The KGB Burger from D Bar Desserts

Denver, it’s time to start the countdown to seven days of indulgently cheesy burgers! Next Saturday, celebrate the arrival of the Loaf Love Tour with some of the best burgers in Denver for Tillamook Burger Week. During Burger Week, which runs from June 23 to June 30, four local burger hotspots will offer a unique burger special featuring award-winning Tillamook Cheese.

Participating Restaurants:

D Bar Desserts
Celebrity and Tillamook Kitchen chef Keegan Gerhard was named one of the nation’s top 10 pastry chefs. This year Tillamook is putting his talents to the test to create the ultimate burger. This is one you won’t want to miss.

• KGB 2.0 – Kobe beef, Applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, and Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese, served on a Cheesy waffle stuffed with Pimento cheese. ($12)

Rackhouse Pub
Always featuring local, fresh ingredients, and over 60 world-class whiskeys, Rackhouse Pub makes bar food better. Stay awhile, and maybe even get a little saucy with their Burger Week special.

• The Saucy – Premium certified Angus beef cooked mid-rare to medium, topped with onion, mushroom, and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese sauce. ($11)

The Funky Tilla-monkey Burger from Steuben's

Steuben’s
Steuben’s has comfort food perfected. This popular spot featuring all your childhood favorites is now offering a burger we guarantee your mother never made you.

• The Funky Tilla-monkey Burger – A Steuben’s burger topped with Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese, bacon, crispy romaine lettuce, and banana pepper pico de gallo. Served on a locally made brioche bun. ($9)

Freshcraft
The three brothers Lucas, Aaron, and Jason Forgy created Freshcraft as a place to relax and enjoy cold drinks and delicious food made from scratch. But most importantly, they know how to make an epic burger.

• Tri Pepper Caribbean Burger – House ground lamb and pork Juicy Lucy, stuffed with Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese, topped with Scotch bonnet sofrito and plantain chips, served on a roasted jalapeño bun. ($10.50)

By SodaPopPR

Show your Tillamook pride at the Denver Zoo!

We’re rolling out of the Lone Star State and heading to the Mile High City! We’re kicking off our time in Denver with the Loaf Love Tour at Denver Zoo on Sunday, June 10. Stop by to see us between 9am and 5pm to enjoy yummy cheese samples, play games and get Tillamook goodies!

Don’t forget to pick out your outfit early, because the first 100 fans decked-out in Tillamook Orange will receive free entry to the zoo! Anyone after the first 100 will save $1 off zoo admission. Get ready for a cheesy high five and a hug, because you’ll see me, Loafy, there too!

Our wonderful Loaf Love Tour Brand Ambassadors will be handing out samples of our yummy natural cheeses. Make sure to grab our booklet with Tillamook Cheese coupons and recipes for you and your family.

See you at the Denver Zoo on Sunday, June 10!

You can find a schedule of all of the Loaf Love Tour stops at LoafLoveTour.com!

By Loafy

Our friends from Denver

This is my second year traveling with these awesome Baby Loaf Buses and while they often steal the show … our friendly Brand Ambassadors are some of the most memorable people you’ll ever meet!

One of my favorite stories from the 2011 Loaf Love Tour happened on our day off while in Northern California. We were checking out of hotel in Oakland, CA and all of our staff was dressed in their regular clothes (no awesomely orange Loaf Love t-shirts in sight) when @JamminJason was stopped by another hotel guest. She and her family had met Jason more than a month before at a grocery store over 350 miles away! She recognized him immediately, called her family over to say “hello” and wanted a full update on our travels. Jason remembered her as well and reminisced about the store where they had all met; this is no small feat considering the thousands of people Jason interacts with – often in a grocery store setting! What a small world!

Then just this last week I was at a Kroger store on one of our last  days in Houston and a nice family wandered over to our Baby Loaf Bus. I stopped to chat with them and the first thing said was, “we saw you guys last year in Denver!” Wow! It’s a whole year later, we’re in a different state and they remembered us?!

We’ve just arrived in San Antonio and the only thing I am thinking about is, “which of my old Loaf Love friends will I get to see again soon?” Stop by and see us! The cheese is just as yummy, the smiles just as big, and we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to.

See you around San Antonio!

Susan

Follow me on Twitter @SmilinSusan

By Susan N.

There’s a new chef in the Tillamook Kitchen! We are excited to welcome Denver, Colorado’s Keegan Gerhard and his restaurant, D Bar Desserts. Keegan has created four gourmet recipes using Tillamook products that are easy to make and can help even the newest cooks look like gourmet chefs!

One of my favorite recipes from D Bar is the Pate a Choux. Now, don’t be intimidated by the French. This recipe is simple and really versatile! Keegan walks us through how to use the same Pate a Choux dough 3 ways: one simple and sweet with Chantilly cream, one gooey and chocolately with Tillamook Ice Cream and ganache, and one savory with Tillamook Cheese and herbs! Try eating just one of these little cream puffs – it’s impossible! Watch Keegan prepare all three creations in this video:

If you’re in the mood for a tasty dinner, why not try the KGB Bacon Pimento Cheeseburger? Keegan takes the ordinary burger to a whole ‘nother level with this recipe. Instead of buns, he uses a cheesy waffle, and in place of a slice of cheese, he created a pimento cheese spread. Wowza! Take a look at this video to get your taste buds drooling:

If you think you recognize Keegan from somewhere… you’re right! Not only is Keegan an award winning pastry chef, but he’s also been a host and judge on Food Network series Food Network Challenge. Check out this video of Keegan to learn more about his passion for pastry and his restaurant.

Swing by the Tillamook Kitchen to see all of D Bar Dessert’s recipes, and make sure to visit Keegan at D Bar Desserts whenever you’re in Denver (or soon, in San Diego)! Thanks Keegan for being the newest chef in the Tillamook Kitchen!

By Katie

The Loafster said

I had a very cool opportunity to take a trip to Denver to visit the Loaf Love Tour a couple weeks ago (my usual spot with the Tillamook crew is behind a desk near Portland). While I was there we did all the fun stuff you hear about all the time: an appearance on a local television station, store events and even an event at the Denver Zoo. However, my favorite day was when the Loaf Love Tour and I had the pleasure of visiting The Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base.

Being from Oregon and having lived here my whole life, it’s an infrequent event to see a military person and their family (Oregon only has about 900 active duty military personnel in the whole state). It would be an understatement to say that this was an eye opening and truly moving day. We talked to some of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever met, had a chance to share the Tillamook story with them, and were able to offer them coupons to buy some Tillamook Cheese!

Through my brother-in-law (an officer in the Air Force) I have come to understand and respect the sacrifices the Military Personnel give every single day. They leave their homes to go to bases far away, then leave those homes to go to bases even further away; all the while, sacrificing their lives and freedoms to protect ours. Wow.

This is why I want to send a heartfelt thank you to the folks at The Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base for their willingness to allow us on base and their hospitality while we were there. It was honor to bring some cheese your way!

~ Matt of the Tillamook Team

By Matt

The Loaf Loaf Tour having a lot of fun during Sandwich Week in Los Angeles earlier this year.

We are so excited to be in Denver! Meeting long-time Tillamook fans and making new ones is what the Loaf Love Tour is all about. We still get giddy when someone tastes Tillamook Cheese for the first time. But Sandwich Week takes tasting Tillamook Cheese to a whole new level. To help showcase the flavors, textures and pure fun of Tillamook Cheese, our Loaf Love Tour has partnered with six notable Denver area restaurants. Each restaurant is offering a specialty sandwich featuring award-winning Tillamook Cheese. So grab a map, GPS, smart phone, or personal tour guide and embark on a sandwich adventure!

Participating restaurants:

Denver Biscuit Bus
You can find the Denver Biscuit Bus at these locations during Sandwich Week:

• Tuesday, September 27: Civic Center Eats, 11am-2pm
• Wednesday, September 28: Cherry Creek Farmers Market, 9am-1pm
• Thursday, September 29: Civic Center Eats, 11am-2pm
• Saturday, October 1: Cherry Creek Farmers Market, 8am-1pm; Justice League of Street Food, 5-10pm
• Sunday, October 2: Stapleton Farmers Market, 9am-1pm

Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: The Chicken Cordon Bleuski – Cajun fried chicken, Niman Ranch ham, Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese, local apiary honey butter, all served on one of a gourmet, made from scratch, buttermilk biscuit. ($9) Available during normal business hours.
Twitter: @DenverBiscuitCo
Denver Biscuit Bus on Facebook

Rackhouse Pub
208 S Kalamath
Denver, CO 80223
801.466.6378
Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: Tasso Ham Chedder Melt (lunch) – Tasso Ham, Tillamook Medium Cheddar, heirloom tomato; Whiskey Chili Jack Burger – Whiskey chili, Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese, cracked egg. Served with a side and non-alcoholic beverage. ($10)
Twitter: @RackhousePub
Rackhouse Pub on Facebook

Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen & Cafe
Highlands Location
3930 West 32nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80212
303.477.5400
Crestmoor Location
330 Holly Street
Denver, CO 80220
303.322.5832
Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: The Raleigh – Roast beef, Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, and horseradish mayo on a homemade Southern biscuit. ($4) Also featured, a Biscuit of the Day featuring Tillamook Cheese. Follow Rise & Shine on Twitter each day to find out what the special biscuit will be. Both available during normal business hours: 7am-1pm Monday-Saturday, 8am-1pm Sunday, both locations.
Twitter: @RiseandShineDen
Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen Cafe on Facebook

Masterpiece Delicatessen
1575 Central Street
Denver, CO 80211
303.561.3354
Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: Masterpiece Tillamook Grilled Cheese - Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, Tillamook Pepper Jack, Denver Bacon Company Thick Cut Bacon, smoked turkey, marinated tomato and baby arugula on butter/olive oil toasted artisan white bread. Served with side of house made pasta salad or coleslaw, bag of chips or piece of fruit. ($9.75)
Twitter: @MasterpieceDeli
Masterpiece Delicatessen on Facebook

Hutch and Spoon
3090 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80205
303.296.2317
Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: Meatloaf & Cheddar (lunch only) – Housemade meatloaf sliced with Tillamook Sharp Cheddar and grilled on sourdough with homemade mayonnaise ($7.50). Also, Sausage & Cheddar (breakfast sized portion but available all day) – Locally made Polidori sausage with mayonnaise and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar grilled on whole wheat bread. ($4)
Twitter: @hutchandspoon
Hutch and Spoon on Facebook

Rooster & Moon Coffee Pub
955 Bannock Street, Suite 100
Denver, CO 80204
303.993.2622
Tillamook Sandwich Week Special: The Chutney Larouche (available 10:30am-close) – Melted Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, warm Virginia ham, grilled Red Delicious apple slices and cold dried cranberry-horseradish chutney on toasted deli style Pullman wheat bread. ($8)
Twitter: @RoosterandMoon
Rooster & Moon on Facebook

GROWE Foundation Event (Boulder)
To celebrate the last day of Tillamook Sandwich Week, Chef Hosea Rosenberg will be hosting an educational “Kids Grilled Cheese Workshop” featuring Tillamook Cheese at the GROWE Foundation’s event at The Isabelle Farm Family Day in Boulder on Saturday, October 1st from 3:00–7:00pm. Bring the whole family out to the farm for fabulous food by Boulder’s top chefs, fun kid activities, farm tours and more. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.Growefoundation.org.

By Scott

This past weekend, the Loaf Love Tour made its final zoo appearance of this year’s tour. Our zoo visits have been a favorite event for myself, the other brand ambassadors, and our Tillamook fans — the Denver Zoo was no exception! The first 200 fans that showed up wearing their brightest Tillamook orange were given free admission. Tillamook lovers arrived early to sample tasty cheese while viewing their favorite animals. One of the first orange-clad families we met arrived 45 minutes before the zoo opened. They had planned this event to be a fun outing for their entire extended family. We took a few great pictures of all nine of them in front of our Yum bus.

Many of our fans that have been following the Loaf Love Tour know that we have been cruising in the sun for almost the entire year. In anticipation of returning home in just a few weeks, we decided to bring a little of our Oregon weather with us to Denver. And by a “little”, I mean a full-blown Oregon-like downpour; the kind that keeps the grass at home green and our cows so happy. Yet, even when the zoo animals found shelter from the rain (and so did our Loafster Yum bus!), our dedicated fans never stopped sampling their favorite cheese!! As a brand ambassador, I never cease to be amazed by the dedication, loyalty, and enthusiasm of Tillamook fans. I was also surprised by a few visitors that we weren’t expecting — a resident peacock decided to check us out, and Loafy made an appearance as well! I can’t think of a better way to begin our time in Denver, or a better way to end our tour.

Post by Andrea, Loaf Love Tour Ambassador

By Scott