STORY

CAROLINE GLOVER FOUNDED ANNETTE IN THE FALL OF 2016. SHE NAMED THE RESTAURANT FOR HER FEISTY AND BRILLIANT GREAT AUNT NETSIE, A NOVELIST AND SHORT STORY WRITER WHO LIVED IN SMALL TOWN TEXAS. NETSIE DIDN'T TEACH CAROLINE TO COOK, THOUGH HER TAMALES AND MARTINIS WERE EXEMPLARY. INSTEAD, SHE TAUGHT CAROLINE TO HAVE A STRONG OPINION. THAT CONFIDENCE IN HER OWN GOOD TASTE HAS CARRIED CAROLINE THROUGH 15 YEARS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

the 2022 JAMES BEARD foundation AWARD winner for “BEST CHEF: MOUNTAIN,” caroline was nominated in the same category in 2020 and earned SEMI-FINALIST nominations IN 2018 AND 2019.  IN 2018, ANNETTE WAS A SEMI-FINALIST IN THE “BEST NEW RESTAURANT” CATEGORY.

IN 2019, CAROLINE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE 10 BEST NEW CHEFS IN AMERICA BY FOOD AND WINE MAGAZINE. IN 2017, ANNETTE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE 50 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN THE COUNTRY BY BON APPÉTIT MAGAZINE AND WAS ALSO WAS EATER DENVER'S RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR. ANNETTE HAS BEEN ON 5280 MAGAZINE’S LIST OF DENVER’S 25 BEST RESTAURANTS EACH YEAR SINCE IT OPENED.

BEFORE LAUNCHING ANNETTE, CAROLINE SPENT TWO YEARS AT THE ACCLAIMED DENVER RESTAURANT ACORN, RISING TO BECOME A SOUS CHEF UNDER EXECUTIVE CHEF AMOS WATTS AND OWNER STEVE REDZIKOWSKI. DURING HER TENURE, IN 2015, ACORN WAS NAMED BEST RESTAURANT IN DENVER BY 5280 MAGAZINE. 

CAROLINE IS A GRADUATE OF THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA IN HYDE PARK, NEW YORK. AFTER SCHOOL, SHE WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AT THE SPOTTED PIG IN NEW YORK CITY, A PIONEERING GASTROPUB RUN BY FAMED BRITISH CHEF APRIL BLOOMFIELD. SHE BECAME A SOUS CHEF UNDER BLOOMFIELD AND EXECUTIVE CHEF NATE SMITH (NOW A BROOKLYN RESTAURATEUR IN HIS OWN RIGHT) BEFORE LEAVING TO WORK ON FARMS IN PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT AND COLORADO. 

CAROLINE UNITED HER PASSIONS FOR FARMING AND COOKING IN 2011, WHEN SHE SPENT A SEASON WORKING AT A LOCAVORE BED AND BREAKFAST IN PAONIA, COLORADO THEN FOUNDED HER OWN FARM-TO-TABLE SUPPER CLUB WHILE WORKING ON A FARM IN CARBONDALE. SHE MOVED TO DENVER IN 2014, GOT A DOG NAMED OLIVE LATER THAT SAME YEAR, AND MARRIED HER HUSBAND NELSON, A WRITER, IN 2016. 

ANNETTE IS CAROLINE'S FIRST RESTAURANT. 

MISSION

I CREATED ANNETTE FOR THREE SIMPLE REASONS

TO SERVE DINERS AS THOUGH THEY WERE GUESTS IN MY HOME.

TO MAKE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHARE FOOD—AND TELL STORIES—THEY'LL REMEMBER.

AND TO PREPARE “SCRATCH-TO-TABLE” AND WOOD-FIRED FARE THAT

HONORS FOOD PRODUCERS, NOURISHES EATERS AND EMBODIES CRAFTSMANSHIP, CREATIVITY AND RUSTIC SIMPLICITY.

I’VE COOKED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THAT EXPERIENCE INFORMS WHAT YOU'LL FIND AT ANNETTE.

YET FAR MORE INFLUENTIAL IS THE WAY THAT I COOK IN MY HOME KITCHEN,

PREPARING SIMPLE, HIGH QUALITY FOOD THAT'S MEANT TO BE SHARED BY PEOPLE I DEARLY LOVE.

WHEN YOU DINE AT ANNETTE, I’LL ASK OF YOU THE SAME THREE SIMPLE THINGS

THAT I ASK OF MY FRIENDS AT A DINNER PARTY:  

SIT. DRINK AND EAT. BE MY GUEST.