocchi, walnuts, mint pesto, dried pomegranate and goat cheese Pairing: Guy Drew Syrah
Dessert Course
Rocky Ford melon sorbetti Pairing: Infinite Monkey Theorem Black Muscat
The tasting dinner -- food only -- is $25 per person at lunch and $39 at dinner; with pairings, lunch is $38 and dinner is $52. To make reservations, call 303-296-3525.