After seeing Steuben’s most recent TikTok, OFM caught up with the executive pastry chef of Secret Sauce Food & Beverage (Ace Eat Serve, Steuben’s Uptown and Steuben’s Arvada), Michael Kurowski, aka “The Sugar Daddy,” and the “Virtual Sherpa” and creative visionary, Annavieve Regan, media manager of Secret Sauce Food & Beverage, to learn more about the Steuben’s Uptown and Arvada Pride Month specials fundraiser. Secret Sauce Food & Beverage will be donating 100 percent of their Pride menu specials proceeds to the Center on Colfax from June 23 to June 29. The Center on Colfax is a Denver-based, LGBTQ resource that provides various free services, targeted programs, and hosts enriching cultural events for the community. What provoked secret sauce to come up with this fundraiser? Michael: Supporting the community is core to who we are and how our company operates. Secret Sauce Food & Beverage has engaged with, and truly partnered with, the community for nearly 25 years. Vesta, which closed last year, opened in 1997 and hosted an annual charity event that supported Urban Peak. Steuben’s Uptown has carried on the tradition of giving back by hosting an annual Toy Drive to benefit kids in Denver Housing Authority and Ace Eat Serve hosts an annual Wings & Whiskey event that benefits Denver Housing Authority’s Youth Culinary Academy. With the support of our community we are able to create, promote – and sell out of – specials that support the work of organizations in the Denver-metro area, like Urban Peak, Denver Housing Authority, Denver Health, Chow for Champions in Arvada, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and through the Pride menu specials, The Center’s Rainbow Alley. Why do you think it’s important to be an ally for the LGBTQ community? Michael: As a gay man and ally, I feel it’s important to unite in support of one another within the community and for each other as allies. We want it to be equal for everybody. Anna: Steuben’s Uptown is within a strong LGBTQ community as well as adjacent to one in Capitol Hill. Outside of proximity, it’s our responsibility as a company – and as humans living and working in these communities – to be an ally to ensure all of our guests are heard, seen, and feel welcome. What inspired you to create these decadent, rainbow treats? Michael: I knew I wanted to create a rainbow cake for Pride, but I also knew I wanted to elevate the idea. The six-layer cake with vanilla frosting, splash of sprinkles and white chocolate dripping down the side, we’re serving up a fun, extra-decadent take on a classic Pride-themed cake. In addition to the cake, I wanted to share a few different options – all very colorful, but perhaps some a bit more bite-sized – that would pop out at guests. In addition to a rainbow cake, we have Fruity Pebble Rice Crispy Treats, and rainbow bread. How does it feel to advocate for your community? Anna: It is our honor and truly a privilege to advocate for the community in a way that also lets us share what we love – delicious food. The specials Michael created will not only bring joy to those enjoying them, but our guests can feel good about purchasing the cake, the Rice Crispy treat or the bread knowing that 100% of the sales from these specials will go to The Center on Colfax. It feels great to give back and say thank you in this way to an organization that provides a wide variety of important services. Does being openly gay in the pastry industry influence your sweet treats ideations? Michael: While I wouldn’t say there’s an influence on my ideations, I will say that I do feel supported and encouraged in my role as executive pastry chef to create incredible sweet treats that can benefit organizations we care strongly about. What does it mean for you to contribute 100 percent of proceeds in donating to the Center on Colfax? Michael: I am blown away that we’re able to contribute 100% of proceeds to The Center on Colfax. It’s great to work for a company that is choosing to put 100% of these sales back into the community. Anna: It’s because of our community choosing to dine in, takeout, or opt for delivery with us that Steuben’s is able to create specials like this one. We’re thankful for this opportunity to give back by enjoying a delicious sweet treat that benefits a good cause. How did you come up with these house-made Pride specials? Michael: When I’m not at my pastry station creating sweet and savory treats, I’m on Instagram, Pinterest, or everyone’s newest guilty pleasure TikTok, looking for inspiration.
Have you previously done any Pride-related treats? Michael: I’ve created a few Pride desserts in the past, but nothing to this extent. In my role as Executive Pastry Chef, I’m able to branch out and use my creativity to come up with treats like these. It’s a great bonus that giving back is such a huge part of the fabric of the company, so not only do I get to develop fun creations, I also get to support the community. What does it mean to you to be queer and be in an executive roll? Michael: I don’t correlate my sexuality [with] where I stand in my professional career. I’m a strong, motivated and hardworking individual, and I’m honored to use my platform to support the community through opportunities like this.
Anything else you’d like to add? Michael: I can promise you that nothing is store-bought. We start with all the raw ingredients and create unique and delicious sweet treats that you can trust will hit your sweet tooth every time. There’s no store-bought anything. We bake a cake from flour and eggs, all the way to the finished product of being an assembled cake, so nothing is store-bought with us. We pride ourselves on homemade and quality. Anna: Steuben’s prides itself on being a scratch kitchen, which means that Michael and his team make each sweet treat by hand. Everything is made from love, and that feels true to what Pride Month is all about:, love is love. Stop by Steuben’s Uptown or Steuben’s Arvada to spoil thyself with delicious Pride specials while supporting the LGBTQ community! Available at Steuben’s Uptown through June 29 and at Steuben’s Arvada through June 27.
