On Wednesday, the Colorado Restaurant Association honored two pillars of the Colorado Springs food scene at its annual Industry Spotlight Awards: McCabe’s Tavern co-owner Greg Howard, and Craig Reed, director of food and beverage at The Broadmoor.
Since his days at Phantom Canyon Brewing Co., Howard, winner of the Regional Outstanding Professional Signature Dish Award, has been known for his hospitality (and now his sexy beard). In partnership with his wife and co-owner Ari, Greg has made McCabe’s Tavern into a community-focused leader in local cuisine, doing things like cooking for firefighters in the Waldo Canyon Fire and donating to local events. He recently left McCabe’s to become director of food and beverage at the Garden of the Gods Club.
Meanwhile, Reed, who has called the hotel home for over 20 years, was a driving part of the hotel’s role as one of the top dogs of local food, with restaurants like Penrose Room, Charles Court, Summit, Natural Epicurean and Ristorante del Lago all leaders in their respective genres.
“Since its inception, the ISA has come to represent the very best in our industry,” the CRA says in a pre-event press release, “and this year is no exception.”
The event was held at Denver’s EXDO Event Center, and featured the food of Jenna Johansen of Epicurean Group, Sheila Lucero of Jax Fish House, Liz Farrall of Sarto’s Social Italian Eatery, Andrea Knight of The Noshery, and Serena Romero of Comida. Tickets were $115 per person.
[Top image: Courtesy Krista Heinicke]
