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5280 Contributor

Amanda M. Faison

5280 Contributor

Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor. She oversaw all of the magazine’s food-related coverage and was Denver’s go-to dining resource. Before that, she climbed the ranks from editorial assistant and associate editor to managing editor and senior editor, covering topics of all varieties. She has written about food for national titles such as SunsetFood & Wine, and Cooking Light. She has also freelanced nonfood-related stories for Elle DecorInStyle, and Travel & Leisure. Her ranch-to-plate feature “Soul Food,” was anthologized in Best Food Writing 2010. In 2009 and 2010, Faison received nods from the City and Regional Magazine Association for Table Talk, 5280‘s weekly e-newsletter. In addition, she has twice sat as judge for the James Beard Foundation’s annual cookbook awards. Faison was also a 2005 finalist for the prestigious Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. In 2013, she partnered with the Denver Public Library to create the Food Lover’s Book Club, a bimonthly cookbook club that generates discussion around cookbooks, food, and community. In 2014, Faison edited her first cookbook, 5280: The Cookbook. In 2016, she was named the Outstanding Media Professional of the Year by the Colorado Restaurant Association.

Articles By Amanda M. Faison

Gỏi Thập Cẩm (salad)

Dân Dã Successfully Ties the Comforts of the Past to the Present

An and Thao Nguyen, whose family owned Denver’s beloved New Saigon, offer their own brand of flavor-packed Vietnamese cuisine at the Aurora restaurant.

Braised cabbage dish & bread

Somebody People Proves Why Your Next Sunday Supper Should Be Plant-Based

Despite some misses, new executive chef Justin Freeman’s cuisine is a delicious next step for the five-year-old Overland restaurant.

An array of dishes and a four-glass whiskey flight.

4 New Mountain Town Restaurants to Visit this Summer

Headed to the hills? Make refueling at these new-ish Rocky Mountain hotspots your first priority.

A dish at Frasca Food & Wine

An Ode to Frasca Food and Wine

As Frasca celebrates 20 years, we recount the Boulder fine-dining restaurant’s impact and evolution.

Hey Kiddo’s Eclectic Menu Shines with Sustainable Ingredients and Global Flair

Chef-owner Kelly Whitaker’s Berkeley hotspot, which was recognized by the Michelin Guide for its delicious Korean dishes and European items, is a must-try.

Ginger Pig eats

The Michelin-Recognized Ginger Pig Proves Its Merit with Family-Style Asian Eats

Natascha Hess’ Berkeley restaurant won a Bib Gourmand award last year for providing high-quality food at a good value.

Duncan & Allison

Major Tom Lets Diners Embark on an Odyssey into the Champagne Universe

In the former space of Call, eight-month-old Major Tom is a swanky, sparkling-wine-centric bar and restaurant from the team behind Beckon.

Molotov Kitschen & Cocktails Gives Ukrainian Cuisine a Great Name

James Beard Award–Nominated Bo Porytko draws on his Ukrainian roots at the new eatery, which features elevated versions of borscht and other Eastern European delights.

5 of the Best Restaurants in Breckenridge and Frisco, According to Chef Matt Vawter

To celebrate the start of Breck’s ski season, the Rootstalk chef and Mercantile Dining & Provision alum dishes on this favorite places to eat in town.

La Diabla

The Ultimate List of Denver’s Top Tacos

We’ve got what you want: 54 of the city’s best tacos.

Matt Vawter Takes Over Breckenridge’s Relish Space, Comes Full Circle

Vawter—the owner-chef of Rootstalk on the mountain town’s Main Street—will turn the 16-year-old contemporary American restaurant into a casual Italian spot.

How to Prepare the Ultimate Après-Ski Tailgate Feast

What to buy, cook, and pack to pull off a successful, socially distant outdoor winter bash in the mountains (or your driveway).

Headed to Breck? Don’t Miss Matt Vawter’s Rootstalk

The former executive chef of Denver’s Mercantile Dining & Provision cooks upscale comfort food in Victorian digs on Breckenridge’s Main Street.

Primo’s New Mostardas Burst with Flavors of Fall

Denver-based Primo Speciality Foods’ cherry Aleppo pepper and apricot Urfa chile mostardas are the perfect addition to any charcuterie spread.

How to Build the Ultimate At-Home Bar

Happy hour can’t come soon enough these days, making now the perfect time to upgrade your liquor stash.

Top Chef Winner Hosea Rosenberg Is Fighting For His Daughter’s Life

A live auction on May 30 will raise funds for Sophie’s Neighborhood, a new foundation established to help save the toddler from a rare genetic disease.

11 Simple Tips for Safe Grocery Shopping

No, you don’t have to sanitize each and every food item you buy when you get home, but wearing a mask at the store is a must.

Losing Racines Feels Like Losing Family

As the 36-year-old Denver restaurant readies itself to close in January 2021, its regulars are already mourning the loss.

Food Shopping in the Time of COVID-19

How specialty grocer Marczyk Fine Foods and responsible producers like Niman Ranch and Frontier Trout Ranch are adapting to a new normal.

3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Flagstaff House’s Elizabeth Sammuri

Once destined to take the snowboarding world by storm, this rising-star sommelier shifted her talents to overseeing a Boulder restaurant’s award-winning wine list.

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