Why You Should Have a Cocktail with Your Dinner (at Summit)

The Westside! at Summit restaurant

Tonight I was invited to the Craft of the Cocktail Dinner at Summit restaurant at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. In bucking the trend of the upcoming food and wine festivals, Summit restaurant at The Broadmoor demonstrated how well a nicely crafted cocktail goes with an amazing dinner. Each of the five courses was paired with a unique cocktail made from Colorado spirits and fresh ingredients from the Summit kitchen. Here's a few highlights from the dinner.

Best Stand-Alone Cocktail

While many went with another, I'd say the best stand-alone cocktail was their first one which was Monkey Business. The Sauvignon Blanc by Infinite Monkey Theorem in Denver, mixed with Dry Sack Sherry, Yellow Chartreuse, and Strawberries made me think of a warm summer day, sitting on a patio with a Hawaiian shirt, shades, and sunblock.

Best Pairing

The Ahi Tuna Tartar with Tabouleh went really well with the citrus flavor of  The Westside!, a version of the Southside, with Jackelope Gin from Peach Street Distillers and homemade limoncello from Summit's own Kirsten Schopen.


Best Meal Course

While the Braised Veal Shoulder with Fennel came in a close second, I'd have to give top honors to the dessert which was Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout Float. It's just genius when you mix Chocolate Sorbet, Coffee Whipped Cream, Raisin-Ginger sauce with alcohol and make it work. Probably the most innovative example of mixing cocktails with dinner.

Honorable Mentions

The Papa's Peak, a version of the Papa Doble is made with Montanya "Oro" Rum from Silverton, Colorado. It was smooth and mild, and went well with the Halibut Cheeks with Meyer Lemon Risotto. For those who prefer some real "hair" on their cocktails, The Wild West Sazerac is made with Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, Amaretto Disaronno, Grand Marnier, Benedictine and Pernod Foam.

Kudos to Summit restaurant for incorporating local spirits into their world class menu.

For more info on dining events, visit www.broadmoor.com.

What's your favorite cocktail? Share it here.