Denver chef to compete on newest season of ‘Top Chef’
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DENVER (KDVR) — Chef Manny Barella will represent Colorado as he competes on the latest season of “Top Chef” on Bravo.
The reality cooking competition will air its 21st season on March 20 with 15 new chefs known as “cheftestants.”
Barella of Denver will compete for the title of “Top Chef America.” Barella is the culinary director of up-and-coming restaurants Camp Pickle and Jaguar Bolera.
Camp Pickle will merge national parks, camp culture, pickleball and food. According to its website, it is expected to open in Denver in 2025.
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Meanwhile, Jaguar Bolera will open in 2024 in Raleigh and Atlanta and offer Mexican flavor with the soul of Southern cuisine. The restaurant said its simple ingredients and authentic flavors are brought by Barella.
Barella was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. He took a different path in life when he decided to leave law school and enroll in a culinary program, according to “Top Chef.”
Previously, Barella worked at the Sea Island Resort in Georgia, the five-star Napa Valley resort Calistoga Ranch and Napa’s Michelin-rated Solage Resort.
Eventually, Barella made it to Boulder where he worked at James Beard award-winning Frasca Food and Wine as chef de partie. Next, he traveled south to Denver and worked as a sous chef at Uchi. Barella eventually became the executive chef and partner at Bellota.
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He also serves as the president of the Hispanic Chefs Association in Colorado.
Barella will travel with the other 14 chefs to Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin to compete for the ultimate cooking title. You can cheer him on beginning March 20.
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