Letter: Cook-off a success

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, The Little Nell’s BBQ Cook-Off at Ajax Tavern was an amazing success on Aug. 25.

By the numbers, there were 10 chefs from eight restaurants who participated in the competition, all 160 tickets were purchased, making this a sold-out event, and a grand total of $50,000 was raised for the Aspen Homeless Shelter.

The 30 silent-auction and four live-auction items were contributed by many sponsors and individuals, including Gorsuch, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, the Limelight Hotels, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Gateway Canyons, Jimmy Buffet, the Viceroy Snowmass, Christy Sports, Aspen Design Room, the St. Regis Aspen, the Arrabelle at Vail Square, Aspen Skiing Co., Four Mountain Sports, Westin Hotels & Resorts, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche, Stein Eriksen Lodge, Four Seasons Hotel Denver, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Basalt Bike & Ski, Aspen Alpine Guides, Beaver Lake Retreat and more.

Special thanks to Shamrock Foods, Stelvio Wine Selections and Breckenridge Brewery for providing product. Despite the rain, which turned to a torrential downpour, guests and chefs braved the elements and enjoyed an evening of camaraderie, sensational barbecue, music from the Poser Band and giving back. Special thanks to our event sponsor Premier Party Rentals for providing tents that kept us dry.

I say, with my utmost appreciation, thank you to all of the chefs and restaurants that took part — Rob Zack of Hotel Jerome, Jeff Casagrande of bb’s, Barclay Dodge of Bosq, Taylor Wolters of Rustique, Will Nolan of Eight K, Jake Burkhardt of Aspen Kitchen, Keith Theodore of element 47 and J.D. Baldridge of Ajax Tavern — and congratulations to winning chefs Jim Butchart and Andrew Helsley of Aspen Skiing Co., who took home the championship belt.

We look forward to welcoming all of you back for the 2017 cook-off, which we’ll make even bigger and better with more guests and chefs!

Simon Chen

Managing director, The Little Nell