Sandwich innovator and community-minded chef Cliff Blauvelt starred in the sixth episode of Chef’n It, Behind the Apron Media’s monthly cooking series. The show premiered on Thursday, February 12, 2026, featuring the chef’s casual Denver Odie B’s, with locations in Sunnyside and RiNo.
On screen, Blauvelt brought his signature mix of vibrant flavors and hands-on technique, guiding host Tarah Runco through the creation of Odie B’s iconic Breakfast Chopped Cheese, finished with a sunny-side egg. Beyond a sandwich tutorial, the episode offers a window into his culinary philosophy, centered on the idea that food should be craveable, comforting, and made by people who feel supported and valued.
“Simple, high-quality ingredients, treated thoughtfully, can turn into something really special,” Blauvelt said. He prioritizes sourcing locally whenever possible, highlighting pork from Oliver’s Meat Market, bacon from Brunson Meat Co., hoagie rolls from Marczyk Fine Foods, and everything seasoning from The Spice Guy throughout the episode.
Meet Chef Cliff Blauvelt
Born in Maine and raised in Houston, Blauvelt has called Denver home since the age of 15. What began as a college job while studying psychology grew into a 20-plus-year culinary career shaped by some of the city’s well-known kitchens, including Watercourse Foods, Steuben’s, and Tap & Burger.
In 2022, he and his partner in life and business, Cara Blauvelt, opened Odie B’s in Sunnyside as a rowdy neighborhood sandwich shop serving bold flavors in a welcoming space. A second location followed in RiNo in early 2025, and later that year, the pair launched Boombots Pasta Shop next door to the original Sunnyside space. In fact, the two share a kitchen.
“I built the restaurants I want to work in,” Blauvelt explained while filming, describing his desire to cook with friends, make the food he loves, and create a space that feels authentic to his team.
The Odie B’s Chopped Cheese
The beauty of the Chopped Cheese is that it’s flavorful and familiar. This stacked sandwich embodies Blauvelt’s mission to show how simple food can be exceptional when prepared with high quality ingredients and innovative applications.
“Our sandwiches come out quick, fast, easy,” he said. “But on the back end, it’s a lot of technique.”
Aside from the chef, the star of the show is house-made sage, pork, and bacon sausage, folded with melted American cheese and topped with candied and pickled Fresno peppers, tangy Dilly O’s (quick-pickled onions), and Blauvelt’s 30-ingredient Colorado Fancy Sauce, a “Thousand Island on Colorado steroids,” pared down to only 14 mix-ins for home cooks.
For Chef’n It, the recipe closely mirrors the restaurant version, with Blauvelt walking host Tarah Runco through making the sausage from scratch and assembling this breakfast classic step by step. True to Odie B’s spirit, the recipe is approachable for all, including vegetarian and vegan alternatives, so fans can recreate the iconic sandwich at home.
“The best part is, you can do whatever you like,” Blauvelt said. “Customize it. Make it yours.” Get the recipe now on ChefnIt.com.
Feeding People and Building Community
Episode six of Chef’n It also highlights the inclusive culture and supportive nature of Odie B’s. Blauvelt believes restaurants should be places people want to work in and spaces built on respect and connection. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist through CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness) and advocate for mental health and substance abuse recovery, he has designed a recovery-friendly workplace where about 70% of the staff are in active recovery.
At Odie B’s, food serves as a tool for wellness and growth, as well as nourishment for the body. Throughout the episode, Blauvelt demonstrates how supportive leadership and soulful sandwiches create community and belonging in their colorful corners of Colorado.
Watch this YouTube video to learn more about how Odie B’s serves as a recovery-friendly workplace.
Watch Episode Six of Chef’n It
Hosted by Behind the Apron Media founder Tarah Runco, Chef’n It is a monthly YouTube series that goes beyond the plate to share the heart, technique, and stories behind Colorado’s top culinary talent. Each episode offers an approachable recipe of the restaurant’s signature dish made to inspire home cooks.
Watch episode six now at ChefnIt.com or on Behind the Apron Media’s YouTube channel.
