Downtown's Top Chef Master Tomorrow!

Another famous face from Downtown Boulder food lore reigns on Bravo tomorrow: Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, the famed multi-syllabic named chef/owner of our own world renowned Frasca Food and Wine on the lovely East End, takes on competitors on TV's Top Chef Masters. Bravo's first season Top Chef spin off features four famous chefs per episode battling it out under the camera's bright glare for up to $100,000 for a charity of their choice. Already named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs, Mackinnon-Patterson takes his Northern Italian inspired cuisine to Bravo's L.A. studios to continue Downtown Boulder's amazing record of bringing the world its own Top Chefs ( See Hosea Rosenberg, last year's Top Chef Season 5 winner and chef at Jax Fish House).

Tomorrow on episode five we finally get to see Mackinnon-Patteron in culinary combat. He will be playing for hometown charity Denver's Children's Hospital, a choice close to his heart as his own daughter received life saving treatment there. Wednesday evening you can see Chef Lachlan test his meddle with Chefs Michael Chiarello, Rick Moonen, and Nils Noren to have a chance to go on and meet up with finalists from the first four episodes. Those include notable names Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, Suzanne Tracht of Jar in Los Angeles, Chicagoan Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, and Anita Lo of Annisa in New York.

So root, root, root for the home team as Chef Lahclan ponies up his best Fruilian fare for the judges and tune in tomorrow at 8 p.m. on Bravo. Who knows, maybe Downtown Boulder could have TWO Top Chefs...

E Town's /Jax's Dinner & Show event this Sunday in Downtown Boulder

Downtown is filled with excitement and activities this Memorial Day weekend and one not to miss is E Town’s Dinner and Show event on Sunday, May 24th! The event starts at 5 p.m. with an amazing three course meal at the nationally renowned Jax Fish House (the evening’s menu was prepared by TV’s Top Chef, Hosea Rosenberg) and is followed by reserved seats at the E Town show with Nick & Helen Forster (host & co-host), Jorma Kaukonen (legendary guitar player) and Guggenheim Grotto (Irish pop/folk act) at the Boulder Theater. Tickets are $50 per person. Tickets and dinner reservations are available by calling Jax Fish House Boulder at 303-444-1811.

E Town is a lively weekly radio broadcast heard from coast to coast on National Public Radio (NPR) as well as other public and commercial stations. Boulder & Denver listeners can tune in on KBCO FM, KGNU-FM & AM and KUNC-FM. The shows are taped in front of live audiences at venues around the country - and mostly right here in Downtown Boulder at the historic Boulder Theater. Each show features performances from top musicians and conversations with a wide variety of authors, poets and policy-makers about various topics that promote a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world. Former interviewees include: Jimmy Carter, Jane Goodall, Ralph Nader and Michael Moore just to name a few. Prior musical guests include well known names such as Ben Harper, Blues Traveler, Chris Isaak, Emmylou Harris, Jason Mraz, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, String Cheese Incident and The Samples.

To learn more about E Town, listen to a mp3 of a prior show or download an E Town podcast online at Etown.org. For tickets and dinner reservations for this Sunday’s Dinner and Show event, call 303-444-1811. For a complete listing of happenings and businesses in Downtown Boulder, check out BoulderDowntown.com.

- Terri Takata-Smith

Today in Downtown Boulder

Take two minutes to read this blog then turn off your computer and make your way to Downtown Boulder today! The weather is amazing. People are relaxing and enjoying delicious foods and beverages on various outdoor patios. Buskers are performing all along the Pearl Street Mall, hundreds of tulips are in full bloom and perhaps best of all…the Boulder County Farmers’ Market starts their Wednesday season this afternoon from 4 – 8 p.m.!

What’s new this season at the wildly popular Boulder County Farmers’ Market? Specialty organic chocolate and an organic bread baker to name just a few! Over the last year, 20 new farms have begun participating in the market. This means you can expect to find more eggs, pasteurized cow and goat milk, a variety of cheeses, more starter plants to help you grow your own and unique products such as crayfish. Many of the returning vendors are also adding new products to their mix. The market is located just off the Bricks (Pearl Street Mall) next to Central Park on 13th Street between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue.

Later this evening in Downtown Boulder, elephantjournal.com’s “Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis” will take place at the historic Boulder Theater. The show is honored to host Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg, famous yoga teacher John Friend, Titans of New Tech including Gwen Bell, Jeffrey Kalmikoff of Threadless, Brad Feld, Micah Baldwin of Lijit and music by Paper Bird. The event will include an eco-expo, before and after party, music and much more entertainment with the highlight of the evening being an eco-fashion show courtesy of prAna with makeup by top makeup artist, Jen Murphy. Showcased on all of the models will be the bio-active, organic make-up line, Afterglow Cosmetics. Click here for ticket information.

In Downtown Boulder there is something to see and do every day of the week. To find out about other happenings in the heart of the city, visit BoulderDowntown.com.

Downtown Boulder's Top Chef: Hosea Rosenberg

It's down to five on Top Chef New York (Wednesdays, 8 p.m. on Bravo), Hosea Rosenberg, of Downtown Boudler's Jax Fish House, is the only "American male" left standing in this ferocious competition. He has made it through 10 plus weeks and beat competitors from all over the United States. Rosenberg stands poised to make to the final four. Perhaps his toughest competitors are the European contingent of Fabio, the comedic Italian, and Stephan, the self assured Fin. But Rosenberg has the confidence of having cooked for the best palates in the West...right here in Downtown Boulder (as well as being the seven-time, undefeated champion of the Flatiron Chef Competition)! Take the time to watch and cheer on Rosenberg as he makes his run to be America's Top Chef and visit Jax this Saturday for their special Valentine's Day $75 prix fixe dinner, $25 optional wine pairing. For reservations call 303.444.1811 or online. For menu details, click here.