One aspect that makes Boulder, Colorado such a singular place is its culinary industry. Restaurants in our town are innovative, inviting, and unforgettable. For today’s post in our #MyBoulderSummer series, we’re highlighting the people changing the way we think about the hospitality industry.
Danette & Bobby Stuckey
Danette and Bobby Stuckey are some of the professionals responsible for bringing to life Boulder favorites Frasca and Pizzeria Locale. This powerhouse couple has been creating wonderful new dining experiences around for over a decade. Frasca brings Friulano cuisine to Boulder, along with the wine list curated by Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey. The two aim to redefine quality, community, and luxury at their restaurants by focusing on going above and beyond customer expectations.
Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson & Cristin Napier
Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson co-founded Frasca and Pizzeria Locale with his good friend Bobby Stuckey, and Cristin Napier worked in management for the restaurant group. In-between the creation and management of two restaurants, Lachlan and Bobby developed their own wine label, Scarpetta Wine, based off the Friuli region they love so much. Lachlan is one of the most talented chefs around, having won numerous awards including: Food & Wine Magazine‘s Best New Chef of 2005; James Beard Foundation Award’s Best Chef: Southwest, 2008; and a season of competition on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”
Elliott & Annie Toan
Arcana explores America’s culinary history while maintaining farm-to-table integrity. Elliott and Annie are dedicated to taking patrons on a culinary adventure and building new relationships with customers and suppliers alike. Elliott also serves on the board of Conscious Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting struggling communities through hunger relief and youth empowerment. The couple is succeeding at providing Boulder with a restaurant that is full of whimsy and history; one that takes culinary risks by exploring American history through its menu.
Hosea Rosenberg
Hosea Rosenberg is Boulder’s own Top Chef. He’s an award-winning pillar of the culinary community with both Blackbelly and Santo under his belt. He frequents the Boulder Farmers Market, champions other local restaurants, and is dedicated to sustainability both inside and outside the kitchen. Blackbelly changed the game by providing Boulder with its only artisanal butcher shop that is licensed to make and sell its own cured and fermented meats. Santo continues to trailblaze by updating New Mexican dishes while using local producers.
Rayme Rossello
Rayme is one of Boulder’s preeminent restaurateurs. She opened Proto Pizza in 1999, revolutionized the Boulder food truck industry with the Comida Food Truck nicknamed Tina, and continues to delight taste-buds everywhere with the Comida franchise. For Tina’s menu, Rayme combined her favorite Southern staples with flavors she loved from her childhood visits to Mexico. She is a powerhouse in the industry because of her history: she’s worked every job in the restaurant, and loves to stay involved.
Rose Votta
Rose has been a staple of the Boulder restaurant industry for over a decade. Her magnanimous presence at Frasca resulted in a promotion that was celebrated by the entire community. Her dedication to creating an unmatched dining experience is just part of the reason why everyone in Boulder loves her. The other part is that she’s a friendly face who cares about her customers and a community in a way that’s tangible every time you see her.
Bryan Dayton
Bryan Dayton is one of the masterminds behind Oak at Fourteenth. He is a nationally-renown mixologist whose creativity behind the bar is unmatched. His fifteen years of experience pays off in masterful libations that have won him awards all around the country. He crafts cocktails with seasonal Colorado ingredients, making him the quintessential Boulder mixologist.
Brett & Jennifer Zimmerman
Brett & Jennifer Zimmerman are the current owners of Boulder Wine Merchant and the founders of the Boulder Burgundy Festival. Brett is a Master Sommelier, one of 250 in the world. The Colorado native got his start in Boulder, and returned after several years learning from the best in the industry around the country. His true passion has always been wine, so he left the restaurant industry to focus on earning his designation as a Master Sommelier. He and Jennifer started the Boulder Burgundy Festival to celebrate the industry and share their knowledge.
The innovators on this list are redefining the Boulder food and wine industry. Stay tuned for influencers in other industries as our #MyBoulderSummer series continues. Don’t forget, all summer long, post pictures to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and use the hashtag #MyBoulderSummer to be entered into our random, no-contest giveaways! For more information, please read this post.