Pretty people brushed off their top hats, white ties and tails and high-tailed it to The Ritz-Carlton on Thursday night to suck down steak, martinis and wine, cut a rug or two and scoop up Icon Awards during the event that hands out prizes to party peeps.
Competition centered on florists, caterers, party planners, decorators and other special-event industry folks.
“It’s amazing to believe we’re in a recession, isn’t it?” said Colorado Expression owner Terry Vitale. Vitale and her Expression crew put on the tony party that was themed this year Puttin’ on the Ritz. “We had a waiting list of 40 people. This event is nearly 20 years old, and every year we’re sold out.”
Richard Rizzo, who grew his professional party roots at Epicurean Culinary Group, used this occasion to introduce his new event-planning company, Puttin’ on The Rizz.
The elegant theme was carried out throughout The Ritz ballroom that was gussied up in black and white. The cascading white flower centerpieces in tall silver candelabras from Newberry Brothers Greenhouse & Florist were stunning.
One glitch: The awards announcements were mostly drowned out by rude people who refused to shut the heck up while emcee Mathew Taylor struggled over and over to regain control. Take the talk outside, folks.
One highlight: The unsinkable Sandy Tenenbaum, founder of Occasions by Sandy catering, received a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was especially poignant because Sandy lost her long-time husband and business partner, Barry, less than a year ago.
“He was the soft voice of Occasions by Sandy,” she said. “Most of all, thank you for Barry Tenenbaum. Barry would have loved this.”
Cookin’ of the green.
The ovens at Jus Cookin’s Restaurant in Lakewood will be up and roaring Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, where staff will cook and serve 2,700 pounds of corned beef (they had one bowl left over last year), 500 pounds of potatoes, 275 pounds of carrots, 550 pounds of cabbage and 250 green lemon-meringue pies in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner from 3 to 9 p.m. The restaurant is located at Simms Street and Eighth Place. More info: .
Green clean.
The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch has joined other Colorado hotels Arrabelle at Vail Square and the Lodge at Vail in donating partially used soap products to the Clean the World Foundation.
The Orlando-based nonprofit aims to reduce hygiene-related illnesses by recycling the hospitality industry’s partially used soap products — bar soaps, shampoo, conditioner and lotion — and distributing them to shelters and countries facing sanitation crises.
Since Haiti’s devastating earthquake in January, Clean the World has delivered 150 tons of recycled supplies to Haiti. More information: .
Catering king.
In the catering world, Centennial-based Epicurean Catering Group swallowed the Big Daddy award for its industry.
Epicurean took top prize — the 2010 ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award — at the Catersource Conference and Tradeshow last week in Las Vegas.
With more than 4,000 individuals representing 20 countries, Catersource Conference and Tradeshow is the largest convention representing the catering and special-events industry.
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
