Twenty One Steak wins Chamber’s Spice Up Spring Recipe Contest
A Pueblo restaurant took home top honors in all four categories at the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce & Visit Pueblo 2024 Spice Up Spring Original Recipe Competition held April 19.
This is the first time TwentyOne Steak has won in all four categories in one year since the competition began seven years ago. Winning dishes include the Pueblo chili appetizer, which features crispy braised pork belly over potato gratin; Lajas his Puebla appetizer, which is an improved version of the Cuban bean and rice dish congri. Dessert of brownie petit gateau with pueblo chile jelly and cocktail pina picante with pueblo chile candied pineapple.
This year’s contestants included Peppe’s at Milberger Farms, Romero’s Cafe, Cinful Delicious, Feelin’ a Little Philly, Park East, and Papa Mario’s. The judging was done by his three guest judges: Chef Mo Montgomery of Fuel & Iron Food Hall, Matthew Kroschel of KKTV, and Richard Schneider of Raquelita’s Tortillas.
Classic Catering gets new owners, giving you more options
After more than a quarter-century, Classic Catering, headquartered at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, has new ownership.
Dana Eaton became the new owner and named the business “Dana’s Classic Catering.” She has worked in the restaurant industry for her 30 years, most recently serving as General Manager of Prime Time She Sports Emporium.
When chef Jim Beattie was preparing to retire, he asked Eaton if she would be interested in succeeding him, and she decided to give it a try.
She hired Pueblo native chef Ed Christenson to help run the business. He has 25 years of experience cooking in Pueblo restaurants, including a stint as executive chef at the Bistro at the Courtyard by Marriott.
“We’ve kept the basic menu items and added popular favorites like fried chicken and ribs, so there’s more choice. Customers can request their favorite dishes, mix and match, pick their favorites, and add sides. “We give them a choice,” says Eaton. she said.
Our catering services can accommodate lunches, picnics, weddings, graduations, retirement parties, birthday parties, and more.
“One of our favorite things to do is the tastings at weddings so people can sample and choose what we have. It’s a great experience,” says Eaton. he said.
The catering business is especially busy during the Colorado State Fair, providing lunch for the Mayor, feeding all the musical and comedy performers who stop by to perform in Pueblo, the Fiesta Day Pageant and the Dream Weavers. We also serve lunch. This year, Dana’s Classic Catering will be handling all the catering for his massive RV rally scheduled for the showgrounds at the end of July.
As many as 12 employees work part-time to help with the catering business. For more information, visit classiccateringco.com or call 719-560-9598.
Shiver & Shake opens April 30th in Pueblo West
Unconventional cakes, shakes, candies and shaved ice treats will keep customers cool this summer when Shiver & Shake opens April 30 at 1002 N. Market Plaza, Unit F in Pueblo West.
Located in the Shops at Market Place near Safeway, this confectionery cafe is in the same building as I Heart Mac & Cheese Restaurant and Snooze Mattress Company.
Shiver & Shake is owned by Andrew and Lisa Diaz.
The couple created Shiver & Shake by combining two concepts: the Three Amigos Snowball shaved ice food truck, which launched in 2017, and the artisan milkshake food truck, which launched in 2022.
A popular shaved ice menu is “Sour Candy Man.” Grown for 10-pound blocks of ice, the finely shaved powdery soft snow is topped with red raspberry, blueberry, and lemon flavors. A “secret sour spray” adds punch, and Sour Patch Kids and Sour Airheads adorn the confection, which is especially popular among younger customers, Andrew Diaz said.
A favorite on the shake side is the strawberry cheesecake, which comes with strawberry Blue Bell ice cream, whipped cream, a slice of New York cheesecake, a strawberry drizzle, and fresh strawberries.
“I love doing crazy things and it really becomes a unique form of art,” Diaz explained. “It’s so fun to see their eyes light up, especially the kids.”
Diaz was in his early teens growing up in South Carolina and working at a shaved ice company run by his middle school history teacher, Tom Hurley.
“He’s been a mentor since we started trucking, and when I signed the lease for the store, I called Mr. Hurley to let him know what I was doing and thank him. I conveyed my feelings,” Diaz explained.
The store will be open Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There will be extended hours throughout the summer, and a grand opening event will be held in early June.
For more information, visit shiverandshakeco.com.
Snowball details:The owner of Three Amigos Sno-Balls talks about his Pueblo West shaved ice truck journey and its special features.
The Dish is a Pueblo Chieftain feature featuring local food and restaurant news. To submit news tips about new product offerings, changes to business hours, special events, expansion plans and more, email Chief reporter Tracy Harmon at tharmon@chieftain.com.
