What’s Happening at Cooking Matters Colorado?

Many thanks to our Executive Chef Sponsor, Seattle Fish Company, Gold Whisk Sponsor, Sysco, and to our many Silver Spatula Sponsors:  The Colorado Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Poudre Valley Health Services, Presbyterian St. Lukes, Sterling Rice Group, Meesner and Reeves, Republic National Distributiing Company, Johnson & Wales, UMB, IMA OCRA, Kitchen Table and 34 Degrees, Dave and Lisa Coder, Andy and Lisa Nowaks, David and Krista Roberts, Michael and Theresa Leede and to all of the incredibly talented chefs (listed below), to our dedicated volunteers and to an amazing commitee: James Iacino (Chair), Dave Coder, Kim Paine, Leigh Sullivan, Travis Plakke, Brian Melton, Kristina Reilly, Steph Jones, Aaron Einhorn, Mimi Bau, Lauren Atkins, Courtney Thompson and Rebeccal Lindbery - ALL of who helped to make Colorado Chefs Up Front such a huge success!

For those of you who missed the event, Chefs Up Front is Colorado’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to
making sure no kid grows up hungry. This year 30 of the state’s top chefs  will donate their time, talent, and passion to prepare and exquisite dinner tableside  for patrons, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds to empower low  income families with the skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare healthy  and affordable meals.

Chefs Up Front puts the focus on chefs. The evening kicks off with a light reception  featuring fine wines, local beers and craft cocktails. Patrons then enjoy a  plated multi-course dinner cooked tableside. Tables of ten are treated to a  special menu highlighting the chef’s artistry and skill. To reflect the  statewide inroads of Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters Colorado by hosting a  single culinary event that will showcase chefs from across the state.

Participating Chefs for this year’s event included:

  • Pete List, Beatrice & Woodsley, Denver
  • Carmen Callo, Centerplate, Denver
  • Ian Clark, Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace, Boulder
  • Michael Drazsnazak, Colterra, Niwot
  • Tom Coohill, Coohill’s, Denver
  • Jeff Russell, District Meats, Denver
  • Simon Purvis, EDGE at Four Seasons, Denver
  • Tyler Wiard, Elway’s Cherry Creek, Denver
  • Paul C. Reilly, Encore on Colfax, Denver
  • Brunella Gaulerzi, Il Bistro Italiano, Grand Junction
  • Andrea Frizzi, Il Posto, Denver
  • Shelia Lucero & Adam Watts, Jax Fish House, Denver & Boulder
  • Jenna Johansen, Professional Chef Denver
  • Sergio Romero, Le Grand Bistro and Oyster Bar, Denver
  • Daniel Asher, Linger & Root Down, Denver
  • Jamey Fader, LoLa, Denver
  • Hunter Pritchett, Luca D’Italia, Denver
  • Kelly Liken, Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail
  • Stephen McCray, Mizuna, Denver
  • Steve Redzikowski – Oak at Fourteenth
  • Mary Nguyen, Parallel Seventeen/Street Kitchen Asian Bistro, Denver
  • Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja, Denver
  • Jensen Cummings, Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar, Denver
  • Kevin Kidd, Salt, Boulder
  • Troy Guard, TAG / TAG RAW, Denver
  • Theo Adley, The Pinyon, Boulder
  • Samir Mohammad, The Village Cork, Denver
  • Jeff Osaka – Twelve Restaurant, Denver
  • Steve Weber, Walter’s Bistro, Colorado Springs
  • Aaron Whitcomb, Yia Yia’s Euro Café, Greenwood Village

Participating Mixologists include:

  • Alexandra Parks – Green Russell, Denver
  • Marnie Ward – Avenue Grill, Denver
  • Bryan Dayton – OAK at Fourteenth, Boulder
  • Jimmy Zanon – LoLa, Denver
  • Jesse Mychals – Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar, Denver

Reception Participants include:

  • Il Mondo Vecchio
  • The Infinite Monkey Theorem
  • Rocky Mountain Soda
  • Great Divide Brewery
  • Leigh Sullivan Enterprise

This event could not be possible without the support of our sponsors: