Dining for Doug
Benefiting The Center and Rainbow Alley
January 15, 2008

Thank you to everyone who participated in Dining for Doug 2008! With 14 Denver restaurants participating we raised thousands of dollars for The Center! Please make a point of dining out at one of our supporting restaurants at your next opportunity.

About Dining for Doug

Doug Fleischmann was a well-known, respected Denver restaurateur for many years. When he was tragically killed in a car accident, Gabby Gourmet and friends joined forces to keep Doug's memory alive. Each year on the Tuesday closest to Doug's birthday, several Denver area restaurants donate 15% of their food sales to a local non profit. To date, Dining for Doug has raised over $108,000. This year, all proceeds will go to the Center and Rainbow Alley.

Doug inspired and challenged Denver's restaurant scene with his infectious smile, unfaltering warmth and genuine passion for the industry. His influence at Strings, Mel's, Starfish, Mizuna and Luca d'Italia was part of the success of the restaurants. While a tragic car accident took Doug's life in 2003, his memory continues in the restaurants and people he touched along the way.

A sign tacked to Mizuna's office wall reads: "People don''t remember what you say, they remember how you make them feel." Doug placed it there when he ran the restaurant's dining room. "I want people to feel comfortable," he once told a journalist. It is that sensitivity to his guests that made Doug one of Colorado''s premier restaurateurs. Chef Frank Bonanno says of his late partner: "Mizuna is the house that Doug built." The interior design, Doug''s artwork and highly polished waitstaff convey his timeless elegance and flair.

From his start at Chateau Pyrenees to his later positions at Café Giovanni, The Brown Palace, Strings, Mel's, Starfish and finally Mizuna and Luca D'Italia, Doug's warm smile, passion for life, dedication to his job and infectious good spirit have immortalized him in Denver's restaurant community.

Participating Restaurants
Mizuna
Mel’s-Greenwood Village
Osteria Marco
Mel’s Bistro on 6th
Luca d’Italia
Strings
Barollo Grill
Mel’s Agave Grill
Panzano
Piatti
Vesta Dipping Grill
Stueben’s
Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge
Fruition