Kelly Kawachi, the head butcher at Blackbelly and the recipient of the first Michelin Guide Young Professional Award in Colorado, isn’t just carving out a space in a maledominated industry—she’s redefining it. Her advocacy for sustainable meats has taken social media by storm, with her Instagram rapidly growing as people flock to learn more about the woman behind the blade. You can meet her on October 16 at Blackbelly’s Bites with Butchers at the Denver location, where Kawachi will teach participants how to make the most of their meat. If you’re busy that day, you can still benefit from Kawachi’s expert advice. Here, she gives her top picks for dining and discovering Denver’s hidden gems.
Dining + Drinks
Where to find the spiciest dishes in Denver: La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal
Where to satisfy your sweet tooth: Sweet Cow Ice Cream
Best cocktail lounge: OK Yeah or Run For The Roses
Great spot to catch a game: Number Thirty Eight
Best bar-hopping neighborhood: Tennyson
Top restaurant for a special occasion: Spuntino
Favorite spot for a romantic dinner: The basement level of Jovanina’s Broken Italian
A restaurant you’ve been dying to try: Beckon and Major Tom
Concept you are excited to try when it opens: Magna Kainan
Around Town
Best place to see street art: River North Art District
Favorite annual Denver event: Christkindlmarket in Civic Center Park
Best place to take your dog for a walk: Stanley Lake, Lake Arbor, or Sloan’s Lake
Coolest hidden alley or street: The alley in the Dairy Block
Top hiking trail for a challenging workout: Any class one or two 14er, or the North Table Mountain Outer Rim Loop
Favorite hike for out-of-towners: Red Rocks and Morrison Slide Loop
Favorite way to unwind after a long day: With my fiancé, dog, and cat, first enjoying a home-cooked meal, then moving to the couch with a strong drink in hand and a movie on
Best way to beat the Denver traffic: Bike it!
Most scenic bike route: South Platte River Trail
Top place for gear: Feral
