Colorado

Colorado chefs, restaurants snag 13 James Beard Award semifinalist spots

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2024

Colorado chefs, restaurants snag 13 James Beard Award semifinalist spots

The James Beard Foundation released its list of 2024 restaurant and chef award semifinalists today. And like a repeat of last year, Colorado once again snagged 13 nominations for what’s widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the hospitality industry; categories included “outstanding restaurateur,” “best new restaurant,” and “emerging chef.”

Denver chefs like Kelly Whitaker and Penelope Wong reappeared on this year’s list after being overlooked last year. And new faces and places, like MAKfam’s Kenneth Wan and the newly opened Sắp Sửa, are getting their first shot at a prize. A few of the nominees also won Michelin stars in 2023, including Whitaker, Bruto, Beckon and Bosq.

Six of the 20 chefs nominated as the best in the Mountain Region — which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming — are from the Centennial State. The finalists will be announced in April.

Here’s the list of the Colorado semifinalists, who have a chance to make it to the final round of nominees before the annual James Beard Awards Gala in June in Chicago:

Owner Kelly Whitaker is pictured at The Wolf’s Tailor on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Outstanding Restaurateur

Kelly Whitaker, Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and Hey Kiddo), Boulder

Outstanding Chef

Barclay Dodge, Bosq, Aspen

Wait staff tend to the diners ... — Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Wait staff tend to the diners in the quickly filling dining room at Beckon on Oct. 10, 2019 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Outstanding Restaurant

Beckon, Denver

Kenneth Wan and Doris Yuen celebrated the opening of the first full-service restaurant, MAKfam, with a traditional Chinese lion dance. (Photo by Lucy Beaugard)

Emerging Chef

Kenneth Wan, MAKfam, Denver

DENVER, CO - JUNE 24: Owners of Sap Sua restaurant, chefs Anthony and Anna Nguyen give the stamp of approval on a plate just before it leaves the kitchen for a customer June 24, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) — DENVER, CO – JUNE 24: Owners of Sap Sua restaurant, chefs Anthony and Anna Nguyen give the stamp of approval on a plate just before it leaves the kitchen for a customer June 24, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Best New Restaurant

Sắp Sửa, Denver

Owners Alen Ramos, left, and Carolyn Nugent at Poulette Bakeshop in Parker on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop, Parker

Diners eating brunch at Sunday Vinyl, ... — M.Thurk Photography, Provided by Sunday Vinyl
Diners eating brunch at Sunday Vinyl, located by the train platform at Union Station. (M.Thurk Photography, Provided by Sunday Vinyl)

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Sunday Vinyl, Denver

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 11: Co-owner and chef of Molotov Kitschen and Cocktails Bo Porytko, left, talks with co-owner Jareb Parker, right, January 07, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) — DENVER, CO – JANUARY 11: Co-owner and chef of Molotov Kitschen and Cocktails Bo Porytko, left, talks with co-owner Jareb Parker, right, January 07, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Theo Adley, Marigold, Lyons

Diego Coconati, Lucina Eatery & Bar, Denver

Aminata “Ami” Dia and Rougui Dia, Le French, Denver

Bo Porytko, Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Denver

Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge

Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver

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Colorado

Evacuation warning issued for area near wildfire in southwest Boulder

Published

3 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Evacuation warning issued for area near wildfire in southwest Boulder

Updated on: February 28, 2026 / 2:39 PM MST
/ CBS Colorado

Authorities have issued an evacuation warning for homes near a wildfire that broke out in southwest Boulder on Saturday afternoon.

Mountain View Fire Rescue

Just before 1 p.m., Boulder Fire Rescue said a wildfire sparked in the southwest part of Boulder’s Chautauqua neighborhood. The Bluebell Fire is currently estimated to be approximately five acres in size, and more than 50 firefighters are working to bring it under control. Mountain View Fire Rescue is assisting Boulder firefighters with the operation.

Around 1:30, emergency officials issued an evacuation warning to the residents in the area of Chatauqua Cottages. Residents in the area should be prepared in case they need to evacuate suddenly.

Chatauqua evcuation warning area

Boulder Fire Rescue
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Officials have ordered the DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) and Type 1 helicopter to assist in firefighting efforts. Boulder Fire Rescue said the fire has a moderate rate of spread and no containment update is available at this time.

Red Flag warnings remain in place for much of the Front Range as windy and dry conditions persist.

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Colorado

Two-alarm fire damages hotel in Estes Park, 1 person taken to a Colorado hospital

Published

15 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Two-alarm fire damages hotel in Estes Park, 1 person taken to a Colorado hospital

Updated on: February 27, 2026 / 10:26 PM MST
/ CBS Colorado

A two-alarm fire damaged a hotel in Estes Park on Friday night. It happened at Expedition Lodge Estes Park just north of Lake Estes.

The lodge, located at 1701 North Lake Avenue on the east side of the Colorado mountain town, was evacuated after 8:30 p.m. and the fire chief said by 10 p.m. the fire was under control.

CBS

One person was hurt and taken to a hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. So far it’s not clear how much damage it caused.

A total of 25 firefighters fought the blaze.

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Colorado

Warm storm delivers modest totals to Colorado’s northern mountains

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Warm storm delivers modest totals to Colorado’s northern mountains

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area recorded 8.5 inches of snow through Friday morning.
Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Friday morning wrapped up a warm storm across Colorado’s northern and central mountains, bringing totals of up to 10 inches of snowfall for several resorts.

Higher elevation areas of the northern mountains — particularly those in and near Summit County and closer to the Continental Divide — received the most amount of snow, with Copper, Winter Park and Breckenridge mountains seeing among the highest totals.

Meanwhile, lower base areas and valleys received rain and cloudy skies, thanks to a warmer storm with a snow line of roughly 9,000 feet.

Earlier this week, OpenSnow meteorologists predicted the storm’s snow totals would be around 5-10 inches, closely matching actual totals for the northern mountains. The central mountains all saw less than 5 inches of snow.

Here’s how much snow fell between Wednesday through Friday morning for some Western Slope mountains, according to a Friday report from OpenSnow:

Aspen Mountain: 0.5 inches

Snowmass: 0.5 inches

Copper Mountain: 10 inches

Winter Park: 9 inches

Breckenridge Ski Resort: 9 inches

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area: 8.5 inches

Keystone Resort: 8 inches

Loveland Ski Area: 7 inches

Vail Mountain: 7 inches

Steamboat Resort: 6 inches

Beaver Creek: 6 inches

Irwin: 4.5 inches

Cooper Mountain: 4 inches

Sunlight: 0.5 inches

Friday and Saturday will be dry, while Sunday will bring northern showers. The next storms are forecast to be around March 3-4 and March 6-7, both favoring the northern mountains.

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