Are you ready for a slopper? It’s the native dish in Pueblo with two joints serving them up with pride: Gray’s Coors Tavern and the Sunset Inn. Each claims it makes the best.
It may be an old-fashioned dish, but actually it’s a deconstructed chile cheeseburger. First you make the hamburger, then you bun it up, pile on some cheese and make it sloppy by pouring on the hot green chile.
You can see the contest on “Food Wars” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the Travel Channel. It’s hosted by Camille Ford, who’s traveling the country setting up these kinds of contests. She starts the show in a tight red T-shirt with the slogan “If you are what you eat . . . I’m hot!”
In a preview of the show, the townfolk go half-insane supporting the slopper they like most. Judges include a Pueblo food critic, a weatherman and Miss Rodeo Colorado 2010, all blindfolded.
Ford called from California to sing the praises of Pueblo, where she spent four days in April shooting the show. “If you want to experience what is America, this is the place. Tell people to get down there and share a slopper.”
The teaser video I saw did not reveal the winner, but my slop is on Gray’s Coors Tavern. And the State Fair is in Pueblo through Monday — so now’s your chance to get sloppy.
The oil business.
Heidi McGuire, host of “Metromix” at 10:30 p.m. Thursdays on KTVD-My20, might have a new career: oiling up firefighters.
She and some pals were at the debut of the 2011 Firefighters Calendar on Friday night at City Hall. She bought a raffle ticket for $5, not even knowing what the prize was. One of her pals from Alice radio actually won — and she took McGuire backstage with her to “experience” the prize, which was to oil up the chests of firefighters before they went on the runway. “I did a great job, I think,” says McGuire. “This is the ultimate ladies’ night out.”
Temple on top.
Some say she stole the Emmy Awards show on Sunday night — and Colorado State University prof Temple Grandin had reason to celebrate big time. It was her 63rd birthday — and “Temple Grandin,” the HBO biopic based on her life, won five major awards: Outstanding Made-for-TV Movie, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (David Strathairn), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Claire Danes), Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries (Mick Jackson) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Julia Ormond).
Earlier this month, the movie won two Creative Arts Emmy Awards for music and single-camera editing, bringing the total to seven. Yowza.
Grandin, who has autism, is an adviser to the Denver- based American Humane Association Farm Animal Program. She’s always a presence there — and was especially present at the awards, once appearing on stage in cowgirl garb making lasso motions with her arm.
City spirit.
Eddie Mekka, Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa on “Laverne & Shirley,” stars in the Oct. 12-17 run of “Grease” at the Buell. . . . Sez who: “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good teacher.” Temple Grandin
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
