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Taste the Difference: Summertime Themed Buffet Nights

Not only do Garden of the Gods Club Members get to enjoy the best view in town, but they are also able to cultivate relationships with one another at our themed dinners and wide array of social events. This summer, Garden of the Gods Club Members and their guests can look forward to evenings filled with delicious, themed buffet nights! In June, Members will enjoy a fabulous “All You Can Fish” seafood buffet, featuring fresh seafood selections. In July, All-American ’50s Night will take diners back in time to enjoy classic American dishes like burgers, fries, and milkshakes. And in August, the savory, hearty fare of Western Buffet Night will leave Members and guests wanting more! To take a peek inside these fun, themed buffet nights, we invite you to watch the video below. Warning: Watching the following video may make you want to get up and dance!

Have we piqued your interest in learning more about social dining memberships at Garden of the Gods Club? If so, we invite you to schedule a time to chat with our Membership Director Tracey Kalata. Tracey will be happy to show you around the Club and help you find your place in the Club community. You can reach Tracey at 719.520.4980 or tkalata@ggclub.com.

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5 Benefits of Dining at a Private Country Club

Fresh. Flavorful. Relaxed elegance. These are just a few ways to describe the dining experience at Garden of the Gods Club. Although Colorado Springs offers a wide variety of public restaurants from which to choose, many residents decide to become Social/Dining Members at Garden of the Gods Club in order to enjoy the advantages of private dining. So exactly what are these benefits?

Today, Garden of the Gods Club’s food and beverage director, Erik Pedersen, describes what is so unique about dining at a private country club and why many consider the membership dues to be such a worthwhile investment. If you’ve ever wondered what private dining is like, keep reading to to take a “peek” inside the experience.

The Nelson family enjoys one-of-a-kind views while dining at Garden of the Gods Club.

1. Private dining offers personalized service. “Because social/dining memberships at Garden of the Gods Club include access to exclusive dining and events, the service is very personalized,” Erik explains. “Everybody knows who you are, and staff take note of your preferences in order to consistently deliver individualized service. For example, upon request, we can have your favorite drink or bottle of wine waiting at your table when you arrive for dinner,” he adds, “or reserve your table based on your seating preferences.”  Imagine an experience similar to the one described in the theme song for the classic television show Cheers:

Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot!
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came…

2. Private dining offers personalized menus. “One great thing about private dining at Garden of the Gods Club is that the personalized service can even be applied to the menu,” Erik said. “If there’s an item or dish that you genuinely enjoy, but it is not on the menu, we go out of our way to make it possible.  We will also try to accommodate any ingredient substitutions that are requested.”

3. Garden of the Gods Club Members enjoy dining in community with each other. “[Our] Social/Dining Members enjoy cultivating relationships with other Members and their families. People know each other by name; the Club really is like a social hub,” Erik said. “Families with growing children love the fact that their kids get to know one another at the variety of fun dining and social events.”

4. Private dining includes access to fun events. “Speaking of social dining events, the wide range of events offered by the Club is another perk that Members value,” Erik said. “We have events for nearly everybody. From classy evenings such as our upcoming Frank Sinatra Dinner, to family events like our recent Easter Brunch, Members look forward to savoring our delicious cuisine while enjoying each other’s company.”

5. Social/dining memberships provide networking opportunities. “Another great benefit of private dining is the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals,” Erik explained. “Many of our Members are professionals who make an effort to connect with one another to expand their business networks,” he continued. “Events such as our weekly Partners in Business Lunch are unique opportunities for Members to network with one another.”

Private dining at Garden of the Gods Club is an experience where innovative menus, camaraderie, fun events, and fabulous views combine to provide Members and their families with valued memories. If you are interested in finding your place in the Garden of the Gods Club community, we encourage you to contact membership director Tracey Kalata at 719.520.4980 or tkalata@ggclub.com.

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Featured Spring Menu Recipe: Seared Sesame Yellowfin Tuna

With the lovely spring weather making an appearance more often these days, you may find yourself craving light, healthy fare.  As the spring season is an excellent time to indulge in dishes with lots of bright, zesty flavor, Garden of the Gods Club Executive Chef Steve Weber has created new menus featuring dishes that will leave you wanting more.

Today, we invite you to take a “peek” inside our new spring menus by trying out the following delicious recipe for Seared Sesame Yellowfin Tuna. (Or if you’re a Club Member, let us save you the trouble!  Visit our dining room for dinner, and we’ll prepare this delectable dish for you… and clean up afterward, too.)  This visually impressive, refreshing seafood dish is the perfect way to cap off a gorgeous spring day.  Enjoy!

Seared Sesame Yellowfin Tuna on Garden of the Gods Club’s spring 2013 dinner menu

Seared Sesame Yellowfin Tuna

Ingredients
1 ½-inch piece of yellowfin tuna
1 cup black and white sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 cup snap peas
1 cup drained, canned mandarin oranges
½ cup hoisin sauce
1 oz. sambal olek
½ cup orange juice
1 cup peanuts
½ cup bias-sliced (cut at a roughly 45-degree angle) green onions
½ cup mixed baby greens

To Create
1. Roll the 1.5-inch piece of tuna in the black and white sesame seeds. Quickly sear the outside of the tuna in the sesame oil (use medium-high heat) until the seeds are browned.  Chill the tuna.

2. Stir-fry the snap peas in the same oil until they are crisp and tender. Remove them from the heat.

3. Create a mixture by mixing the mandarin oranges, hoisin sauce, sambal olek, orange juice, peanuts, and green onions. When the green beans are cooled, add them to this mixture. Keep the mixture cool until you are ready to serve the tuna.

4. Arrange the mixed greens in a horizontal line on your dish, and top them with ¼ cup of the cooled mixture. Top the baby greens and mixture with three, half-inch slices of the tuna.

5. Enjoy!

This culinary delight is just one of many that Garden of the Gods Club Members savor on a regular basis. In addition to an assortment of delicious menu items, Members also enjoy a variety of fun, social dining events like our recent Easter Brunch. If you are interested in learning more about your place in the Garden of the Gods Club community, please contact Membership Director Tracey Kalata at 719.520.4980 or tkalata@ggclub.com.