COME TO LIFE Elevated Dining Scene EXPERIENCE COLORADO’S Four by Brother Luck Heralded for its towering mountains, pristine landscapes and Western culture, a Colorado vacation doesn’t necessarily bring dining to mind. However, the state is fast becoming a culinary destination, thanks to the grit and passion of its tastemakers. Celebrated chefs are viewing the Centennial State as a new frontier for culinary exploration, carving a space for themselves in the mountain towns and cities to showcase these unique regions and the flavors that thrive there. Blending Colorado’s past with fresh takes on classic dishes and innovative creations, they’ve garnered the attention of television programs like “Top Chef” as well as organizations like the James Beard Foundation and, most recently, the prestigious MICHELIN Guide. “[The Colorado food scene] is starting to have its own voice, more so than ever before,” said Josh Niernberg, executive chef and owner of Bin 707 Foodbar and Tacoparty in Grand Junction. By showcasing the winemaking and agriculture that had been established in the area, his restaurants helped transform the Grand Valley. They also earned him a nod from the James Beard Foundation as a nominee for Best Chef: Mountains category and two-time semifinalist for Outstanding Chef. Meanwhile, celebrated chef Denise Vigil has crafted a sanctuary in her small hometown of Alamosa that’s quickly gained big recognition as a 2023 semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. And in Lakewood, six-time James Beard Award-nominated chef Dana Rodriguez has made the comeback of a lifetime as the Executive Chef and Culinary Partner at the world-famous Casa Bonita after being turned down for a dishwasher’s position at the restaurant in 1998. Celebrity chef and acclaimed restaurateur Brother Luck has spent the past decade working to change the food culture in the city he’s planted his roots in. “We all travel the world until we find a place that we want to call home — for me, it’s Colorado Springs,” Luck said proudly. “This is a beautiful city that has an amazing view and amazing culture, and I want it to be hip and fun because I love living here.” After cooking in kitchens around the globe, Luck settled in Colorado Springs in 2012 in pursuit of a higher quality of life and to be near family. With the small-town feel of Colorado’s second-largest city, the 94 1-800-COLORADO FOUR BY BROTHER LUCK
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 94
