BOULDER
There’s an age-old custom at local taverns and farmhouses in Friuli—a sliver of land in northeastern Italy with a unique cuisine and culture—of hanging out a branch or frasca, when the year’s young wine is finally ready to pour. It’s an invitation to friends and family to drop by and enjoy a tajut (small glass) of the newest vintage—a moment that deserves to be savored. Inspired by that cherished part of life in this corner of the Italian alps, the passionate people at Frasca Food and Wine offer up an astonishing list that includes regional and indigenous wines from Friuli that pair brilliantly with dishes like plum ravioli or lamb loin with cherry and porcini mushrooms. Famous for its genuine hospitality, the James Beard Foundation has awarded this Boulder institution for its cuisine, wine program and service.
INCLUDED IN THE FEAST
Frasca Food & Wine
BOBBY STUCKEY AND EDUARDO VALLE LOBO
When he speaks about the philosophy that guides everything at Frasca Food and Wine, master sommelier, author and restaurateur Bobby Stuckey sings the gospel of hospitality. It’s not complicated, he says, it’s really just a matter of thinking about the other person. It’s also the key to a truly memorable guest experience. In addition, Stuckey, of course, is one of the world’s most accomplished and knowledgeable people in wine and the program at Frasca has been awarded by multiple organizations, including Wine Spectator. Chef Eduardo Valle Lobo’s deep appreciation for great food started when he was just a child in Madrid, watching his parents cook amazing meals at home. His mother and father, having grown up on opposite ends of the country, represented two very different cuisines, but each taught him about the purity of good ingredients, the importance of tradition and the beauty of simplicity. Their soulfulness and love could be tasted with each bite and, ultimately, this is the feeling Valle Lobo wants to evoke through his cooking today.
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
Outstanding Service
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
Best Chef: Southwest
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
Outstanding Wine Service
WHY WE LOVE IT
The Friulian frasca tradition is about bringing people together in lively, informal spaces to celebrate the changing seasons and the joy that comes from enjoying food and wine when it’s at its best. And that’s something the world could use a whole lot more of.
