Latest news with #JoshNiernberg
Eater
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Boulder Italian Restaurant Just Won Its Fourth James Beard Award
The James Beard Foundation (JBF) Awards swept Chicago into a frenzy on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera. Of all the Colorado contestants, upscale Italian restaurant Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder was named Outstanding Restaurant. This makes the restaurant's collective fourth James Beard Award. Though there was a lot of finalists headed into the final night of ceremony, 99 percent of the Colorado contestants lost out. That means Josh Niernberg for his work at Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction did not win the Outstanding Chef award. In the Best New Restaurant, Denver's Alma Fonda Fina did not take home the gold, either. Further, Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton did not win Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY), nor McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright for their drinks at Denver's Yacht Club. In Parker, Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos's creations at Poulette Bakeshop lost in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category. The awards just keep rolling in for Frasca, though. In 2008 Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson won the then-applicable Best Chef: Southwest for his work at the restaurant. In 2013 the JBF awarded Frasca in the Outstanding Wine Service category. And in 2019 the Boulder restaurant loved for its inventive, seasonal dishes won the Outstanding Service award. In 2023, that old tire company Michelin came to town and honored the business with a star and an Outstanding Service award. The night was a testament to the cuisine and work immigration brings to the United States. Only a few winners failed to mention the foodways that make their restaurants not just popular but possible. 'If you are new to the country and you don't speak the language, the hospitality industry is here for you,' Frasca Food and Wine's partner and master sommelier Bobby Stukey said on stage. • Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO See More:
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Meet the six Colorado finalists in the 2025 James Beard Awards
It's almost time for the Oscars of the food world, and six Colorado chefs and restaurants are among the finalists. This year's James Beard Awards will recognize the best chefs, restaurants and beverage professionals across the nation during a gala at Chicago's Lyric Opera House on June 16. These are the members of Colorado's culinary community moving to the finals. A spread of different kinds of wontons, dumplings and noodles at Yuan Wanton in Denver, Colorado. Penelope Wong Originally a mobile dumpling food truck, Chef Penelope Wong's Yuan Wonton's dedicated following allowed them to open a casual eatery in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood offering Asian comfort food and, of course, delicious dumplings. Wong is one of five chefs named as finalists for the 2025 James Beard Best Chef Award for the mountain region, which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Multiple orders ready to head to the table at Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction, Colorado. Josh Niernberg Josh Niernberg is the Executive Chef and owner of Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction. This former pro snowboarder turned chef saw an opportunity for locally sourced cuisine in the Grand Valley and has made Bin 707 into a destination restaurant. Niernberg is one of five chefs in the country to become a finalist for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award. A plate of grilled Mediterranean Sea Bream garnished with black rice, rapini and cauliflower with a Meyer lemon condiment at Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder. Jeremy Papasso/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder is a local treasure. This Michelin star restaurant, created by Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey and Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, features the cuisine and culture of Friuli, Italy, and boasts over 200 varieties of wines available. It is one of four finalists for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award. NY Strip Al Arriero at Alma Fonda Fina in Denver, Colorado. Alma Fonda Fina The awards also honor new up-and-coming restaurants nationwide, and Denver's Alma Fonda Fina is on its way to the top. The contemporary Mexican fare by Executive Chef Johnny Curiel pays homage to his roots in Guadalajara and earned him a Michelin star. Alma Fonda Fina is one of ten finalists for the 2025 James Beard Best New Restaurant Award. Roasted Apple Danish, Prosciutto and Brie Tart, Vanilla Bean Canelé de Bordeaux and Vanilla Bean Spandauer of Poulette Bakeshop in Parker, Colorado. Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images Poulette Bakeshop in Parker is a favorite for artisanal French pastries for good reason! Pastry chef duo Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos are well-known in the culinary world, having worked in multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. After the pandemic hit, they moved to Colorado to be closer to family and opened Poulette. The bakery has earned the couple a place among the five finalists for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker Award. Lauren Lowe garnishes a drink at the RiNo Yacht Club on March 25, 2016. Lowe has been selected as one of the top bartenders in Denver. Brent Lewis/The Denver Post via Getty Images The James Beard Awards don't only award the best and brightest when it comes to food, they also highlight places that excel in cocktail services, places like the Yacht Club in Denver. This sleek cocktail lounge offers spirit-based drinks, beer and wine along with dim sum-style snacks. The club, owned by McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, is one of five finalists for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service Award.
Axios
02-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Meet the Colorado finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards
The James Beard Awards just dropped its finalist list — and Colorado chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs are well represented. Why it matters: A James Beard win can change the trajectory of a business overnight and transform a local haunt into a national destination. The big picture: After a strong showing in the semifinalist round, Colorado talent is holding steady. From a fine-dining fixture in Boulder to the bartenders at the helm of a rowdy cocktail lounge in Denver, this year's finalists capture the full flavor of the Front Range — and beyond. Colorado's 2025 James Beard finalists: Outstanding restaurant: Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder) Best new restaurant: Alma Fonda Fina (Denver) Outstanding chef: Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar (Grand Junction) Outstanding pastry chef or baker: Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop (Parker) Outstanding professional in cocktail service: McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club (Denver) Best chef — Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton (Denver) What they're saying: "Ultimately, this honor is about more than just us; it's a win for the entire Denver food community," Alma Fonda Fina chef Johnny Curiel said in a statement. "Our goal has always been to make our city's restaurant scene more inclusive, culturally diverse, and innovative, and this moment feels like a step forward for all of us." What's new: This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards, with three new beverage-focused categories debuting — a nod to the rise of cocktail culture and bar talent across the U.S. Flashback: Last year, Erika and Kelly Whitaker of Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf's Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta and more) — took home outstanding restaurateur honors, while Matt Vawter of Breckenridge-based Rootstalk won best chef in the mountain region.
