The 2025 HOSPYS Awards took place November 10, and we got to celebrate with the winners and nominated talent from around Colorado. Also in restaurant news, a popular neighborhood spot got recognized by Slow Food Denver, and there’s a French Dip showdown coming. Expect to fill up on ice cream this winter, and if you like peaches, a new bottle of brandy is out now.
Read on for more top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
Grab a Winter Pass For a Sweet Season
Little Man Ice Cream announced its news of a Winter Pass Program to incentivize locals to visit multiple Little Man locations, rack up points, and compete for amazing prizes including ice cream for a year, Broncos tickets, cultural passes, and more. The Grand Prize includes a ski pass or $1,000 cash.
Stamps can be earned by making a purchase of at least $5.75 from any Little Man Ice Cream location. Any participants who get their Winter Passes stamped from at least eight of Little Man’s locations will automatically receive a free Big Dip Scoop. Join the fun now and until January 31, 2026. Full details, along with terms and conditions, can be found at littlemanwinterpass.com
The 2025 HOSPYS Awards
This past Monday we celebrated the 2025 Colorado Restaurant Association Hospitality Awards (The HOSPYS). The awards ceremony took place at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, hosted by award-winning author Adrian Miller, aka The Soul Food Scholar. The mission of the HOSPYS is to recognize achievement at every level of the hospitality workforce including dishwashers, cooks, service teams, food truck operators, restaurateurs, chefs, and beverage professionals.
There were 13 awards given out, starting with Front-of-House Employee of the Year, Laine Droski of Leven Deli Co. in Denver. After that we celebrated the Back-of-House Employee of the Year, Alondra Ramos of Restaurant Olivia in Denver; Bartender of the Year, Scott Hanley of The Candlelight Tavern in Denver; Beverage Professional of the Year, Gavin Bistodeau, owner of Melrose Spirit Co. in Grand Junction; and Manager of the Year, Jenny Knickerbocker of Destination Hospitality in Steamboat Springs.
On the cooking side, the Food Truck of the Year was Sunny Sky Pies in Fort Collins. For Operator of the Year, Mary Nguyen, owner of Olive & Finch Collective in Denver and Aurora took home the prize. We were excited to hear the Newcomer Restaurant of the Year award went to Champagne Tiger in Denver, the Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year was Ismael de Sousa of Reunion Bread Co. in Denver, and the Chef of the Year, An Nguyen of Dân Dã in Aurora. Finally, the Restaurant of the Year title went to Bin 707 in Grand Junction.
Two additional HOSPY Awards given out include Legacy Employee of the Year, Chris Seres, assistant general manager of The Fort in Morrison; and Community Partner of the Year, Kind Therapy, Inc. in Edgewater. For the first time at the HOSPYS gala, the CRA inducted three esteemed members of Colorado’s hospitality community into the Colorado Foodservice Hall of Fame. Established in 1978, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose longstanding careers and meaningful contributions have shaped and elevated the state’s restaurant industry.
The 2025 inductees include: Nick Ault, owner of The Duffeyroll Bakery & Café in Denver; Sheila Lucero, culinary director of The Big Red F Restaurant Group; and Kevin Taylor, founder of Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group. To learn more, visit cohospyawards.com.
French Dip Showdown
With the four words “French Dip Chef Competition,” we are already salivating. Hosted at Pony Up, which is known for the great dips, the three-part series kicks off on Monday, November 17. The only rule, all sandwiches must be dipped into liquid.
First up, watch and taste the outcome of James Beard Award-winning chef Matt Vawter of Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge, faces off with the Pony Up team. On December 15 you’ll see chef Russ Maddox of Brasserie Brixton dish it out against chef John David of Le Rougarou. Finally, the third competition on January 12 brings chef Johnny Curiel of the Michelin-starred Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcalaria Alma against Sheamus Feeley, the chef who started the French dip revolution with Pony Up, and who now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he runs his restaurant Noche.
The competition is free to attend and open to the public. Each event begins at 4 p.m. and runs until sell-out. Guests can purchase “judge plates” featuring half portions of each competitor’s creation, which come labeled simply as French Dip #1 and French Dip #2, so you can vote for your favorite by submitting tokens. 1808 Blake St., Denver, ponyupdenver.com
Hit Up the Newest Vietnamese Bakery
Every Saturday morning brings a fresh spread of pastries and breads to sap sua and its one-day-a-week pop-up, Bakehouse. Led by the restaurant’s new pastry chef, Korrina Mahan, the line up includes seasonally-inspired treats such as lemon zucchini loaves, apple fritters, pho-braised oxtail hand pies, and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The shop opens at 8 a.m. and goes until the goods sell out. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, sapsua.com
The Snail of Approval Strikes Again
Slow Food Denver has awarded Cart-Driver LoHi the Snail of Approval. The distinction goes to restaurants who have committed to make good, clean, and fair food, working with local farms and purveyors.
“We were chosen for the Snail of Approval Award because of our focus on local farms, the sustainable practices we use in our kitchen, our community impact through the Cart-Driver Cocktail for a Cause program, and our mission,” the restaurant shared online. Visit soon and find out more about how the neighborhood spot shines. 2239 W. 30th Ave., Denver, cart-driver.com/lohi
Pre-Order an Exclusive Bottle of Brandy
The Family Jones shared news of its special end-of-year release, Peach Brandy. The story behind the bottle comes from a tale of wild fermentation gone wrong, which head distiller Rob Masters turned into a clever collaboration with Colorado’s Aquila Cellars. The result is a tasty spirit spiked with Colorado peaches and a lot of patience. Available for pre-order now with pickup at the Holiday Market on December 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Family Jones Spirit House, $80 each. 245 Osage St., Denver, thefamilyjones.co
