Best Chef & Wine 2024
Welcome to the Best Chef & Wine Competition 2024!
Discover the incredible lineup of chefs and wineries competing at this year’s event. Below, you’ll find the full list of culinary and wine participants who will dazzle your taste buds. Guests will have the unique opportunity to taste all the dishes and wines, then cast their votes for their favorites during the event.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of flavors and celebration!
Noisette
Entree
Tim Lu
Roasted Pork Collar, Choucroute, Pommes Puree
Noisette is a French restaurant and bakery located in the Lower Highlands neighborhood of Denver. Executive Chef Tim Lu and Pastry Chef Lillian Lu spent over a decade cooking in New York City at some of the city's most renowned restaurants, learning the importance of sourcing the best ingredients as well as respecting tradition and technique. At Noisette, Tim and Lillian use their years of fine dining experience to cook food that is both accessible and refined, blending traditional and modern French flavors and techniques.
Chez Maggy
Entree
Ludo Lefebvre
Vol-au-Vent: Nantucket Bay Scallops, Maitake Beurre Fondue, Bordelaise Vinaigrette
Chez Maggy is a traditional French brasserie, reinvented for the Queen City. It’s a love-letter to Margaret, Ludo’s mother-in-law who lived life to help others right here in Colorado. It’s also a celebration of the land of Ludo’s childhood: Burgundy, a place steeped in natural beauty and a deep connection to the Earth. Chez Maggy pays homage to Ludo’s French roots while synthesizing his rich culinary traditions with the naturally-abundant ingredients of the Mountain West. At Chez Maggy, we reimagine Continental Cuisine at the Continental Divide.
La Belle French Bakery
Dessert
Chef Julien Renaut
Buche de Noel
Julien Renaut, a French entrepreneur, is transforming Colorado's pastry scene. At 21, he crossed the Atlantic to pursue his pastry ambitions, founding La Belle® French Bakery in 2016. Starting as a one-man operation, the bakery quickly gained recognition and became a top artisan producer in Colorado. Amid the pandemic, Renaut opened La Belle®'s first retail location, launching the brand into the retail market. Today, La Belle® serves over 120 wholesale clients, operates three retail locations, and plans further expansion. Known for its modern ambiance and unique creations like the Crème Brûlée croissant,
Rogue Creamery
Out of Competition
Cheese Table
Inspired by a sense of place for over 90 years, Rogue Creamery draws from the beauty and flavors of Southern Oregon's Rogue River Valley to create organic, handcrafted cheeses that have won international acclaim. But creating the world's best cheese is only part of our mission. We know that business can be used as a force for good. That's why we became Oregon's first public benefit corporation, "B Corp" for short, joining a global movement of companies that are committed to making the world a better place.
Bibamba
Dessert
Patrick Tcheunou
Artisan Chocolate
Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Patrick and Mara Tcheunou, Bibamba is an award-winning, farm-to-table chocolate company that crafts its products from cacao grown on their family farm in Cameroon. Dedicated to sustainable and ethical practices that work for everybody, Bibamba utilizes clean ingredients and the highest agricultural standards to create premium chocolate that benefits customers, employees, and the earth. Visit Bibamba’s chocolate factory at the Edgewater Public Market in Colorado to experience their handcrafted, globally inspired offerings.
Margot
Appetizer
Justin Fulton
Gougères with smoked salmon rillettes
Margot is a Monday night popup located in LoHi. Experience a carefully crafted, seasonal menu of ten servings. Balancing flavors from around the world while highlighting Colorado’s unique and beautiful produce, artisans, and offerings. Elevated. Inspired. Contemporary American
Goudy's French Cuisine
Entree
Christophe Goudy
Burgundy Puff
Goudy’s French Cuisine is a fine establishment that brings the essence of traditional French cooking and traditional Charcuterie the next level. Céline, Christophe and their team emphasizes classic techniques and authentic ingredients, offering sausages, patés, rilllettes, foie gras, dishes like coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and cassoullet, wellington all prepared with precision and artistry. Goudy’s French Cuisine delivers the charm and sophistication of French gastronomy, blending timeless flavors with a contemporary presentation.
The Plimoth
Entree
Josh Abro
Crispy Pork Belly, Plimoth Grist Mill Polenta, Beaujolais Apple Confiture
The Plimoth is a charming neighborhood restaurant in Denver, celebrated for its creative, seasonal cuisine. With a menu that highlights locally sourced ingredients, it offers a unique blend of French-inspired and New American dishes. Known for its warm ambiance and impeccable service, The Plimoth provides a memorable dining experience perfect for food enthusiasts seeking thoughtfully crafted meals in a cozy setting.
Goudy's Deli & Market
Dessert
Timothy Roberts
Fancy Lemon Bar
Goudy's Deli & Market is set to open on November 20th in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood, offering a variety of French culinary delights. For the last 25 years, Timothy Roberts has wandered the world, learning from humble craftsmen and great Michelin-starred masters while experiencing different food cultures and palates - a personal and necessary validation that not all those who wander are lost. His quest for the finest ingredients spans both local landscapes and international flavors. Obskurio Bakery is more than a confectionery; it's a fresh perspective on all sweet creations.
Altamira Food
Out of Competition
Sturia Caviar
Altamira Specialty Foods Service is the premier specialty foods distributor throughout Colorado and New Mexico. We supply wholesale foods to the top culinary talent in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Telluride, Durango, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, the entire Front Range, and Rocky Mountain region.
Gastronomia
Out of Competition
Coming soon!
Gastronomia is a Canadian company specializing in high-quality frozen foods, offering a curated selection of gourmet products that combine convenience with exceptional taste. Their offerings include a variety of appetizers, main courses, desserts, and bakery items, all crafted to meet the standards of fine dining.
Blanchard Family Wines
Wine (In competition)
James Blanchard
Red and White wine
This family-owned winery label is the creation of James & Mark Blanchard, two brothers with a shared passion for fine wines. Originated in Healdsburg, California, Blanchard Family Wines offers hand-crafted, artisan selections that truly showcase a sense of place, and exhibit boutique winemaking techniques. Their wines, from various appellations of California and Colorado, are extremely low-production and limited in availability. Each wine is a unique gem in the bottle and meant to be shared with friends and family.
Beaujolais Nouveau 2024
Wine (out of competition)
Georges Duboeuf