These Are Colorado's Six 2025 James Beard Finalists

The state's culinary scene has a lot to celebrate. Will there be more reasons tonight?

June 16, 2025

Chef Johnny Curiel (right) debuted Alma Fonda Fina in December 2023. Shawn Campbell

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In April, the list of fourteen Colorado chefs and restaurants that had been named James Beard Award semifinalists was cut down to finalists in six categories. The winners will be announced tonight, June 16.

Among this state's finalists is Alma Fonda Fina in the Best New Restaurant category. The restaurant from husband-and-wife team Johnny and Kasie Curiel earned a Michelin star in 2024, less than a year after opening; the couple opened three more in quick succession: Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder, Mezcaleria Alma next door to Alma Fonda Fina, and Alteño, which debuted in March in Cherry Creek.

Although six Colorado chefs were among the semifinalists for the Best Chef: Mountain category, only one made the final cut: Penelope Wong, who launched her restaurant Yuan Wonton as a food truck before moving into a Park Hill brick-and-mortar, is a finalist for the second year in a row.

McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright's Yacht Club has racked up several honors since its 2021 debut. Last year, it was named Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the Spirited Awards; now its owners are finalists in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category.

Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos of Poulette Bakeshop in Parker are up for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker — a well-deserved accolade for one of the best places to get pastries in the state.

Michelin-starred Frasca Food and Wine, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year, is a finalist in the Outstanding Restaurant category — basically the equivalent of the Best Picture at the Oscars. Frasca has won Beard awards in the past, most recently in 2019, when it nabbed the Outstanding Service award. But this is its first time as a finalist in this category.

While five of the Colorado finalists are in the metro area, the Western Slope nabbed a big category: Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction is up for Outstanding Chef.

In 2020, Colorado boasted an impressive eighteen James Beard award semifinalists — but the awards that year were ultimately canceled when COVID hit. After a two-year hiatus, they returned in 2022; that's when Annette owner Caroline Glover won Best Chef: Mountain Region. In 2023, Colorado's culinary talent was shut out of the final awards completely. But last year, Id Est Hospitality Group founders Kelly and Erika Whitaker took home Outstanding Restaurateur, and Matt Vawter, owner of Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge, won Best Chef: Mountain Region.

The winners of this year's awards will be announced during a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago tonight.

Here's the complete list of 2025 James Beard Award finalists from Colorado:

Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges (right) with the team from Yacht Club.

Yacht Club

Outstanding Chef
Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction

Outstanding Restaurant
Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder

Best New Restaurant
Alma Fonda Fina

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop, Parker

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton

Molly Martin has been the Food & Drink editor at Westword since 2021. Prior to joining the staff, Molly reported on the Denver dining scene for more than a decade and contributed to Thrillist. At Westword, Molly monitors restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on Denver-area food news and trends. She also publishes such annual lists as Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the yearly Best of Denver edition. In 2023, she was recognized with the Colorado Restaurant Association's Outstanding Media Professional award.

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