Chef Carrie Baird of Fox and the Hen is on a new cooking show, while Denver’s own Soul Food Scholar scores a James Beard nod. Looking forward to ice cream weather and dining by the DCPA before MJ, a musical about Michael Jackson.
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The 411
Lost at Sea
Fear not fans of Top Chef’s Carrie Baird, who oversees Denver’s Fox and the Hen, she isn’t lost. More, you can find her on a new Food Network show called Chopped Castaways, premiering May 12. Think the cooking competition Chopped meets the adventure show Survivor, with a bit of campfire cooking in between.
No More Fees
The SB26-134, or the Swipe Fee Relief Act, passed through its final House of Representatives floor vote last week on a 44-20 vote. The bill aims to eliminate one of the two fees restaurants are charged by credit card companies for every transaction. It doesn’t change the way diners use their credit cards at all. The only thing left to do is have Governor Jared Polis signing the bill into law.
Adrian Miller Slays
Once again, the talented Adrian Miller, a Colorado local and prolific author and soul food expert, has reason to celebrate. He was just nominated for a 2026 James Beard Foundation Media Award in Feature Reporting for his October 2025 Southern Living magazine article, The Unwritten Chapters of Charleston Receipts.
Published in October, 2025, Miller’s piece examines the legacy of Charleston Receipts, the famed Charleston, South Carolina community cookbook first published in 1950. Not only does he explore the cultural significance of the book, but also Black cooks and Gullah Geechee culinary traditions that helped shape Charleston’s celebrated food culture. Miller won James Beard honors for his books Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine and One Plate at a Time and Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue, but this is his first nomination in the journalism category.
BRT Moves to Aurora
After over a year in, the Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, has moved into Aurora. After seeing so many closures and issues on the Denver side, some business owners are nervous it will also impact their bottom line. But so far, nothing has been announced.
Don’t Miss This Week
Need some dining out recommendations? Try these three hot spots, and make sure to check out the week’s events.
Tuesday: We loved seeing what owners Drew and Leah Watson of Hops & Pie do in a day last week during the chef takeover. But now, we’re hungry for that sourdough pizza so stopping in for some.
Wednesday: MJ, the Michael Jackson musical, is now at the Denver Center of Performing Arts, and we’re excited both for the show and to grab a bite and a cocktail at The Nickel next door. You can even get discounted valet parking if you eat before the performance.
Friday: It’s starting to feel more and more like summer. So indulging in a cone from Little Man Ice Cream, which gives back to the community, sounds like the perfect snack ticket.
