Bailey Dolce
Colorado native Bailey began his hospitality career at 18 and has spent nearly two decades in the industry, building experience in serving, bartending, bar management, and creating original cocktails and zero-proof drinks for menus. His hospitality journey has taken him throughout Colorado, from the heart of Denver to the foothills. Creativity and genuine connection are […]
Ben Strobel
Ben Strobel is the lead bartender at Nora’s, a speakeasy in Louisville, CO. There he brings warm and personal hospitality to a bar program that prides itself on unorthodox and inventive cocktailing. Beyond the bar, Ben was born and raised in Colorado and went to Northern Arizona University for an undergraduate degree in geology. He […]
Dustin Tran
Dustin Tran has been bartending in the greater Denver area for over 12 years and currently works with Intoxicology Mobile Mixology, doing events all over Colorado. Born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota, he has lived on the Front Range since 2008. He currently resides in Aurora with his husband, dog, and their backyard […]
Reeves Brown
Greetings, fellow germs. As a backwoods kid, I am honored to be a part of Denver’s Food & Wine cocktail competition. Having grown up in Tennessee, I took inspiration from the Georgia peach for my presented cocktail. With Blackland rye whiskey as my base spirit, I created a peaches-&-cream themed cocktail, substituting marshmallow root for cream. Similar […]
Scott Ruggerio
Scott Ruggiero has over a decade of restaurant and bar experience starting from a neighborhood bistro, advancing to running prestigious bar programs in Kansas City and Colorado. His focus on education led him to become a Certified Sommelier, earn a Certified Spirit Specialist Certificate, and complete the Bar 5 program. In addition to his certifications, […]
Allen Allen | African Caribbean Palate
African Caribbean Palate is a family tradition rooted in the legacy of my grandmother, Evelyn “Evo” Martin, from Trinidad and Tobago. Known for her delicious food, desserts, and sauces, she passed down her cherished recipes through generations. While studying in university, I traveled to West Africa and was inspired by the rich culinary traditions that […]
Sebastian Zydek
Sebastian Zydek has been bartending for 14 years and still loves everything about the craft. He currently works at Rosalee’s Pizzeria in Longmont, home to what he considers some of Colorado’s best pizza. Sebastian is no stranger to the Shake + Brake Showdown, having competed in 2018, placed third in 2019, returned in 2022, and […]
Hap Cameron | Happy Cones
Happy Cones brings New Zealand-style ice cream to Colorado with their delicious food truck. This is owner Hap Cameron’s story: My first job as a 10-year-old was picking berries at my local berry farm in my home town of Nelson, New Zealand. With my first paycheck, I sat with my father at the berry farm […]
Lucas Doverspike and Matt Faurot | Radical Sasquatch
Lucas Doverspike and Matt Faurot started Radical Sasquatch Dumpling Company in 2017 to show people how versatile and wide ranging the dumpling can be. With so many different cultural styles and flavors to play around with, it is fun and easy to get creative with new and delicious combinations of fillings, dough and cooking methods. […]
So All May Eat (SAME) Café
SAME Café is a nonprofit community café in Denver, Colorado, founded by Brad and Libby Birky, who invested their savings to create a place where everyone could eat a healthy meal regardless of ability to pay. The name is an acronym for “So All May Eat”, and its motto is “healthy food access for all.” Learn more.
