James Beard Award Latest “Dish” For Chef Zubrod

May 22nd, 2006 at 04:02pm Michael Conniff 2

Want to know the best chefs in town?

Consider the credentials of Matthew Zubrod, shifting from his perch at the Ritz-Carlton Aspen Highlands to the brand-new “Dish” where the old Mogador used to be in downtown Aspen.  He was in New York City this weekend as one of the Best Hotel Chefs of America  for the prestigious James Beard Foundation, the pinnacle of fine dining.

That kudo alone should tell you something, or I could tell you about the magazine assignment I had from Aspen Sojourner to pig out like there was no tomorrow at the best spots in town, including the Ritz and Olive’s at the St. Regis. But I prefer the ultimate evidence: all those cookarounds around time at Food and Wine, Soup Skol, and other festivals, wherein all the best places in town do a stare-down of their best recipes.

Time after time, in that kind of competition, I have come away loving the Ritz food to death. For that we have Matt Zubrod to thank, so I’m heading to Dish, also owned by my friend Mitch Sher, the first chance I get. It should be opening around June 1, 2006.

To tell the truth, Mitch almost came in on Aspen Post with me, but he had too much good taste for that. Now he’s got a partner who can really cook.

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