Denver Restaurant Week, which starts Saturday, is a busy time if you own a restaurant or three. Just ask Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja, Euclid Hall and Bistro Vendôme on Larimer Street. Her hands will be full, the left one heavier as she just put a ring on it. During a hike Sunday, her live-in boyfriend, Max Mackissock, owner/chef of the Squeaky Bean, proposed. Jasin ski said yes, order up! They plan to marry in Santa Barbara, Calif., in the fall.
Jasinski has long been lionized as one of Denver’s top chefs. Mackissock has just been shortlisted for Food and Wine Magazine’s “The People’s Best New Chef” for our region. This is more than a marriage. It’s the finest culinary combination since mirepoix.
“He totally surprised me out of the blue,” says Jasinski. “He had the ring and got down on one knee and everything. It’s going to be wonderful. We want to get married on the beach. We have to find somebody good to cater it, that’s for sure.”
Mackissock is also cooking with gas. “We’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” he says, “and this is the right time.”
On their nights off, Mackissock says, he usually cooks at home while Jasinski stretches out on the couch with a glass of wine. But who’s going to cook for the baby?
“No plans for babies,” says Mac kissock. “One of us would have to give up a career. We have dogs.”
Congrats to the chefs. And check out Denver Restaurant Week at .
A Rush on ribs.
Everyone is up in arms about Rush Limbaugh getting rude with Michelle Obama for eating a short rib at Restaurant Kelly Liken during her Vail vacation last weekend.
“The problem is, and dare I say this, it doesn’t look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice,” Limbaugh said on Monday’s show. “And then we hear that she’s out eating ribs at 1,500 calories a serving with 141 grams of fat per serving. . . . I’m trying to say that our first lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you.”
Liken told the Vail Daily that the ribs run closer to 600 calories per serving — but that’s not the point. Limbaugh was goofing on it, getting people all riled up over absolutely nothing, which is what he always does.
He’s just ribbing you.
Big shots.
Not everyone invited to the Young Presidents’ Organization’s annual leadership conference in Denver this weekend could make it. President Barack Obama will, in prerecorded fashion, address the big shots, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will talk via satellite.
City spirit.
According to some observers, James Franco was curt, shy and, some say, even rude at the Boulder International Film Festival on Saturday. Here’s hoping he lightens up for Sunday night’s Oscar show . . . Sez who: “To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi- glace or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.” Anthony Bourdain
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@ . Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
