SAME Cafe profile serves up a James Beard award

When Brad and Libby Birky opened their restaurant, SAME Cafe, at 2023 East Colfax Avenue, people didn't give the venture much of a chance. After all, the name stood for "So All May Eat," and signaled the couple's willingness to serve everyone, regardless of how much money the diners had,...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 3, 2010

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When Brad and Libby Birky opened their restaurant, SAME Cafe, at 2023 East Colfax Avenue, people didn't give the venture much of a chance. After all, the name stood for "So All May Eat," and signaled the couple's willingness to serve everyone, regardless of how much money the diners had, regardless of how much money they were willing to pay.

But over the last three years, their concept has paid off big. SAME has been able to expand its space, its staff and its offerings. And Jared Jacang Maher's February 2009 Westword cover story on the venture just won a prestigious James Beard Foundation award for newspaper feature writing. Read that profile here .

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

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