Familiar names return to the foundation’s annual award ceremony this June in Chicago.
Chef/owner Penelope Wong works alongisde line cook Katarina Guettlein at Yuan Wanton in Denver on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Wong received her third nomination for best chef in the mountain region from the James Beard Foundation on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
A familiar cast of Colorado restaurateurs are up for James Beard Awards this summer, the foundation that organizes the annual culinary awards announced Tuesday.Josh Niernberg, chef and owner of Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, for outstanding chefPenelope Wong, chef and co-owner of Yuan Wonton, Denver, for best chef in the mountain region Ryan Fletter, wine director and owner of Barolo Grill, Denver, for outstanding professional in beverage service McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, owners and operators of Yacht Club, Denver, for outstanding professionals in cocktail service Niernberg and his Grand Junction station, Bin 707 Foodbar, have earned recognition from the James Beard Foundation since 2020, when Niernberg first made the shortlist of best chefs in the mountain region. This is Wong’s third nomination for best chef of the mountain region and Curiel’s second nomination overall. Last year, his breakout restaurant Alma Fonda Fina was nominated for best new restaurant.Poulette, one of Colorado’s best bakeries, will soon open in a new spaceNew Denver Italian restaurant showcases iconic specialties of Emilia-Romagna The other three nominations for best chef in the mountain region hail from restaurants in Salt Lake City and Whitefish, Mont. Fletter, long a part of Denver’s food scene at Barolo Grill, earned his first James Beard Foundation nomination for outstanding professional in beverage service. The team behind Yacht Club, Hedges and Wright, were nominated last year for outstanding professionals in cocktail service. Since then, they opened aAnother longtime Denver-area brewery set to close its doors in JuneA day in the life of a child-free Coloradan — and the child care that makes it possibleDenver’s $1 billion road overhaul would cut space for cars, boost public transit. Critics say it will make traffic worse. Denver's $1 billion road overhaul would cut space for cars, boost public transit. Critics say it will make traffic worse.Nikola Jokic responds to being Caitlin Clark's favorite player to watch: 'We have the same agent' Broncos owner Greg Penner turns up pressure on new stadium talks, calls Burnham Yard timeline 'ambitious'
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