We are so excited to debut Surf, Denver’s primer seafood festival this Thursday, July 31 at McGregor Square. From 6 to 10 p.m. it’s all-you-can eat and drink from around 20 participating restaurants.
Some of our esteemed eateries include Salt Water Social, Mizu Izakaya, Mizuna, Blue Island Oyster Bar, and Call Me Pearl. To kick off the fun, we have five top notch judges signed up to crown the king or queen of seafood. Find out who they are, and check out the preview dinner for the event below.
Fox31 Meteorologist Kylie Bearse
Kylie Bearse is the morning meteorologist at Fox31 in Denver, Colorado. An avid hiker, Kylie founded The Approachable Outdoors, which empowers people to get out and explore Colorado no matter their skill level. She also is an advocate for mental health, blogging candidly about her personal experiences.
While weather and outdoors dominate her life, Kylie also has done a lot of food reporting and can often be found eating at all the best restaurants. This is not her first time judging, but the first seafood festival. Follow her on Instagram for more.
Chef Sheila Lucero of Big Red F
A Denver native with more than two decades of culinary experience, Sheila Lucero was first introduced to the world of cooking by her father, a foodie and cook himself. Lucero was a part of the opening crew at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar LoDo, where, under the tutelage of its parent company Big Red F and owner Dave Query and chef Jamey Fader, she worked her way up to sous chef and executive chef.
During her tenure at Jax, Lucero has always focused on delivering the finest quality seafood, earning her culinary prowess scores of accolades from local and national media outlets. Lucero led the Jax brand to become the first seafood restaurant in both Colorado and Missouri to be certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.
Additionally, Lucero is a member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, the Safina Center, Fish Choice and the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch program. Lucero has lobbied members of Congress in Washington D.C. for several key environmental policies to protect marine habitats, and is also an active member of local industry groups such as Eat Denver.
Founder and Chef of GQue BBQ Jason Ganahl
Barbecue master Jason Ganahl founded GQue BBQ, which has spread across the Front Range to over five spots. He is a certified Kansas City Barbecue Society judge and has won top accolades at numerous professional barbecue contests. He has also brought glory to GQue BBQ at DiningOut Event’s festivals, taking home numerous first-place spots.
Ganahl’s first book will debut in spring, 2026, distributed by Simon & Schuster. The chef also has a popular YouTube channel with millions of views, which works to serve as essential guides for both novice and experienced pit masters through the Rocky Mountains. When not working, Jason enjoys watching college football, spending time with his wife, four kids, three dogs, and two cats at their home in Lonetree.
9NEWS Anchor Jordan Chavez
Jordan Chavez is the weekday morning anchor at 9NEWS. While he has no real culinary credibility, Jordan has earned the title of unofficial taste tester, and you can often find him chowing down on all food that enters the station. You can catch Jordan and his team Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 10 a.m. And yes, he will be staying up late to judge the Surf Seafood Competition this year.
RARE Steak Champion Josh Oakley
Chef Josh Oakley is an accomplished and dynamic culinary leader, best known for his role as executive chef at the now closed Avelina in Denver. In 2021, Josh gained national attention as a contestant on Hell’s Kitchen Season 19, where he showcased his composure, creativity, and leadership under pressure. He earned three individual challenge wins, reinforcing his passion for excellence in high-stakes environments. Oakley also took home top marks at our steak festival, RARE.
Want a little more? Check out the preview dinner we did with Buckhead Pride, the sponsor for Surf. Come join them and pick your own favorites at Surf. Tickets available here.
