Kevin Grossi back at Lola -- now as head chef

Before he became the chef at Jax Glendale, which Gretchen Kurtz reviews this week, Duane Walker was the chef at Lola, another Big Red F restaurant that likes to keep things in the family. After Walker moved over to Glendale, Drew Hardin became the top toque at Lola - but...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 7, 2014

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Before he became the chef at Jax Glendale, which Gretchen Kurtz reviews this week, Duane Walker was the chef at Lola, another Big Red F restaurant that likes to keep things in the family. After Walker moved over to Glendale, Drew Hardin became the top toque at Lola - but in April he exited for a cooking job at a private club in the South. And so Kevin Grossi has returned to Lola as head chef. See also: Jax Glendale is a net gain for the Denver dining scene

"Stoked to have Kevin back at Lola," says Jamey Fader, the original chef at (and part owner of) Lola, who now heads culinary operations for all of Big Red F. "He was a sous-chef under Duane Walker and did tremendous work at Jax Fort Collins, where he has been since we opened. Kev has an intrinsic motivation when it comes to utilizing the local bounty and building menus around the seasons. His knowledge of seafood since being a Jax chef has grown exponentially and will be a huge asset at Lola."

Grossi was back behind the burners at Lola last week. "Look for a new collaborative summer menu from both of us to launch late May," promises Fader. The menu for brunch -- one of Cafe Society's top twelve in Denver -- has already been updated.

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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.

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