"Basta was his first baby. “It wasn’t in a great location,” he laughs, sharing a story about how the legendary critic Jonathan Gold was dining with him one night and told him so. “This is a guy who is known for finding out-of-the-way places and he said it,” jokes Whitaker. Location aside, Basta took off. The concept was simple, with quality ingredients and a wood-fired oven, but the neighborhood embraced it. Others, including MICHELIN, have also taken notice. (Basta earned aBib Gourmand distinction in the inaugural guide to Colorado.)" - Nancy DePalma