The James Beard Foundation has nominated Matt Vawter, CMC Breckenridge culinary arts alumnus and executive chef of Rootstalk in Breckenridge, for a 2024 best chef James Beard award. Photo by Ben Suddendorf

1,000 Words: CMC alumnus Matt Vawter nominated for 2024 James Beard award

Jan. 24, 2024 – The James Beard Foundation has released the nominations for its 2024 chef awards, and Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge’s culinary arts alumnus Matt Vawter, the founder and executive chef of Rootstalk in Breckenridge, is on that list.

Cam Baker, Rootstalk’s partner and chef de cuisine, also graduated from CMC’s culinary arts program. Several culinary program graduates work for Vawter and Baker as well.

In addition to Rootstalk, Vawter and Baker opened a second Breckenridge restaurant, Radicato, in 2022, following the opening of Rootstalk in 2020.

Six of the 20 chefs nominated as the best in the mountain region, which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, are from Colorado. The finalists will be announced in April.