It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the Big O. In honor of daytime talk diva Oprah Winfrey‘s farewell season, United Airlines has unveiled a 757 aircraft painted from nose to tail with imagery from “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
The tricked-out aircraft has already touched down in Denver more times than in any of United’s other hubs, with a stop at DIA on Thursday night from San Francisco, then from DIA to Phoenix, and back to DIA Friday morning. It was also scheduled to fly from Seattle back to Denver on Friday afternoon, then on to Portland, Ore.
“Unless there’s an unplanned aircraft swap (meaning we have to substitute that 757 for another that’s planned for a different routing), it will be (at DIA) both Saturday and (today), though I don’t know what times,” United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said Friday. “It may overnight at DIA Saturday night to (this morning).”
The aircraft, which pays homage to the Chicago television star, is adorned with Oprah logos and farewell season decals on tray tables inside the plane.
In conjunction with the debut of the Oprah plane, United is launching the United Million Mile Giveaway — a sweepstakes that will give one million United Mileage Plus miles to one winner each month through May 2011. Details: .
Truffle time.
It’s the time of year when fierce foodies begin to salivate.
Barolo Grill still has a few seats available for its eight-course, eight- wine feast featuring black-and-white truffles from the Piedmont region of Italy.
Chef Brian Laird will treat your taste buds to a mighty meal that includes a truffle custard served in an egg shell and a pasta dish with shaved truffles. The rest of the courses are a state secret, Barolo boss Blair Taylor says.
The official eight-course dinner starts at 6:15 p.m. Monday for $250 per person, sans tip. The Truffle Festival, which takes place Tuesday through Saturday, offers a la carte truffle courses or a four-course tasting menu for $125 per person.
“It was a really good year for truffles,” Taylor said. “The white truffle from Piedmont is the Rolls Royce of truffles.”
Truffle Festival seating runs from 5:30 p.m. till close. Reservations: 303-393-1040.
More foodie fodder.
The first Colorado Quaker Steak & Lube opened last week at 10392 Reed St. in Westminster.
The 9,000-square-foot restaurant offers seating for 295 indoors and 50 on the patio. The interior decor includes a Red Bull Race Team dirt bike in the lobby window as well as a 2003 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 73 Pennzoil Indy car.
There will be a Russian motorcycle sidecar along with a 2006 Quaker Steak & Lube custom chopper hanging in the Handle Bar section of the restaurant. Also on display throughout the eatery are five motorcycles from Sun Harley Davidson.
• Wyland’s Ocean Blue, a fine- dining restaurant and art gallery inspired by marine wildlife artist Wyland, has opened at The Shops at Northfield Stapleton.
The Denver restaurant marks the second U.S. location for the seafood eatery and art gallery, which premiered in Fairview, Texas, in July.
• The Ritz-Carlton Denver has promoted Justin Fields to executive chef of the Mile-High City’s only AAA Five-Diamond hotel.
Fields, who’s been executive sous chef for three years, will oversee all culinary operations for the hotel, including Elway’s Downtown.
EAVESDROPPING
A man walking two dogs at 10th and Grant in Capitol Hill greeting Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper (below):
“Congratulations, Mayor, or should I say Governor?”
“Nice dogs.”
“Thanks, but they could use a bath.”
“Couldn’t we all?”
(Man after Hickenlooper walks away): “After all those showers in the TV ads, you don’t need any.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis & Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
