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Primebar tabs Max MacKissock founding chef
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When rumblings of primebar opening started stirring, my expectations were tempered based on its premise alone. Fusing a sophisticated nightlife experience and great food is always a tricky proposition. It's much easier to do one or the other. I assumed food would be the second thought.
But when primebar announced its executive chef today, Max MacKissock, the culinary expectations skyrocketed. Max has built a name for himself over his 15-year career, but I wasn't introduced to his food until a surprise birthday party in early December.
See, a good friend of mine, Mike (the same friend who makes me awesome pizza), had the pleasure of being part of a weeklong culinary tour of Japan this fall organized by the folks over at Sushi Den. Max and his girlfriend, Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja and Food Network fame (she really has nothing to do with this story, but google likes her name), were on the trip. Max and my friend got along well enough that Mike was able to convince him to prepare a sushi dinner for 20 for his girlfriend's birthday.
Mike needed a house large enough to hold such a dinner party–I was more than happy to oblige. Let's just say the food was superb. It was some of the best that's ever been made in my kitchen (some stiff competition). It was four courses of beautifully-prepared seafood that had been swimming off the coast of Hawaii the day prior, plenty of sake and good friends.
Of course, Max's resume runs much deeper than a dinner party at my house. He was the executive chef at Vita, which under his watch, became one of the best new restaurants in Denver a few years ago; held the same position at Keystone's Great Northern Tavern; and was one of four chefs chosen to represent Denver at a recent “Gems of Denver” dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York.
He also owns his own company specializing in the opening of new restaurants, and serves as a consultant for Work Options for Women, a local non-profit work program for women in the welfare program. He recently helped the group open Café Options downtown, including creating the menu.
So it would appear primebar's contemporary American cuisine is in good hands. Expect a selection of tasty small plates, sandwiches, salads and entrees, and a chic atmosphere that promises to be a nightlife destination, too.
For more information: primebar, 1515 Arapahoe St., Denver, will open in May.
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