Denver restaurants continue to attract top chefs from around the country.  Here are few that are best of the best and worth a visit.

Goose Sorenson
Hailing from Wyoming, Goose Sorenson made his way to Colorado with dreams of working in a kitchen. He got his first gig working at Ruth Chris Steak House and then moved over to Tante Louise before attending the Colorado Institute of Art. Following graduation, he worked for some of the legendary Colorado chefs such as Michael Degenhart, Duy Pham and Mel Master. After a few years working underneath these greats, Sorenson was ready to try his hand at his own kitchen and Solera was born. According to Denver’s Metromix, Solera is the best thing that East Colfax has seen in years. The food is inspired Spanish farmhouse fare with dishes often slow roasted or braised to bring out the simple but rich natural flavors.

Matt Selby
Denver native Matt Selby may be one of the more recognizable chefs on the Colorado restaurant scene. This well tattooed local chef started at the bottom and has worked his way up to a nearly god-like status. His career began at Bennigan’s before he moved onto Rattlesnake Grill and several restaurants run by Mel Master. While working at Top Hat, Selby accepted a position as a sous chef at Vesta Dipping Grilled. Amazingly, after only two months, he was promoted to Executive Chef. That was ten years ago and Selby hasn’t looked back since.

Selby’s food is described as creative, worldly and whimsical. Behind his guidance, the reviews and awards for Vesta have rolled in with Selby being selected as Best Chef in Denver and Denver’s Top Ten Restaurant. Selby and Vesta have been showcased on the Food Network, Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, National Geographic Traveler, Travel and Leisure Magazine, Bon Appétit and Food and Wine. By 2005, Selby was chosen to represent Denver at the James Beard House in New York City. Selby has a strong sense of community and regularly contributes to local charities including the annual Small Plates For The Spot, Too Many Chefs in the Kitchen and Taste of the Nation.

Scott Parker
Scott Parker entered the dining scene with a bang. This Oklahoma native was a member of the second graduating class at the Colorado Institute of Art. He cut his teeth at distinguished restaurants throughout Colorado including Denver’s Adega, Vail’s Game Creek Club, Beaver Creek’s Grouse Mountain Grill and a stint out in Nantucket. Parker started at Table 6 as a sous chef but when the then Executive Chef decided to pull out, along with the owners, Parker and associates Dan Ferguson and Aaron Forman took over and recreated an even better rendition.

Table 6, which gets its name from its location to 6th Avenue, finds its home in a renovated warehouse. The interior is warm and almost rural in nature, despite its urban setting. The decor mirrors the food, with both being playful and creative.

Playing up flavors of the season, the menus at Table 6 are ever changing and highlight Parker’s creativity and comfort in stepping outside of the box. Expect to find unique combinations like pork belly on a bed of watermelon, pork butt studded hamburger and spaghetti with clams and bacon.