Voting Is Open for the 2025 HOSPY Awards

Last year, the Colorado Restaurant Association rebranded its annual hospitality awards, the long-running Industry Spotlight Awards, as the HOSPYs. These awards are different from more standard honors because they celebrate not only chefs and top restaurants but also food trucks, back-of-house employees, front-of-house staff and more.

Unlike the Michelin Guide, which limits the areas it covers based on which Destination Marketing Organizations have contributed to its marketing fund, the HOSPYs span the entire state and are not limited to CRA members. Plus, the winners are determined in part by a public vote, which is open now through October 31.

The public also submitted nominations for the awards in July; in August, a nominating committee of statewide media and industry professionals determined the finalists. That committee and the public vote will ultimately determine this year’s winners.

The awards span thirteen categories, including Beverage Professional of the Year, a new category for 2025. Winners will be announced at a November 10 gala emceed by James Beard award-winning author Adrian Miller at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tickets for the event and voting can be found at cohospyawards.com.

In addition to the eleven categories being voted on, the HOSPYs will also honor the 2025 Legacy Employee of the Year, Chris Seres, assistant general manager of the Fort in Morrison; and Community Partner of the Year, Kind Therapy Inc. based in Edgewater.

At the gala, three local hospitality professionals will also be inducted into the Colorado Foodservice Hall of Fame, which was established in 1978 and includes <i>Westword</i> editor-in-chief Patricia Calhoun, who was inducted in 2019.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Nick Ault, owner of the Duffeyroll Bakery & Café
• Sheila Lucero, culinary director for the Big Red F Restaurant Group
• Restaurateur Kevin Taylor of the Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group

Here are the 2025 HOSPYs finalists in the eleven categories open to public vote:

• Front-of-House Employee of the Year: Laine Droski, FOH Team Member, Leven Deli (Denver);
  Maxwell Martin, Cook/Counter, Sexy Pizza Jefferson Park (Denver); Jade Szporn, Cashier,
  Chook (Denver)
• Back-of-House Employee of the Year: Gerry Perez, Line Cook, Mizuna (Denver); Alondra
  Ramos, Lead Line Cook, Restaurant Olivia (Denver); Karter Worland-Pressely, Line & Prep
  Cook, Steuben’s (Denver)
• Bartender of the Year: Devin Ershow, Head Mixologist, Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery
  (Denver, Aspen); Scott Hanley, Bartender, The Candlelight Tavern (Denver); Lexi Parker, Bar
  Lead, Poka Lola Social Club (Denver)
• Beverage Professional of the Year: Gavin Bistodeau, Owner/Founder, Melrose Spirit Co.
  (Grand Junction); Jeremy Campbell, Owner/Sommelier, Root & Flower (Vail); Stuart Weaver,
  Partner/GM, Lady Jane (Denver)
• Manager of the Year: Daniel Albert, Manager, Rupert’s Durango (Durango); Marceleno Diaz,
  General Manager, Pony Up (Denver); Jenny Knickerbocker, Regional VP of Operations,
  Destination Hospitality (Steamboat Springs)
• Food Truck of the Year: La Reyna del Sur (Denver); The Little Pink Food Truck (Grand Junction);
  Sunny Sky Pies (Fort Collins)
• Operator of the Year: Doug Hammond, Kangaroo Coffee (Colorado Springs); Loren Martinez,
  Little Man Ice Cream (Denver); Mary Nguyen, Olive & Finch Collective (Denver, Aurora)
• Newcomer Restaurant of the Year: Champagne Tiger (Denver); Mama Jo’s Biscuits & BBQ
  (Denver); Postcard Pizza (Fort Collins); Riot BBQ (Denver); Welton Street Café (Denver)
• Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year: Ismael de Sousa, Reunion Bread Co (Denver); Hannah Lavoy,
  Lucina Eatery & Bar/Xiquita Restaurante y Bar (Denver); Emily Thompson, The Wolf’s Tailor
  (Denver)
• Chef of the Year: Erasmo Casiano, Lucina Eatery & Bar/Xiquita Restaurante Y Bar/Create
  Kitchen & Bar (Denver, Aurora); Johnny Curiel, Alma Fonda Fina/Mezcaleria Alma/Cozobi
  Fonda Fina, Alteño (Denver, Boulder); Kenta Kamo, Temaki Den (Denver); An Nguyen, Dân Dã
  (Aurora); John Wilson, Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse, Bella Colibri, Miners Saloon, Brick
  Room and Alchemy (Golden)
• Restaurant of the Year: Beijing Noodle (Fort Collins); Bin 707 (Grand Junction); Black Cat
  Farmstead (Boulder); Marigold (Lyons); Restaurant Olivia (Denver)