Go ahead, give music all the credit for being the universal language or a medium that soothes the savage beast.
Food does OK in those departments too, and the yummies on the menu for the first L’Esprit de France Gala had the 300 guests singing a happy song. In fact, each of the five courses could be considered chart-toppers.
A benefit for Rocky Mountain chapter of the French- American Chamber of Commerce, the dinner and auction was held at the Westin Tabor Center. Trip Mackintosh, senior partner at Holland & Hart, and Bob Snyder, the chamber’s membership and programs director, chaired the event, but the real star was chef Jean-Luc Voegele.
Faced with a discriminating audience that knew its coquilles from its croissants, Voegele set aside all thoughts of the ordinary and sent waiters to the tables with plates of terrine of foie gras accompanied by vanilla-pineapple compote and brioche, followed by poached salmon with sorrel sauce over baby spinach and wild rice. Palates were cleansed with tropical fruit sorbet splashed with Grand Marnier, giving strength for the beef tenderloin perigourdine served as a fourth course.
All that food begged for some exercise, which folks got by adjourning to the ballroom foyer … where a dessert and cheese buffet beckoned.
Food – glorious though it was – wasn’t the only reason for the black-tie gala. In addition to raising money for scholarships to be given to international business undergraduates with a special interest in France and for such chamber programs as attracting French companies to Colorado and helping Colorado companies wanting to do business in France, the party also paid tribute to two men who’ve distinguished themselves in Franco- American relations.
Don Elliman, director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development, and Olivier Cormier, president of Invest in France North America, presented L’Esprit de France Awards to Christophe Aubertot, president of Ceric Inc., and Walter Rakowich, president and chief operating officer of ProLogis.
Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien was the guest of honor, and entertainment was by Leah Wool, who’ll sing the title role in the Central City Opera’s upcoming performance of Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon.
Jeff Richards, Colorado’s new honorary consul of France, also was at the gala, along with Hungary’s honorary consul, Gene Megyesy; CH2M Hill CEO Ralph Hill and his wife, Betty; Ed Nichols, chairman of the Central City Opera board and the Colorado Historical Society’s new chief executive; Central City’s music director, John Baril; Manuel Martinez and Pat Cortez; Westin GM Tom Curley; Virginie Ganivet, the chamber’s executive director; chamber president Susan Engeman; Mina Mercado; Susan Stiff, president of the Central City Opera Guild, with hubby John Haigh; KC Veio; and Sinnet Hanson, who described “Artisans and Kings: Selected Treasures From the Louvre,” an exhibition opening Oct. 6 at the Denver Art Museum.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. She also contributes at.
