Soup’s on!
Sixteen varieties, each one more delicious than the last, were served when Centura Health at Home presented its 15th Soup for the Soul, a tasting and auction that raised money for Porter Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice.
The evening also included presentation of the Legacy of Courage Award to Michael and Desiree Davis, whose 17-year-old daughter, Claire, died Dec. 21, 2013, eight days after being shot by a fellow student at Arapahoe High School.
“Although Claire’s family suffered the bitter loss of their only daughter, they have chosen love (as) Claire’s legacy,” noted Erin Denholm, senior vice president of clinical transformation at Centura Health. “Clarity Commons, a park on the campus of Arapahoe High School, opened on what would have been Claire’s 18th birthday. The park celebrates Claire’s love of life, the outdoors and her ability to bring people together through her happy and optimistic spirit.”
Denholm joined event chair Lauren Klopfenstein and Kathie Repola, president and chief development officer for the Centura Health at Home Foundation, in welcoming the 850 people who gathered Feb. 16 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
Chefs from restaurants that included Barolo Grill, Fuel Cafe, The Kitchen Next Door, Dazzle and LoHi Steakbar each prepared a soup and appetizer, and no two were the same.
Squeaky Bean owner Johnny Ballen helped his crew dish out spicy Cantonese Medicine Broth that accompanied an appetizer serving of pork and shrimp sausage with goji berries and pine nuts. Troy Guard, whose restaurant empire includes TAG, Los Chingones and Sunnyside Burger Bar, placed kimchi-quinoa dumplings in bowls of pork neck broth.
Matt Selby, chef at Central Bistro and Bar, assembled the chilled shrimp salads that went with his smoked potato and leek soup, while Alex Seidel took a night off from his Fruition and Mercantile Dining & Provision restaurants to personally ladle out servings of the crowd favorite split pea and ham soup.
Alexis Martinez, chef at the Sheraton’s 15|Fifty restaurant, made lobster street tacos to go with her beef and bison red chili while Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja, Bistro Vendome, Euclid Hall, Stoic & Genuine) soothed quite a few souls with her butternut squash soup and challah bread pudding.
LaFawn Biddle; Brian and Patty McConaty; Andrew MacArthur; Don and Mary Lee Beauregard; Mary Osborn and Bob Dalton; Josh Hanfling; Jeannie Bennington; Chris Agnew; Dr. Brian Greffe; Rachel and Jeff Klos; Annette Diss; Lynne and Dr. Richard Cundy; and Michelle Brokaw were among the guests.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or
