Oh my GOODNESS GRACIOUS!

It is yet another early morn, or late eve, that I began my 2nd blog. I got quite the kick out of reading some of the comments from the 1st blog I wrote. Touché Benjamin and touché Kaleigh. You two must be cackling at your comments you left me, but this is only the beginning of your end(s). Of course I am just kidding, but if we were in the medieval ages then there would be jousting and sword fighting, maybe even some archery action. I would surely get you both with the battle axe. I honestly do not know where I am going with this, so let’s move on before things get too vivid.

So about my experiences with the 1st project, the Smart Meal Challenge...

The 1st project was laborious in time and footwork. I sent many emails to many restaurants on our list (which I have so generously listed below) that was handpicked by COPAN (Google it...but in case you must know right now it stands for the Colorado Office of Physical Activity and Nutrition AKA COPAN) to try and set up meetings for us to present the program to them. After very little success with that, my good ole buddy and pal Mr. David Foos (I like to call him "Davey" for short) were running loose all over downtown Denver trying to make contacts with the restaurant owners or GM's. David was our team leader for the project, so I was chosen to be his executive taxi...kidding. After spending close to $50 in parking fees downtown we made some headway (I apparently decided against reading any parking lot signage that stated the hourly rates of over $4.00 an hour, ridiculous just like the parking at school).

The presentations to these restaurants took only about 15-20 minutes at the max. La Loma's took a little longer, but that is just because we had a very hospitable host that insisted we try a round of organic margaritas, which were delicious (yes we are both over 21). We tried to refuse (maybe....), but the GM, Jorge, insisted we try them. An organic margarita? Yeah, everything is organic- the limes, sugar, salt, ice, and apparently the tequila. I have a hard time thinking that tequila is organic though, but either way. it was a delicious tasting of what La Loma has to offer. Then Jorge talked with us about where tequila comes from and how it differs from region to region. This dude knows his tequila and probably should be on the TV show "Three Sheets" on the MOJO HD channel. On a side note, La Loma has great food, so try it. To begin to sum things up and to not drag this blog on any longer, my team closed the deal with 3 AWESOME restaurants (I included some shout outs):

1. Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian food - awesome owner Zewditu!)


2. Imperial Chinese (Chinese food - Thanks Johnny Hsu!)
   
3. Qdoba (Mexican food - Giedre thanks for going above and beyond the pre-approved list by COPAN and thanks to Doug Thielan!)

We also had many other potential participants and 2 other restaurants in the works to join up with the Smart Meal Program:

1. Illegal Pete's (Pete Turner (owner) is getting the whole menu evaluated for nutritional content)


2. Jack-N-Grill (Jack Martinez (owner) is revamping his menu to include nutritional options and the food is all locally sourced, so he is being lean and green in his operations!

I honestly would try to dine at all the restaurants listed below because David and I tried to. After gaining an additional 10 lbs from dining everywhere we attempted to contact or presented to, we learned that we were not promoting the Smart Meal program in the appropriate light with the gorging of our bodies with trying all the food. Now, luckily for us, we know which places have nutritional options for us to select and nosh on without any worries because TEAM 5280 CLOSERS have been able to gain more participants in the wonderful Smart Meal Challenge.

Since the gorging of food sampling and tasting, David and I have both dropped the weight. My motivation was the USA Olympic Training facility tour we had as our reward for winning the challenge. There were these little guys that were ripped like mini-Conan the Barbarians and they were flipping, swinging, back-axle-toe grabbing-iron-cross holding monsters. Being 6'3 and an unmentionable manly weight, I felt that these guys could hold their own if I were to charge at them. America - we are looking pretty solid at gaining some Gold in the gymnastics area of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Oh, and our Olympic Pentathlon host and tour guide, Mr. Eli Bremer, is ready to shock the world with his skills in shooting, fencing, horseback riding, swimming, running, and overall badass-ness (is that a word?, it should be..). I got his limited edition Olympic trading card, signed...oh yeah! Its going on Ebay to help pay for my overly priced books this semester...kidding, it is not, unless I see someone trying to bid on one for over $1000 (hey, remember I am still a business man).

Anyways, it is getting late. Ben and Kaleigh, I will send some future shout outs your way soon in my future blogs. Everyone else, dine at the list below and enjoy the pictures. HUGE thanks goes out to Kaiser Permanente, COPAN, LiveWell, Metro Alumni Association, Mr. Derek Anguilm, Mr. Jeffrey Howard, Eli Bremer, and my TEAM, the 5280 CLOSERS! **please que music from Queen, "We are the Champions"

Skiddly-DOO!

· Imperial Chinese
431 S Broadway
Phone: (303) 698-2800

· La Loma
2527 W 26th
Denver, CO 80211
Phone: (303) 433-8300

· Queen of Sheba
7225 E Colfax AveDenver, CO 80220(303) 399-9442

· Las Delicias
439 E 19th Ave
Phone: (303) 839-5675

· Zengo
1610 Little Raven StDenver, CO 80202Phone: (720) 904-0965

· Illegal Pete’s
1530 16th St. # 101
Denver, CO
Phone: (303) 623-2169

· Jack & Grill
2524 Federal Blvd
Denver, CO
Phone: (303) 964-9544

· Paramount Café
501 16th StDenver, CO 80202Phone: (303) 893-2000