20 MAY 4-10, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | we become a more sustainable city when it comes to food.” The restaurant doesn’t use any of the big distributors, either, instead focusing on forg- ing strong relationships with local farmers. “We are trying to be as resourceful as we can with what we have in Colorado,” notes Diaz de Leon. Bruto also gives 1 percent of its sales to Zero Foodprint, a nonprofi t based in Cali- fornia that gives back to farmers to support regenerative agriculture. “It’s our responsibil- ity as restaurants and chefs to care,” he says. “My aspirations are to open a bigger Bruto. I want to take it to its wildest dreams,” he continues, adding that he envisions that happening in two to three years — and he plans to do it in the Mile High. “I really do love Denver. Denver is my home. I want it to be up there with the L.A.s and the Chicagos and the Miamis and the New Yorks. ... What really makes Denver special is the commu- nity of chefs that work here. Everybody does their best, and we all respect each other. And we need that, because we’re such a young food city in a way, in regard to having the platform now. It’s gonna require all of us to really band together to get the recognition from bigger cities.” That platform includes the James Beard Awards. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I started cooking,” Diaz de Leon says of being named a fi nalist. “I knew what I wanted, and I knew it would eventually come; I just didn’t think it would come this quick. I was putting my head down, and I was just focusing on the food. As long as every night our guests leave happy, the work will get recognized eventually. So to achieve that goal, it’s amazing. Not only for me, but for the staff that works so hard.” Next up, he says, is getting the Michelin Guide to come to Denver. “It’s just a matter of time,” he insists. “It’s going to take more than Bruto to do that, so if we can be the springboard, it’s an opportunity for us to drive the next generation of chefs.” But in the meantime, he’s going to con- tinue focusing on the food. He and his team are already planning up to a year ahead, with fermentation projects in the works that will be used in 2024. Soon the menu at Bruto will shift to spring, highlighting lamb. In the summer, Colorado produce will be the focal point, before bison makes a comeback in the fall and winter. “James Beard is just a platform to con- tinue to do really cool work and for us to have more resources,” Diaz de Leon says. For example, he now has the opportunity to attend the James Beard boot camp in Al- buquerque this month to learn more about sustainability and advocacy work. Whether or not he’s named Best Chef, Mountain Region at the James Beard awards ceremony in Chicago on June 5, Diaz de Leon is proud of his achievements and excited for what the future holds. “I do this for bigger reasons than awards,” he concludes. “I didn’t before. I was always chasing the carrot, and now I have the carrot. So what are you gonna do with the carrot? I’m gonna ferment it and make miso out of it.” Email the author at [email protected]. Cafe continued from page 17 Saturday, June 10, 2023 ON SALE NOW! 11:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. | VIP EARLY ENTRY: 11 A.M. | GA ENTRY: 11:30 A.M YORK STREET YARDS | 3851 STEELE STREET BENEFITING: BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Unlimited BRUNCH SAMPLES & SIPS FROM THE HOTTEST BRUNCH SPOTS SCAN FOR TICKETS to 21+ ONLY | RAIN OR SHINE WESTWORDOUTTOBRUNCH.COM Featuring: 1908 AN UPTOWN EATERY | DIS BURRITO DUFFEYROLL | THE FIFTH STRING FIRE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE FOX AND THE HEN | THE GAUCHO PARRILLA KONA GRILL | THE OG | SAFTA | STK STEAKHOUSE SYRUP | TONANTZIN CASA DE CAFE | W I L D E + MORE! EXCLUSIVE VIP: DIG IN EATS FOR MORE INFO & TICKETS MERCURYCAFE.COM TUE 5/2 BEGINNER LINDY HOP CLASS 6PM-7PM INTERMEDIATE LINDY HOP 7PM-8PM LINDY HOP SOCIAL DANCE 8PM-11PM WED 5/3 WEST COAST SWING 7PM - 11PM OPEN MIC MUSICIANS 9PM-12AM PSYC CLUB 7PM - 8:45PM MON 5/1 ZOUK DANCE 7PM-11:30PM THU 5/4 THUNDERVIEW DINNERS 6-8:30PM PSYC PROFESSIONALS 8-10PM FRI 5/5 GABE JAZZ TRIO 6PM-9PM POETRY OPEN MIC 10:30PM-1AM PRIVATE EVENT DANCEHALL 5-11PM SAT 5/6 CETH’S SWING CLASS 10AM-4PM THE COSMIC CHARLIES 8-11PM SUN 5/7 GRISHA NISEVICH 10AM-1PM SOUL STORIES IN THE DANCEHALL 2-4PM JAM B4 THE SLAM 6-8PM OPEN MIC (POETRY) 8-11PM SWING DANCE/SHIMI 5:30PM - 8PM JOE GREEN & FRIENDS 8-10PM
