Justin Brunson

Win admission for two to Toques and 'Tails on Thursday, May 23, at Casselman's (with winner)

Update: We have a winner of our Toques and 'Tails contest giveaway! Last week, we asked Cafe Society commenters to guess how many Culinary Connector tours owner Becky Creighton has conducted in Denver. Congrats to BSquared5280, who guessed 330 tours, the exact number. BSquared5280, we'll send you an ... More >>

The vegan Beet Box opens a retail bakery

Swapping out butter and eggs for applesauce and almond milk has been a sweet deal for Blair Ednie and Michael Craig, who started Beet Box six years ago as a vegan catering and wholesale baking company. And this month, they gave up their base in Arvada for a new home just minutes from downtown,where ... More >>

Chef Justin Brunson and crew have plans to open a second Masterpiece Deli in Uptown

For years, Justin Brunson, chef and co-founder of Masterpiece Deli and Old Major, has promised to open a second outpost of his smashing LoHi deli, arguably one of the best sandwich shops in Denver, and late this summer, at 1710 Sherman Street, in the Wells Fargo Center, he, along with his partners i ... More >>

Paul Attardi steps in at Old Major, replacing Jonathan Greschler

Jonathan Greschler's departure from Old Major last week came as a shock to those who'd watched his partnership with chef Justin Brunson survive the shuttering of Wild Catch, and then find a new home over in the Lower Highland neighborhood. But it looks like Old Major owner Juan Padro -- who is also ... More >>

Exclusive: General manager Jonathan Greschler fired from Old Major

Whoa. From the outside looking in, everything seemed perfectly peachy at Old Major, Justin Brunson's restaurant in Highland that opened in late February after months of restless expectancy by the city's food-obsessed. The temple to swine, wine and farmhouse cuisine just garnered a three-and-a-half s ... More >>

Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe will open in the former Pig & Block Charcuterie space

Just over a month ago, Jeff Bauman and his brother Marc shuttered Pig & Block Charcuterie, their butcher shop at 3326 Tejon Street, in LoHi. "We were given a really decent offer to sell, and while things had been going very, very well for us -- we were even preparing to step it up another notch -- i ... More >>

Exclusive first look: Old Major, Justin Brunson's "elevated farmhouse cuisine" restaurant, is now open in Highland

On Saturday night, as I studied the menu at Old Major, I nearly burst into tears. At one point, some time later, I did exactly that, right after my first taste of foie gras; there would be more liberal shavings of that exquisite foie on the cassoulet, which hinted at a "foie surprise." And more sapp ... More >>

Exclusive first look: Moontower Tacos opens in Capitol Hill

Y'all know how I roll: Tacos rule my universe, and now, there's a new spot -- Moontower Tacos -- giving me (and the rest of you who agree that tacos are the equivalent to enlightenment) another reason to ballyhoo their virtue. See also: - Moontower Tacos will soon be serving tacos morning, noon and ... More >>

Denver Bacon Company launches in Denver -- and sizzles at the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

Judging from the sentiments posted on the Denver Bacon Company's Facebook page -- emotions like the accolades below -- chef Justin Brunson's maple slabs of hog should have brought home the blue ribbon at last week's Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, which took place in Iowa's capital city. See also: - E ... More >>

Exclusive sneak peek: Old Major, opening on February 22

Late last week, I was privy to personal tour of Old Major, the restaurant that culinary patron saint Justin Brunson, who also owns Masterpiece Deli, is tentatively opening on February 22 in Highland. The space, innovatively designed by Fin Art, a local firm, is still undergoing construction, but Bru ... More >>

Mark DeNittis lands at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts -- as the Director of Culinary Curriculum

If you're Mark DeNittis, you don't wallow in pig shit when the USDA pulls the pork from underneath your livelihood. Instead, you pick yourself up, eat a sausage or ten (and porchetta, to boot) and map out a future that brings you back to what you love most: the classroom. See also: - Exclusive: Il ... More >>

Exclusive first look: Corner House opens on January 11

Denver foodniks have a lot to look forward to in 2013, including the arrival of several new restaurants: Beast Bottle from Paul Reilly; Old Major from Justin Brunson; new outposts of Root Down, Elway's and Udi's at DIA; a mystery concept on South Pearl Street from the Wynkoop/Breckenridge owners; ... More >>

Five restaurants that both opened and closed in 2012...and a bonus revival

As the year draws to an end, Cafe Society is compiling our annual Restaurant Roll Call -- a compendium of all the restaurants that opened and closed in 2012. That very long list includes plenty of food for thought on the Denver dining scene. And one category is particularly rare: Restaurants that ... More >>

Reader: Bacon has finally jumped the shark

Can there ever be too much bacon? Diners were in hog heaven at last weekend's Bacon and Beer Festival, featuring craft beers from some of the state best breweries as well as bacon in every form imaginable, some edible -- and some not, as the photo above indicates. It was a delicious debacle -- but ... More >>

Justin Brunson taps pastry queen Nadine Donovan to spearhead the dessert program at Old Major

Justin Brunson is happier than a pig in mud. The chef-owner of Masterpiece Deli recently launched Denver Bacon Company, he's on the prowl for a second location to open another Masterpiece, and in February of next year, he'll unveil Old Major, a seafood, swine and wine restaurant in Highland that bro ... More >>

Bacon, beer and Justin Brunson: Porky photos from Denver's kick-ass Bacon and Beer Festival

Porchetta po-boys with bacon jam; bacon and cashew caramel corn; bacon macaroni and cheese; bacon fat potato chips; bacon chocolate chip cookies; bacon and pork belly Reuben; bacon and ramen; bacon and oyster chowder; bacon fat duck sliders; bacon-strangled flying pig belly; candied bacon; bacon, go ... More >>

Justin Brunson will open Old Major -- a swine, wine and seafood restaurant -- in Highland

Two years ago -- long before all that crazy drama at Wild Catch -- Justin Brunson, the owner and chef of Masterpiece Deli, was all set to open Lechon at 17th and Central streets with Ben Parsons, who owns the infinite Monkey Theorem. The deal eventually fell apart, but Brunson, despite a short sta ... More >>

Masterpiece Deli will extend its hours on May 1

We can't count the number of times we've made a late-afternoon dash over to Masterpiece Delicatessen, the spot that was our Best Sandwich Shop in this year's Best of Denver, only to remember too late that Masterpiece closes at 4 p.m. Fortunately, that's about to change. Beginning May 1, Masterpiec ... More >>

Reader: Roam story was out of line -- wake up, Mr. Editor

Win some, lose some. Roam got a rave review in the Denver Post today -- too bad the restaurant is no longer open. As Lori Midson reported late yesterday, Daniel Kuhlman, the owner of 1033 East 17th Avenue -- which started out as the wine bar Tastes, then became Wild Catch, then transformed into Roam ... More >>

Daniel Kuhlman, Roam owner, can't stop Lori Midson from getting closure story and photo

Denver's dining scene isn't all salumi and sunshine. Alerted that something was going down at Roam, Cafe Society editor Lori Midson hurried to 17th Avenue, arriving just in time to see owner Daniel Kuhlman shoving former employees -- and grab for her camera. Before this souffle fell, the cops had be ... More >>

Round two with Roam chef Tony Clement: the fortune cookie, Justin Brunson and slaughtering animals

Tony Clement Roam 1033 East 17th Avenue 720-382-2935 www.denverseafoodrestaurants.com This is part two of my interview with Tony Clement, exec chef of Roam. Part two of our chat ran yesterday.

Year in review: Denver's biggest food stories in 2011

Denver foodbeasts who eat up the city's culinary scene had plenty to chew on in 2011: Big-name chefs who abruptly closed their restaurants; other chefs who walked out; a restaurant that burst into flames -- and rose from the ashes; a very public divorce; and sadly, unfathomably, a beloved restaurate ... More >>

Reader: Wild Catch should be renamed Wild Hunt...or is that Wild Ride?

​Wild Catch reopened last night -- several weeks after partner/chef Justin Brunson walked out, and most of the staff followed him -- with Mandi and Tony Clement rolling out a meaty menu that's a major departure from the sustainable seafood focused on the original lineup. Many regulars caught t ... More >>

Former Wild Catch exec chef Justin Brunson has a few words for Tony Clement bashers: Lay off!

Tony Clement, the new exec chef of Wild Catch, gets a big endoresement from Justin Brunson.​ While it's no secret that Justin Brunson, the former executive chef of Wild Catch, isn't a big fan of Daniel Kuhlman, his ex-partner (and owner) of the restaurant that Brunson walked away from a few we ... More >>

Wild Catch will reopen with ex-Mizuna executive chef Tony Clement behind the burners

Courtesy of MizunaDenver.comTony Clement, formerly of Mizuna, is the new consulting exec chef of Wild Catch. ​Three weeks ago, on a Saturday, chef Justin Brunson sailed away from Wild Catch, the sustainable seafood restaurant he opened with Daniel Kuhlman in late August, after alleging that K ... More >>

Reader: Wild Catch owner's prediction of reopening sounds like a fish story

​It's been a wild ride for Wild Catch, the new fishhouse that saw its chef/partner and most of its staff (above) walk out this weekend, leaving the place high and dry. Justin Brunson, an owner of Masterpiece Deli who joined with Taste owner Daniel Kulhman on the restaurant, told Lori Midson th ... More >>

Justin Brunson -- and his staff -- sail away from Wild Catch

"This is not how I wanted it to go down," admits Justin Brunson. But he had a premonition it would. Several weeks ago, Brunson, the sandwich earl behind Masterpiece Deli and the opening executive chef/co-owner of Wild Catch, the sustainable seafood restaurant that he opened in late August with par ... More >>

My meal at Wild Catch was stunning, even if it won't make the review

Lori Midson​Rob and I had been talking about Wild Catch since it opened this summer, our anticipation building with every friend we ran into who raved about the place. "The food's damn near perfect," one promised. "Best restaurant in Denver right now," said another. We were waiting. Or, more ... More >>

Daniel Kuhlman, owner of Wild Catch, responds to Justin Brunson's claims

"Literally, I'd never heard of any of these charges until I read your story," says Daniel Kuhlman, the owner of Wild Catch, which abruptly shuttered on Saturday, when co-owner/chef Justin Brunson, along with his staff, walked out the door following a meeting the day before between Brunson and Kuhlma ... More >>

Win two seats to ChoLon's craft beer dinner with Top Chef Stephanie Izard and Alex Seidel

Girl and the GoatSeason 4 Top Chef Stephanie Izard ​It's been a good year for Lon Symensma, the chef/owner of ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro, the leading-edge Asian restaurant that he opened downtown last October.

Denver Burger Battle: The meat of the matter in photos

Lori MidsonThe crew from Crave compete in the Denver Burger Battle​Aside from the vegetarian burgers from Root Down, which, ironically, were the first to sell out, last night's porny Denver Burger Battle was a carnivorous animal-style nirvana of bloody meat candy, bacon and foie gras. The sol ... More >>

Justin Brunson amasses a team of high-profile chefs to run the kitchen at Wild Catch (and starts his own bacon company)

​When Justin Brunson, the captain behind the magnificent Masterpiece Deli, opens Wild Catch, a sustainable seafood restaurant in Uptown, he'll steer his kitchen along with a tag team of several other high-profile chefs -- none of whom, by the way, are from TAG, Troy Guard's Asian restaurant i ... More >>

Strings promotes Jason Clark to executive chef after Lance Barto exits for Wild Catch

Lori Midson​Lance Barto started behind the burners at Strings three years ago, working his way up to the executive chef role in 2009 after then-lead chef Aaron Whitcomb left for YiaYia's Euro Bistro in Greenwood Village. Now, Barto's heading over to the line at Wild Catch -- the seafood rest ... More >>

Masterpiece Deli chef and owner Justin Brunson will open Wild Catch in the former Tastes Wine Bar space in Uptown

The Uptown address of Tastes Wine Bar will close May 21 and reopen as Wild Catch in mid-July.​Justin Brunson is one of the busiest chefs in Denver right now. Masterpiece Deli, with which we have a serious love affair, is applying for a liquor license, Brunson is prowling to open a second Mast ... More >>

Masterpiece Delicatessen looks to land a liquor license

​ Masterpiece Delicatessen hardly needs another reason to give crowds a reason to stop by: The breakfast and lunch eatery has been packing hordes of patrons into its tiny space and downtown-facing patio since it opened three years ago. But Steve Allee and Justin Brunson are about to make the n ... More >>

This week in Cafe Society food bloggery: To drink or not to drink vodka, Justin Brunson, cupcakes, TAG | RAW BAR and turkey legs

Lori MidsonJustin Brunson, owner and chef of Masterpiece Delicatessen​ Behold the best highlights from this week's Cafe Society blog: 1. Sean Kenyon, the no-holds-barred bar baron at Steuben's, takes on vodka -- specifically whether or not it's run its course -- in this week's Ask the Barten ... More >>

Part two: Chef and Tell with Justin Brunson from Masterpiece Deli

Lori MidsonJustin Brunson​ Justin Brunson Masterpiece Delicatessen 1575 Central Street 303-561-3354 www.masterpiecedeli.com This is part two of Lori Midson's Q&A with Justin Brunson, chef/owner of Masterpiece Delicatessen. To read part one of that interview, click here. Greatest accomplishm ... More >>

Masterpiece Delicatessen chef Justin Brunson on opening a new restaurant and his fetish for foie gras and lamb testicles

Lori MidsonJustin Brunson​ Justin Brunson Masterpiece Delicatessen 1575 Central Street 303-561-3354 www.masterpiecedeli.com This is part one of Lori Midson's Q&A with Masterpiece Delicatessen chef/owner Justin Brunson. You can read part two of this interview right back here tomorrow. It's ... More >>

Contest alert! Win two free seats to the Highlands Chef Collaborative Farm Dinner at Aspen Moon Farms

Lori Midson ​The final Highlands Chef Collaborative Dinner of the year is exactly six days away, and take our word for it: You don't want to miss it. Why, you ask? Well, consider this: The five participating chefs -- Max Mackissock (Squeaky Bean); James Rugile (Venue); Brad Rowell (Colt & ... More >>

Announcing one winner and one last chance to win tickets to Sunday's seafood supper with Jeff Osaka, Alex Seidel, Scott Parker, Justin Brunson and Ben Parsons

Lori Midson​If you've been following this here blog, then you already know that chefs Jeff Osaka (twelve), Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Scott and Deanna Parker (Table 6) and Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli) are hosting a seafood supper this Sunday at the Infinite Monkey Theorem ... More >>

And the winner of two seats to Sunday's seafood supper is...

​Behold the final winning entry in our Sunday summer supper contest. Just in case you missed all this, here's the short version: We asked readers to suggest a name for the coalition of chefs -- Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Jeff Osaka (twelve), Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli an ... More >>

Round two: Win free tickets to Sunday's summer seafood supper with chefs Jeff Osaka, Alex Seidel, Scott Parker and Justin Brunson and wine geek Ben Parsons

Lori Midson Jeff Osaka and Alex Seidel​This Sunday, August 22, chefs Jeff Osaka (twelve), Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Scott and Deanna Parker (Table 6) and Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli and Lechon) will host a summer seafood feast at Infinite Monkey Theorem, the urban winery ... More >>

Win free tickets to Sunday's summer seafood supper with chefs Jeff Osaka, Alex Seidel, Scott Parker and Justin Brunson and wine geek Ben Parsons

Lori MidsonJeff Osaka, chef/owner of twelve​This Sunday, August 22, chefs Jeff Osaka (twelve), Alex Seidel (Fruition and Fruition Farms), Scott and Deanna Parker (Table 6) and Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli and Lechon) will host a summer seafood feast at Infinite Monkey Theorem, the urban ... More >>

Squeaky Bean's patio farm stand takes root today

Lori Midson ​"We want people to understand the quality of produce that we use here at the restaurant," says Max Mackissock, exec chef of the Squeaky Bean, the seasonally-driven, New American restaurant with an alter to the late Farrah Fawcett and a thimble-size kitchen that's rolling out its ... More >>

Infinite Monkey Theorem winemaker Ben Parsons and Masterpiece Deli chef Justin Brunson team up to launch Lechon

Infinite Monkey Theorem winemaker Ben Parsons​What began as a friendship between winemaker and chef has morphed into a business partnership between Infinite Monkey Theorem winemaker Ben Parsons and Masterpiece Deli executive chef Justin Brunson. The two met not long after Parsons moved from P ... More >>

It's a big weekend for local food and wine events

It's gearing up to be a big food and wine weekend, kids. On Saturday, Ace Hardware, Alameda Station, 417 South Broadway, is holding its first-ever "Big Green Egg" grilling competition, a smoking and grilling face-off between students from the Art Institute of Colorado and other participating hope ... More >>

Join the party animals at the Infinite Monkey Theorem

Don't look him in the triangles!On Sunday, you can get drunk on some monkey at "The Secret Tutelage of the Primate Nation."No, this isn't some weird segment from Bizarre Foods: It's a wine-and-food event (two of them, really) at the Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery, the facility that Ben Parsons ... More >>

Two chefs deliver our daily bread at Masterpiece Delicatessen

The earls of sandwich

Masterpiece Delicatessen stuffs a great sandwich