Ben Higgins moved to Colorado a decade ago, and it’s the local restaurants that have helped make it home. He made great friends at Highland Tap & Burger, fulfilled his dream of opening restaurants like Mister Oso, and, metaphorically, gave his final rose to his wife Jessica at the grand opening of Ash’Kara.
Ben Higgins’ Colorado story begins ten years ago. “I only had one job offer, it was in Denver, so I moved out to Denver without knowing anybody or ever being here.” Without any local friends, he stumbled upon Highland Tap & Burger, a bar where he met people from all different backgrounds. He befriended Owner Juan Padro, eventually partnering with him to open restaurants including new MICHELIN Bib Gourmands Mister Oso and Ash’Kara.
Ash’Kara showcases contemporary Israeli flavors, led by Denver native Chef Reggie Dotson. Higgins beams, “Chef Reggie is incredible, doing amazing things with amazing ingredients. The carrots are mind blowing. They're massive in size, they have incredible flavor. I would put the carrots up with one of the most uniquely fantastic dishes I've ever had at any place. It feels like what Denver represents – that adventure – when it comes to food.” Other favorites are the hummus, babaganoush, pita, and eggplant tagine.
Ash’Kara is also where Higgins met his future wife Jessica for the first time in person. “We had met online, I had been Instagram messaging [her], and I just called Jessica up. I had never met her in person. I said, ‘Hey, we have a grand opening tomorrow. If I fly you out here, would you come?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’ And so within an hour of her arriving, we were at the grand opening of Ash’Kara.”
Higgins smiles, “What I love about Ash’Kara is the ambiance, the vibe, the experience. When you walk in, you have this feeling of excitement. One side of the restaurant feels very lively, and the other side feels very romantic. I know the team, I know how much they care about each customer coming in.”
Mister Oso is a Latin American restaurant led by Chef Blake Edmunds, a Colorado native who trained at Three MICHELIN Star Le Bernardin in New York and La Cabro d’Or in France. Higgins says, “Chef Blake makes the best coconut rice that I've ever had. My wife loves their brussels sprout salad. I wouldn't [usually] say I love chicken, but this [Pollo Bronco] is the best chicken I've ever had.”
Of the atmosphere, Higgins describes, “Mister Oso is more of a party. It is a place that brings in a huge range of people, all different ages. You'll see people coming in sharing a platter, enjoying the drinks, enjoying the tequila, enjoying the [frozen margaritas]. We really take pride in our [frozen margaritas] there. I think [they] kind of represent the restaurant. They’re very approachable, but they're really well done, and they're changing every day. Every time I go in, my first question is, what's the smoothie today?”
Higgins was elated to hear about Ash’Kara and Mister Oso’s MICHELIN recognition. He praises, “I’m really proud of the incredible team that built these places.”
He first discovered the MICHELIN Guide from Elan Gale, former executive producer of ABC’s The Bachelor. He says, “As he started explaining food to me, I started to fall in love with the artistry of it, the complexities of it. MICHELIN was the Guide at which Elan was following. Every MICHELIN-accredited place I would sit down and eat at always blew my mind, and it was spectacular. I trust Michelin for my eating.”
Now, Higgins uses the MICHELIN Guide when traveling. “I look up on MICHELIN to see where they recommend. I love good food and like to know the unique spots, and MICHELIN does a really good job highlighting those. I plan a lot of trips around it. It’s kind of just become the way I travel. When I’m in an area, it’s a necessity for me.”
Some of his favorites include Three MICHELIN Star Arzak in Spain and Three MICHELIN Star Eleven Madison Park in New York City. Of the latter, he says, ”I had the most incredible late night meal after a very overwhelming day. I felt very much in my element sitting down having a drink and enjoying that place.”
Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, Higgins dreamed of one day opening a restaurant. He explains, “I've always wanted to be in restaurants. The reason is because of a little restaurant in my hometown of Warsaw, Indiana called Stacy’s. Stacy's was the anniversary spot. We would go for my grandma's birthday. You walk in, and there's the Christmas lights. The owner would sit around this big table, smoke a cigar and have a bottle of wine. His friends would come and sit with him. They would laugh, they would talk. And I was like, I want that to be me one day. I had this romantic idea of restaurants. And it's just those memories that will always stand out to me.”
In addition to the Culinary Creative Group restaurants, Higgins is excited about his purpose-driven company, Generous Coffee. He donates 100% of its profits to human-focused nonprofits and does not take a salary. “Since 2017, we've been able to donate over $120,000 to 20 nonprofits, so we're rockin’ and rollin’.”
Higgins is optimistic about the future of food in Colorado, which he calls “bustling and growing.” He explains, “When I first moved out here 10 years ago, Denver was still that kind of gritty, West town. I've seen it expand, diversify, bring in talent in the food scene from all over the world. It has that drive to make magic happen, based on our history with the Gold Rush. You have so much adventure still that awaits you out here.”
Of Colorado, Higgins says proudly, “It's become home, my roots are here.”
Hero image: Colleen O'Toole/Mister Oso
Thumbnail: Maddie Short
