Chef'n It

Watch Episode 9 and the Season 1 Finale of Colorado’s Cooking Show @chefn_it ! Chef’n It spotlights the chefs, restaurants, and cuisine shaping Colorado’s vibrant culinary scene. Each monthly episode features a local executive chef recreating one of their restaurant’s signature dishes using approachable techniques and ingredients for the home cook.⁠ In this episode, Executive Pastry Chef Emily Thompson (@wonderb00 ) of @thewolfstailor , a @michelinguide Two Star and Green Star restaurant in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver, joins host Tarah Runco (@thebainmarie ) to share how to make her signature Garden Pavlova. She walks through the techniques behind the dish, bringing a restaurant-quality dessert into your home kitchen. - Watch & Subscribe: YouTube Link in @chefn_it ’s Bio - Make the Recipe: - Newsletter Signup: Link in @chefn_it ’s Bio - Instagram: Bonus Features on @chefn_it Created by @behindtheapronmedia .

@upnxtden welcomes Chef David Arnold of @freehandprovisions ! Up NXT is an 8-month incubator program where emerging chefs take over the @bear_leek kitchen on Sundays for month-long residencies. This May, Chef David Arnold brings an intimate, seasonal tasting experience to Denver’s @rinoartdistrict , rooted in thoughtful simplicity, creative exploration, and a deep connection to local ingredients. What began as a way to support farms and utilize excess produce has grown into pop-ups and communal dining experiences designed to spark curiosity, invite play, and bring people together around the table. A standout dish during his residency is Savoy spinach from @esoterraculinary , cooked in black sesame butter and topped with summer truffle, elevating a humble ingredient, and showcasing the depth and richness of this nutritional powerhouse, a true superfood. Follow @upnxtden and reserve your seat via the link in their bio to experience Chef David Arnold’s residency! ... This video was created in partnership with @chefn_it , a series highlighting the chefs and makers shaping Colorado’s food scene. Like Up NXT, Chef’n It features the creativity, talent, and passion driving the state’s culinary community. Follow @chefn_it for more great content!

Meet The Chef: Emily Thompson A 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, Chef Emily Thompson closes out Season One of @chefn_it with an ingredient-driven approach to pastry rooted in seasonality, storytelling, and connection. Inspired by her mother’s baking and a lifelong love of hosting, she sees food as a way to care for others, understand them, and bring people together around the table. Chef Emily brings a culinary perspective shaped by her studies at Johnson & Wales University and more than a decade of experience in acclaimed kitchens, including three formative years at The French Laundry (@_tfl_ ) under Chef Thomas Keller (@chefthomaskeller ). Now leading pastry and baking at @thewolfstailor , she creates what she calls “Colorado desserts,” shaped by local ingredients, collaboration, and a deep reverence for seasonality. Chef Emily is deeply committed to mentorship, fostering a kitchen where creativity, collaboration, and growth are shared. Catch her in Episode 9 of @chefn_it , out now on YouTube—link in @chefn_it ’s bio! 📸 by @behindtheapronmedia

Episode 9 of Chef’n It featuring Chef Emily Thompson of @thewolfstailor drops tomorrow! 🎬 Learn how to create her Garden Pavlova, an approachable, at-home version of the dessert served on the autumn menu at The Wolf’s Tailor, and a go-to for family and friend get-togethers. Watch the full episode tomorrow on @behindtheapronmedia ’s YouTube channel, and sign up for the newsletter for early access and first looks at what’s next — both available through the link in @chefn_it ’s bio. 📸 @behindtheapronmedia

Taking a moment to enjoy and capture the garden outside our upcoming featured chef's restaurant in episode 9 of @chefn_it . The garden isn't just a beautiful backdrop for the diners on their outdoor patio – the chefs use ingredients grown here in numerous courses throughout their tasting menu. Follow @chefn_it and watch the Season 1 finale on Thursday! YouTube link in bio.

Our Season 1 finale is almost here! Our Episode 9 chef is a 2026 @beardfoundation Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and the Executive Pastry Chef at Denver’s only @michelinguide Two Star restaurant. Think you know who it is? Drop your guesses below!

A little BTS from our prep session ahead of filming Episode 8 with Chef Lon Symensma and Chef de Cuisine Donald, who recently celebrated 10 years with @cholon_denver . All @chefn_it recipes come directly from our featured chefs, then are tested by our team and published for you to recreate at home. Restaurant-level recipes, made for your home kitchen. Get the full recipe at .

In case you missed it, every episode features @chefn_it ’s official taste tester, Izza the Dog, sampling a piece of each recipe. Watch Episode 8 now via the link in @chefn_it ’s bio for more of this cute face!

Chef Lon Symensma fell in love with cooking over 30 years ago, starting in a diner kitchen at just 14 years old and quickly working his way from washing dishes to cooking on the line. What began as a part-time job soon became a life-long passion for cuisine. By 19, he had already earned a silver medal with Team USA at the Culinary Olympics and was named National Junior Chef of the Year soon after. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America before training in Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Spain, including time at the three-Michelin-starred Arzak in San Sebastián. His journey then took him to New York to work alongside Jean-Georges Vongerichten, where he traveled throughout Southeast Asia and China studying regional cuisines and helping open Jean-Georges Shanghai. Chef Lon’s path has been shaped by a deep passion for the craft and the mentors who guided him along the way. Today, he brings more than three decades of world-class culinary experience to every dish across his concepts. Watch more of Chef Lon (@lonsymensma ) in the full episode on YouTube - link in @chefn_it ’s bio!

Chopping green onion next to a Culinary Olympics silver medalist? Our host Tarah Runco did it so you can learn from the best! Watch Chef Lon Symensma (@lonsymensma ) in Episode 8 of @chefn_it —link in bio.

@cholon_denver ’s kitchen ➡️ @thebainmarie ’s kitchen ➡️ your kitchen. Watch episode 8 of @chefn_it featuring Chef Lon Symensma now via the YouTube link in @chefn_it ’s bio!

Up NXT Begins with a story before the first bite. We’re honored to have our stories told by our sponsor, @chefn_it It by @behindtheapronmedia —an essential voice in documenting and amplifying Colorado’s culinary culture. More than a series, Chef’n It captures the rhythm behind the plate—the quiet precision, and the moments that shape a dish long before it reaches the table. It’s an intimate look at the people pushing our food scene forward, and how their story can be brought into your home. Through the lens or Tarah Runco aka @thebainmarie , you’ll step hear from the perspectives of chefs who have and are shaping Denver’s food community. From Chefs like: @captain_ahhhsome of @odie.bs & @boombots_pastashop @lonsymensma of @cholon_denver & @gusto_denver @razcasi of @xiquitarestaurante @lucinaeatery & @createkitchenbar Chef’n It doesn’t just show you what’s on the plate—it shows you why it matters, and how to have your hand at making it in the comfort of your home. We’re grateful to have them documenting, supporting, and helping tell the story of what’s being built here. Watch closely. Taste even closer.