DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS’ CATERING COMPANY NAMED “CATERING COMPANY OF THE YEAR”

DENVER— Event Solutions Magazine’s 2009 Spotlight Award for Catering Company of the Year has been awarded to Catering by Design, the Gardens’ provider of catering for events, meetings, programs and other culinary needs at the Gardens – including a new bistro, scheduled to open in early summer of this year.

The Gardens’ new bistro will offer a variety of healthy, affordable organic food choices for breakfast on-the-go, lunch and even dinner. Seasonal menus will reflect the Gardens’ core value of sustainability with organic food offerings that contain local ingredients, whenever possible. The goal of the bistro is to create a dining destination for Denverites in one of the most beautiful urban “back yards” in the city.

Event professionals from across the country selected the nine finalists for Event Solutions Magazine’s award. Voting online by the national event community determined that Catering by Design was worthy of the 2009 Spotlight Award statue.

“We are so very proud of this honor and recognition, and will strive to bring our award-winning food design to visitors at Denver Botanic Gardens starting this summer,” said Cade Nagy, executive chef and owner of Catering by Design. “I am extremely proud of our entire staff. These people are truly the ones who got us to this point. Without these talented people, none of this is possible.”

In addition, the company was nominated for three other awards: Chef of the Year (Nagy), by the International Caterers Association (ICA); Western Region Caterer of the Year, by Catersource Magazine; and Best Collaborated Event, by the International Caterers Association.

“Catering by Design is an important part of the visitor experience at Denver Botanic Gardens,” said Brian Vogt, CEO of the Gardens. “We are pleased to know that, in addition to the allure that makes Denver Botanic Gardens a world-class tourist destination, our guests have the opportunity to enjoy world-class food and service from one of the best catering companies in the country, right here.”

Catering by Design is owned by Ingrid and Cade Nagy. A two-time silver medal winner at the U.S. Chef’s Open, Cade Nagy is very proud to be affiliated and active with the International Caterers Association, Colorado Chefs Association (CCA), the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and the Seasoned Chef Cooking School, where he’s been teaching since 1997. Ingrid, director of sales and CFO, has more than 15 years of experience in the catering industry and is active in the event community. She has served on the board of directors for the Denver Chapter of International Special Events Society (ISES) since 2003.

About Denver Botanic Gardens:
Green inside and out, the Gardens is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Gardens’ living collections encompass specimens from the tropics to the tundra, showcasing a plant palette chosen to thrive in Colorado’s semi-arid climate. The Gardens' dynamic, 23-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city is now in its 50th year, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class education and plant conservation research programs. Additional sites at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, a 750-acre wildlife and native plant refuge in Jefferson County; and Mount Goliath, a high-altitude trail and interpretive site on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, extend this experience throughout the Front Range. For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500.

Contacts:

Will Jones, 720-865-3552
Jonesw@botanicgardens.org

Lyn Berry-Helmlinger, 720-865-3545
BerryHL@botanicgardens.org