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<\/p>\nChefs from around the state huddled together with sweaty palms and weak knees in Denver’s Mission Ballroom on Tuesday night to wish upon a Michelin star.<\/p>\n
And the respected Michelin Guide organization, which is rating restaurants in Colorado for the first time this year, didn’t disappoint, awarding single stars to five restaurants in Denver, Boulder and Aspen, along with a slew of special awards during the evening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Beckon and chef Duncan Holmes in Denver<\/p>\n
Bosq and chef Barclay Dodge in Aspen<\/p>\n
Brut\u00f8 and Michael Diaz de Leon and Kelly Whitaker in Denver<\/p>\n
Frasca Food and Wine and Chef Ian Palazzola in Boulder<\/p>\n
The Wolf’s Tailor and chefs Taylor Stark and Kelly Whitaker in Denver<\/p>\n
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The Michelin Guide announced in June that it would produce a Colorado guide for the first time, reviewing restaurants in Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Vail and Beaver Creek Resort. That was big news in the food world since Michelin, which is highly respected, only lists and reviews restaurants in seven other regions in North America: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, California, Miami\/Orlando\/Tampa in Florida, Toronto and Vancouver.<\/p>\n
The other awards were as follows:<\/p>\n
Outstanding service award: Sergei Kiffel and the team at Frasca Food and Wine<\/p>\n
Exceptional cocktails award: Caroline Clark of The Wolf’s Tailor in Denver<\/p>\n
Sommelier award: Ryan Fletter and Erin Lindstone of Barolo Grill in Denver<\/p>\n
Young chef\/culinary professional: Kelly Kawachi of Blackbelly Market in Boulder<\/p>\n
Green star (sustainable restaurants): Blackbelly Market; Bramble & Hare in Boulder; Brut\u00f8; The Wolf’s Tailor<\/p>\n
The “famously anonymous” Michelin inspectors award one, two or three stars based on five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and consistency both across the entire menu and over time, according to Michelin.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Tourism Office, with help from the participating cities, contributed to the annual $135,000 cost to promote the Michelin Guide in Colorado for the next three years, according to state officials. Some cities, like Aurora, declined to participate, however, which led to disappointment for chefs and restaurateurs in those cities.<\/p>\n