Dakota's culinary roots began in his parents' kitchen growing up in rural Maine. Summers were spent picking rocks and weeds out of the garden, collecting eggs from the chickens, helping canning 'dilly beans' and eating dinner before it was done cooking. His first real cooking job was in college to earn a little money while he finished up his undergraduate architecture degree at CU-Boulder. Upon graduation, Dakota headed out to San Francisco and Napa Valley to work in nationally acclaimed restaurants such as Zuni Cafe and Julia's Kitchen. Dakota eventually migrated back to Colorado, no longer being able to resist the pull of the mountains, and ended up cooking at The Kitchen and [Upstairs] eventually becoming the Executive Chef. The summer of 2009 was joyfully spent cooking in the fields of Boulder County farms out of a school bus, Bella, and a trailer drawn, wood fired grill for Meadow Lark Farm Dinners. When not cooking at work Dakota can be found in the surrounding mountains enjoying going up or down them. Also, in his home kitchen teaching his daughter, Zaya, how not to cut her fingers off with big sharp knives.
Jason Hein - GM
Jason Hein will lead the front of house operations of the restaurant. A lifelong restaurant man, Jason has been involved in every level of the business both front and back of house. Honing his skills in fine dining restaurants such as Windows on the Green in Scottsdale, Arizona and Patina in Beaver Creek. Jason was also an original member of the team that opened the James Beard recognized restaurant, The Kitchen, in Boulder, Colorado. He believes great service is in the details. Anticipating the guests needs as well as being educated, unintrusive, and enthusiastic go to create a great dining experience. It's this philosophy he will bring to the restaurant.
