Sheila Lucero of Jax Fish House

A Denver native, Sheila owes her love of cooking to her father, an avid cook and food connoisseur. She fell in love with the diverse cuisines of south Florida while earning a degree in biology at Florida International University and decided thereafter to return home and enroll at the Colorado Art Institute. She joined the opening crew of Jax Fish House in Denver, rising quickly through the ranks to become first chef de cuisine and then executive chef.

Guided by concern for the health of our oceans and the state of our global fish stocks, Sheila has spearheaded multiple sustainability programs, forging strong partnerships with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, The Blue Ocean Institute, Fish Choice and the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch. In 2017, she was invited to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress, lobbying for several key environmental policies, and participated in the James Beard Foundation’s Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change.

My Perfect Day in Boulder

• I’d start with an early hike at any of the trails at Chautauqua Park.
• Post hike, I’d head down to Alpine Modern Cafe for some breakfast and coffee.
• Next, I’d bounce down to Pearl street to check out all of the great shops. Peppercorn is a must, and I could spend a couple of hours in the cookbook section alone.
• Then I’d head over to Jax for happy hour — a dozen oysters and great drinks.
• Corrida next for tapas and great cocktails, and then I’d finish up with a drink at The Bitter Bar.