Parker: Chef surprised by hotel's statement that he plans to leave town

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 18, 2006 at midnight

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Rollie Wesen, the highly touted but short- time chef of the $5 million Summit at the Broadmoor Hotel, was surprised to read in this column that the reason the top toque and the restaurant parted company was so he and his wife, Claudine Pepin, could move back east to be closer to Claudine's famous father, Jacques Pepin.

That was the official statement from the hotel's PR person, but it was news to Wesen.

"The separation was really more a matter of creative differences," Wesen said.

"There are a lot of challenges in opening a new restaurant, and as a team we were not able to overcome all of those challenges."

Wesen went on to say that while the couple might consider heading east in the future, for now he'd rather find a job working in a kitchen in Denver or the greater metro area.

Wife Claudine says she is sick about having to sell the Colorado Springs home they can no longer afford. "I'm very saddened by this situation both personally and professionally."

BRONCOS BET: Rocky Mountain News cartoonist Ed Stein has made a wowsa wager on the outcome of Sunday's Broncos-Steelers AFC Championship game. Stein put up one of his original drawings against the same stake from fellow cartoonist pal Rob Rogers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"It will be a drawing of my choice when the Steelers lose, and his choice if by some improbable twist of fate the Broncos don't prevail," Stein said.

WE'RE NO. 1: You can bet Rich Grant's grinning. The Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau booster got a hot tip that Hotwire.com has named Denver the top city for overall value to visitors.

"This is great news for us," said Grant who never met a Denver media mention that he didn't like. The Hotwire Value Travel Index bases its rankings on three categories: discounts offered to travelers, low published-rate prices and affordable entertainment and outdoor attractions.

GAME ON: Rocky Mountain News video game expert Brian Crecente will be a guest bartender from 6-8 tonight at the Denver Press Club, along with David Thomas, who writes a video gaming column for the Denver Post. Drink specials include The Tomb Raider. There also will be video games on the big screen, including a new game called Guitar Hero, which lets you play lead guitar in your own rock 'n' roll band.

THE SEEN: Former Mayor Wellington Webb and wife, Wilma, arriving in Phoenix on a Frontier flight Monday afternoon.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at the Stock Show: "We're dropping all our G's today, and I'm thinkin' about spellin' everything with a K (as in the sign that says Kolorado Karaoke)."

parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

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