Eater.com: The Denver Awards

interview with Andra Zeppelin

Eater.com’s Denver desk is out with their 2014 awards.  Editor Andra Zeppelin visited “First Take with Lando and Chavis” with the winners (and why they’re tops).

First, Zeppelin described the process.  ”During the voting week, I nominate five restaurants for each of the categories.  Readers vote and that narrows down the playing field to three.  Out of the top three, I get to pick the winner.”

The big award for “Restaurant of the Year” went to Acorn.  ”By and large, from every major publication in the Denver area, they’ve had a big year with great reviews.  They were the most popular of the five, and I agreed with that.”

(FULL DISCLOSURE: The editor of Denver.Eater.com is married to one of the developers of The Source, the building that Acorn is located in.  But Zeppelin notes, “Remember, the voters also picked Acorn.”)

Chef of the Year: Kelly Whitaker (Cart Driver in RiNo, “Kelly also had a big year as a community leader.”)

So Hot Right Now: Rosenberg’s Bagels and Delicatessen (Five Points!)

Bartender of the Year: Sean Kenyon (Williams & Graham, LoHi, “an epic year with national awards and recognition”)

Stone Cold Stunner (the design award): The Cooper Lounge (upstairs at Union Station, “the most comfortable, spectacular, elegant space I’ve seen this year.”)

Denver.Eater.com 2014 Awards