Chef of Marigold in Lyons among James Beard semifinalists

LYONS — Theo Adley, chef at Marigold in Lyons, is a semifinalist for the James Beard award for best chef in the Mountain region. 

He is one of 20 semifinalists in the region that includes Colorado, Utah, Montana Idaho and Wyoming, and the only representative of the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado in any of the 2026 James Beard categories. 

Adley, who has worked at The Flagstaff House in Boulder and The Little Nell in Aspen and now serves upscale cuisine inspired by northern Italy and southern France at Marigold, was also a Best Chef nominee for the Mountain region in 2024.

Johnny Curiel of Denver’s Alma Fonda Fina, Dave Grant and Rocky Hunter of Edgewater’s Gladys, Mike Odell of Odell’s Bagel in Denver, Bo Porytko from Denver’s Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Kenneth Wan of MAKFam in Denver and Penelope Wong from Yuan Wonton in Denver were also semifinalists from the Mountain region’s best chef.

Other Colorado James Beard semifinalists include: 

• Best new restaurant: Kizaki (Denver).
• Outstanding restaurateur: Tommy Lee, Uncle, Hop Alley, Molino Chido (Denver).
• Outstanding chef: Josh Niernberg, Bon 707 Foodbar (Grand Junction).
• Outstanding hospitality: Restaurant Olivia (Denver).
• Outstanding bakery: Poulette Bakeshop (Parker).
• Outstanding pastry chef or baker: Emily Thompson, The Wolf’s Tailor (Denver).
• Best new bar: Van Atta (Telluride).
• Outstanding bar: Lady Jane (Denver).
• Outstanding professional in beverage services: Ryan Fletter, Barolo Grill (Denver).
• Outstanding professional in cocktail service: McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club (Denver).

Restaurants in the Boulder Valley have performed well at recent James Beard Foundation ceremonies, with Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine taking home the 2025 title of most outstanding restaurant, one of the nation’s most prestigious culinary awards.

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