Johnny Curiel
Alma Fonda Fina
Born into a family of chefs in Guadalajara, Mexico, Johnny Curiel began his culinary journey at age 14 in his father’s restaurant. He deepened his roots with an immersive culinary exploration across Mexico, learning from bustling restaurants, street vendors, and abuelas’ kitchens. Drawing on these formative experiences, he joined Chef Richard Sandoval’s team and cooked […]
Jeff “Smoke” Smokevitch
Blue Pan Pizza
Jeff “Smoke” Smokevitch is widely recognized as one of the best Pizzaiolo’s in the industry, with several national and international awards. He refined his craft under legendary Pizzaiolo, Master Instructor, author, and 11-time World Champion, Tony Gemignani. Smoke is a member Gemignani’s World Pizza Champions team, in addition to being an assistant instructor at Gemignani’s […]
Elise Wiggins
Cattivella
Chef Elise Wiggins always dreamed of creating a restaurant where she would be sole owner. After many years cultivating her culinary skills with study in Italy and management chops, she finally opened Cattivella. Cattivella — which means mischievous young girl — started out of the gate in 2017 with rave reviews from local food critics […]
Jean-Philippe Failyau
Perdida Kitchen
Jean-Philippe Failyau is the Chief Executive Officer at Gastamo Group, one of Denver’s most celebrated restaurant groups and one of America’s top 25 restaurant groups named by Nation’s Restaurant News. Seeing a need for more casual dining in Denver, Philippe was inspired to open Park Burger in 2009 — which was only the beginning of […]
Jason Ganahl
G-Que Barbeque
Jason Ganahl, founder G-Que Barbeque, is a celebrated figure in the world of barbecue. Jason has built a reputation as one of the most versatile pit masters in the country; there isn’t anything he hasn’t done in barbecue! As a competitor, he is a KCBS-certified barbecue judge and has won a combination of 19 Grand […]
The Block Distilling Co.
The Block Distilling Co. is the brainchild of Kraig, Kameron, and Michelle Weaver. Kraig and Kameron are brothers. Kraig and Michelle are married. During college, the brothers always brought bottles of whiskey to the parties because they were never beer drinkers, and you could say it all started there. Years later, when the opportunity presented […]
Yasu and Toshi Kizaki
Sushi Den
Sushi Den’s Chef’s Table is meant for adult “foodies” who are open to all types of dishes and trying new things. Guests who are “into” sushi tend to appreciate this choice, as the Chef selects the best of the daily catch for these private dinners. Chef’s Table currently takes place seated at the counter in Sushi […]
Chase Devitt
Boychik Stanley Marketplace
Minneapolis-born Chase Devitt hadn’t considered a career as a chef until he attended the University of Colorado Boulder and got a job as a short-order cook at local favorite, the Dark Horse. It was then he had his “a-ha” moment, realizing he’d rather be in the kitchen than behind a desk. After graduating in 2005, […]
Bobby Stuckey
Frasca Hospitality Group
As a founder of James Beard Foundation Award-winning and Michelin-Starred Frasca Hospitality Group, Bobby Stuckey is one of the most decorated and respected operators and Master Sommeliers in the industry. A life-long hospitalian, Bobby began his distinguished restaurant career in his home state of Arizona. Over the course of almost four decades, Bobby has worked […]
Ni and Anna Nguyen
Sắp Sửa
Chefs Ni and Anna Nguyen began their culinary careers early — Ni in his mom’s restaurant and Anna at the Little Bird Bakeshop. They met at culinary school in San Jose, California, where the dream of Sắp Sửa began developing. Many years later, they moved back to Denver, to get Sắp Sửa open in the […]
