=" /> The Mile High Eater: Aug 20, 2010

Friday, August 20, 2010

Husssshhh

HUSSSSHHHH


I am sitting here typing this and wondering where I am going to be on the 28th of August. No this is not some idle "what will I be doing in two weeks sort of thing". I know exactly what I will be doing, I will be hopefully be enjoying a great meal cooked by the people from Fuel Café. It’s the where I will be eating that has me pondering. You see, we aren’t going to Fuel Café, we are going to a dining event put on by Hush Denver (http://www.hushdenver.com/) and when you go to a Hush event you never know where you’re going to enjoy your dinner. It could be on the roof of an art museum, the floor of a furniture store or anywhere else they can dream up to make your meal a memorable event not only for the food but for the overall experience. So the question of where will I be is one I really am curious about.


I had the chance to talk to Phil Armstrong one of the two people behind the Hush concept and he told me the story of how Hush came about. Phil has been in the restaurant industry since he was 13, gradually working up the culinary ladder with hard work and a passion for food. Finally he got what he thought would be the pinnacle of his culinary ambitions as general manager of a restaurant in Chicago with a “celebrity chef” in the kitchen.

Like a lot of us once you reach a long sought after goal, once you reach it you find it's not exactly what you were expecting, the same happened with Phil. The people he worked with were passionate about food and that part was inspiring and exciting, but the chef was one of those bosses who thrive on conflict and tearing the people who work with them down with the thought of building them back up more in the chef's idea of how they should be. This whole experience caused Phil to rethink his goals and moved to Colorado with the thought of opening a restaurant in Vail.

Once in Colorado and looking to open a restaurant, he realized with the economy in a slump and the huge starting requirements of a new venue that perhaps it was not the best time to open a new one at this point. But still wanting to be working with restaurants Phil and his partner brainstormed how to get a restaurant started without the huge initial overhead.

The thought to do something like Outstanding in the field, and Meadowlark Farm dinners more locally (http://www.farmdinners.com/) a organization that hosts dinners at local farms to showcase locally extremely fresh food. However, they want to do things a bit different. They wanted to give the people just starting out in their culinary journey a chance for one night to showcase their abilities, the line cooks and chefs who weren’t well known yet but putting out incredible food. To go along with this they wanted to have the meals in locations that were out of the ordinary, that made the meal an adventure to further increase the enjoyment of the food and to give a hint of mystery and excitement to the experience itself. Thus, Hush dinners were formed.


They started this past winter and the response has been fantastic Phil says, and now after this last supper in August they are going to take break for a bit then announce a partnership with Dining Out magazine to bring the meals and locations to a new level and even be able to tour to different cities. It is an exciting thing to see your idea take flight and grow, especially when that idea also connects you with your passion. And it’s an exciting time for Denver to have such a cool thing for us to enjoy.

Where will I be on the 28th I just won’t know until a week before and you know the buildup of curiosity and excitement is a unique and very cool thing. I guess for now I just have to wait and see.

Hush just released some information about a few special events that seem very exciting here is the information about that.

For the next few months Hush will be taking our concept to the next level. We have been fortunate enough to secure one of the most exclusive and breathtaking venues in all of Colorado to bring you a series we have aptly named "Adventures in Dining Out". This series of events is limited to 6 individual guests or 6 couples per experience and feature one of the most luxurious and hidden overnight locations in the front range. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception upon arrival, six course tasting menus prepared by some of the areas most notable culinary talents in an intimate ( you may be asked to cook along side !) setting. Guest will then relax in our private 9700sq foot luxury mountain retreat and retire to their private guest room complete with personal jacuzzi. The next morning rise to a gourmet breakfast with life changing views and depart with a changed mind, body, and belly. These events have limited availability and available on a first come first serve basis. To add your name to the list, and receive more information about dates and availability please send an email to invite@hushdenver.com with "Adventures in Dining" as the subject.



Thanks for stopping by our Colorado based restaurant and food review and blog. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave a post here or email us at jonathan or barbara @milehigheater.com

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