Rescheduling an event with as many moving parts as Soup for the Soul isn’t always an option. So when a blizzard hit on March 26, right about the time chefs from 17 restaurants were getting ready to load vats of soup and trays of appetizers into vans and station wagons and head to the Sheraton Denver Downtown, questions began to swirl.
Do we take a chance and forge ahead? Or, for safety’s sake, do we pick another date?
Chairwoman Stacie Schubert talked to Centura Health at Home CEO Erin Denholm, who polled the chefs and the person in charge of booking the hotel’s Plaza Ballroom. Within minutes it was decided to A) reschedule to April 9 and B) donate the food already prepared to area shelters.
Little did anyone know what a wise decision that would be. Instead of seeing everything go down the drain, the new date brought 100 extra guests and that meant a delicious increase in what was raised for Centura’s two nonprofit, faith-based centers for end-of-life care, Porter Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice. The final amount is still being tallied, but it’s expected to top last year’s $225,000.
Five restaurants couldn’t make the new date, but 11 of the originals including Alto, Pesce Fresco and Japon, which have long histories with Soup for the Soul, came through again. So, too, did Peakview Cafe at Parker Adventist Hospital, whose executive chef, Dan Skay, prepared the crowd favorite, chilled passion mango soup with candied piñon.
Taking part in Soup for the Soul is a win- win situation for Pesce Fresco owners Joel and Merrilee Diner. “Many of our new customers tell us they’re supporting us because we supported Soup for the Soul,” Merrilee said, adding that she has had three family members go through hospice care. “The caregivers helped my family through some very difficult times, and this is our way of saying thank you.” The Diners’ chef, Samir Mohammad, prepared savory gorgonzola cheesecake with his classic minestrone.
Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch from sister restaurants Rioja and Bistro Vendome were offering forest mushroom veloute, and when a patron remarked to server Neil Maxwell about how good it looked, he spoke volumes by responding: “Yes, it’s delicious because it was prepared with love.”
The evening, emceed by 9News anchor Kim Christiansen, also included presentation of the Award of Courage to Donn Eley, who founded Brent’s Place following the death of his son. For 20 years, Brent’s Place has been a low-cost home-away-from-home for families of children with life-challenging illnesses.
Soups ranged from sunchoke with Meyer lemons, pancetta, scallions and onion (Mel’s Bar and Grill) to white asparagus with chili oil (Vesta Dipping Grill/Steuben’s), and were enjoyed by a crowd that included Pam Grange, who headed the restaurant selection committee; Christine Gallegos, who has attended every Soup for the Soul for the past four years as a tribute to the care her late daughter received; Elenora Crichlow; Sue Goodin; Barbara Wagner; Mary Moore; Chris Agnew and her mom, Dottie Ebeling of St. Louis; Lynne and Dr. Richard Cundy; Kathy Finley; and Centura Health CEO Gary Campbell.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
