☕️ Good Tuesday morning. There's a little fall in the air today. 🍁

• 🌞 Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a chance of afternoon showers. A much-welcomed high of 78.

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🗳️ Situational awareness: The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's order restricting mail-in voting yesterday — a method used by the vast majority of Colorado voters.

Today's newsletter is 998 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Michelin recognition can flood a restaurant with new diners. Getting them to come back is another story.

Why it matters: As 15 Colorado restaurants celebrate their first appearance in the newly expanded statewide Michelin Guide, industry veterans say the honors can be a boon for business — but the shine doesn't always last.

By the numbers: More than 72% of our 30 Michelin-recognized restaurants surveyed in late 2024 reported a sales bump — 14% on average, per the Colorado Restaurant Association.

• About 65% said Michelin helped with hiring, while nearly 60% said it helped retain workers.

Yes, but: Among restaurants in the 2023 and 2024 guides, more than half reported flat year-over-year sales.

Zoom in: Allison Anderson, Beckon's director of experience, watched the Michelin windfall after her Denver restaurant earned its star in 2023.

• Beckon was booked solid, with 55 to 100 people waiting for tables some nights, Anderson told Axios. Months later, its waitlist had shrunk roughly 95%.
• The star still draws diners worldwide, she said, but the initial frenzy steadied.

The other side: Michelin can bring pressure with the prestige.

• Restaurants surveyed by the CRA reported heightened guest scrutiny and sharper criticism.

Restaurant Olivia co-owner Heather Morrison, who earned Michelin's outstanding service award last year, said diners can arrive expecting a "Michelin experience."

• "If you're not on that night," she said, "that's real problematic."

The intrigue: For James Beard Award winner Caroline Glover, whose Aurora-based Annette earned its first Bib Gourmand yesterday, the recognition extends beyond her restaurant.

• With Annette and fellow Aurora restaurant Dân Dã getting nods, she calls Michelin's arrival "a really big deal" that opens the door.

The bottom line: "A Michelin recommendation might get [diners] in the door," Blackbelly chef Hosea Rosenberg told Axios, "but we got to do what we do every day to keep them coming back."

Full story

Ten Michelin-starred restaurants now call Colorado home.

BFD: Johnny Curiel's Milpero became the latest to earn a coveted star yesterday, giving the chef three restaurants with the distinction.

• Milpero, which opened in May in RiNo, offers an 18-course tasting menu.

Our Michelin-starred restaurants include:

• ⭐️ Alma Fonda Fina (Denver)
• ⭐️ Beckon (Denver)
• ⭐️ Bosq (Aspen)
• ⭐️ Brutø (Denver)
• ⭐️ Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder)
• ⭐️ Kizaki (Denver)
• ⭐️ Margot (Denver)
• ⭐️ Mezcaleria Alma (Denver)
• ⭐️ Milpero (Denver)
• ⭐️⭐️ The Wolf's Tailor (Denver)

State of play: The expanded guide now includes restaurants in Aurora, Colorado Springs and Telluride — totaling 63 operations.

Three newbies were awarded a Bib Gourmand recognition, Michelin's designation for quality food at a good value:

• 🐟 Annette (Aurora)
• 🍜 Pig and Tiger (Denver)
• 🍗 Rougarou (Denver)

Michelin also added six metro area restaurants to its recommended list:

• 🍷 Casa Juani (Boulder)
• 🥟 Dân Dã (Aurora)
• 🍲 Dear Emilia (Denver)
• 🍝 Florence Supper Club (Denver)
• 🦪 Heretík (Denver)
• 🥗 Madeline (Denver)

Colorado voters overwhelmingly oppose building data centers — even when they're nowhere near their own backyards, a new poll finds.

Why it matters: The results come as communities grapple with the data center boom, including in Denver, which enacted a moratorium on future sites amid public backlash.

By the numbers: 75% of registered voters oppose building data centers in Colorado, Magellan Strategies found in its poll released yesterday.

• Bring one closer to home and opposition climbs to 82%, with 77% "strongly" opposed.
• Republicans are more open to them than other groups, but 66% still oppose data centers in their communities.
• Hardly anyone is on the fence: 3% or fewer voters are undecided.

The intrigue: A majority — 55% — of voters would go further and ban new data centers in their communities.

The big picture: A dim view of AI is driving the results.

• 66% view it unfavorably.
• Even among those who've used an AI tool, like ChatGPT, 57% view it unfavorably.
• And younger voters are especially skeptical.

Go deeper

🗳️ Border czar Tom Homan called claims about ICE enforcement at polling places "a scare tactic," after Denver filed a lawsuit to keep federal agents away from voting centers. (FOX News)

• A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said there are no plans to target polling locations, though arrests may occur over an "active public safety threat." (Colorado Sun)

🏒 Joe Sakic will be the Avalanche's general manager for the foreseeable future after the previous GM left in June. (Denver Post 🔑)

🍦 Sadboy Creamery announced the grand opening of its new brick-and-mortar location Saturday from noon–5pm. (Denver Gazette 🔑)

Well, that sucked.

State of play: The Broncos flopped under the Arrowhead Stadium lights, losing 31–10 to the rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

Between the lines: Quarterback Bo Nix struggled in his return from injury — committing two costly turnovers as Denver's offense failed to find a rhythm.

• Nix did connect with Evan Engram in the first quarter for Denver's only touchdown.
• The offense all but disappeared in the second half, mustering a single field goal.

What's next: The Broncos (0–1) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1–0) next Sunday.

Editor's note: An item in Mile Highlights yesterday was corrected to reflect that Denver District Attorney John Walsh announced the sentencing of a man who fatally shot someone at Union Station last year. Walsh didn't sentence him.

🤕 John is recovering from a rollover crash after swerving to avoid a huge cow on the road outside Almont. He's sad about his totaled 4Runner.

🫶 Alayna is happy to see Rougarou get some Michelin love. Fun fact: It's where she was eating when her contractions first hit.

😳 Esteban is listening to this episode of "The Daily" featuring a researcher who quit his job over the potential AI dangers.

Thanks to our editor, Gigi Sukin.