A who’s who of Denver kitchen magicians will converge at the Colorado Convention Center tonight for Chefs Up Front, a gastronomic blowout to benefit the nonprofit Cooking Matters Colorado. The event highlights the culinary ingenuity of two dozen top toques, including Max MacKissock (Squeaky Bean), Daniel Asher (Root Down), Wayne Conwell (Sushi Sasa), Jorel Pierce (Euclid Hall), Tyler Wiard (ELWAY’s Cherry Creek), Olav Peterson (Bittersweet), Michael Long (Aria) and Sheila Lucero (Jax Fish House).

“It’s great to see the chefs having fun with one another and interacting with the guests as they cook tableside,” says Chefs Up Front chair James Iacino. “And when you add the mission of Cooking Matters, which is essentially teaching low-income families how to prepare healthy meals on a budget, the chefs become even more vested in this event.” And this year, some of Denver’s top cocktail artists — Brian Melton (TAG), Mike Henderson and twins Randy and Ryan Layman (Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben’s) — will pour signature liquids, while Infinite Monkey Theorem headlines the wine side.

Things get cooking at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by a sit-down dinner at 7 at the convention center, 700 14th Street. Tickets are $300 and can be purchased at http://cookingmatters.org/cooking-matters-colorado.
Sun., April 17, 5:30 p.m., 2011