Apr 3, 2024 - News

Here are the Coloradans on the 2024 James Beard Award finalists list

Alayna Alvarez

Beef mustard seed and scallion skewer (left) and squash skewer (right) at James Beard Award nominee Kelly Whitaker's restaurant The Wolf's Tailor in Denver. Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The James Beard Awards announced their 2024 finalists Wednesday morning, and several Colorado talents made the list after more than a dozen chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists in January.

Why it matters: Winning a James Beard award is like winning an Oscar in the American restaurant industry.

It also builds on the big buzz Colorado has received after the Michelin Guide's debut here last September.

Here are Colorado's finalists:

Outstanding restaurateur: Erika and Kelly Whitaker, Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf's Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta and more)

Kelly Whitaker was named a semifinalist in 2023.

Best chef in the mountain region (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming):

Matt Vawter, Rootstalk in Breckenridge
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton in Denver

Flashback: Colorado came up empty-handed at the 2023 James Beard Awards. But in 2022, chef Caroline Glover of Annette won the title of Best Mountain Chef.

What's next: Winners will be celebrated at a Chicago ceremony on June 10.

Go deeper: Colorado's James Beard award semifinalists from 2022 and 2023.

Add Axios on Google

Here are the Coloradans on the 2024 James Beard Award finalists list

More Denver stories