Denver chef Max Mackissock has been shortlisted for Food and Wine Magazine’s “The People’s Best New Chef” award for the Southwest Region, a new award this year.
Each June, Food and Wine magazine names their 10 “Best New Chefs” in the country, honoring the winners at the annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen and profiling them in the pages of the magazine. Last year, Alex Seidel of Fruition restaurant in Denver was one of the 10 chosen — from a nationwide pool of several hundred — by editors of the magazine.
This year, Food and Wine is adding a new award to the mix for the first time: The People’s Best New Chef, voted on by readers of the magazine and the public at large. Ten nominees from 10 regions around the country will compete for the public’s vote.
Denver chef Max Mackissock of The Squeaky Bean restaurant, is among the finalists from the southwest region. Mackissock, known for his inventive, farm-to-table cookery, is the only nominee from Colorado.
The list of candidates was posted online today. The public has until March 1, 2011 to vote. Come summertime, the winner will be revealed. (Visit and click on “The People’s Best New Chef” for details.)
Mackissock, opened the Squeaky Bean with partner Johnny Ballen in 2009. The Denver Post reviewed the restaurant in September of that year, awarding the team three stars. (Click here to read the review: )
