The Potash Twins Dream of Denver

You’re probably aware that Denver has a pretty rockin’ live music scene. Our dining scene is no less impressive, and venues like Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club and Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, where you can dine well and listen to great tunes, are hot spots. Perhaps that’s why, when Ezra and Adeev Potash (known as the Potash Twins among folks who like jazz music and/or watch Bravo) alerted me to their new series, Beats & Bites with the Potash Twins—and shared that they had a vision for a Denver episode—I was listening.

In fact, the Nebraska-born jazz musician-foodie brothers have several friends and even a few family members living in Denver, and they visit, and travel to Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic, regularly. “We fell in love with the [Denver jazz] scene because of the interesting blend of music and food that the city has,” Ezra says. “Our show is the first true television look into the intersection of music and food, which Denver is synonymous with. By pairing an incredible musician with an equally incredible chef and allowing their conversation about artistry to unfold, it provides a window into the creative process that all artists share.” Some of the pairings on the first season of the series: Top Chef Michael Voltaggio and hip hop artist Smino. Legendary jazz artist Wynton Marsalis and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio. (Notice a pattern?)

Since neither Carrie Baird nor Brother Luck won this year’s Colorado season of Top Chef, I wanted to know which Centennial State chef and musician the Potash twins would include if they came through Denver to film an episode (which they should). Adeev and Ezra were of one mind: Lon Symensma, thanks to ChoLon’s outrageously delicious French onion soup dumplings, and the Lumineers, because, well, they’re the Lumineers.

“We always go to Dazzle when we’re in Denver,” Ezra says. “And it’s near ChoLon, which we love. Our biggest obsession is xiao long bao [soup dumplings], and we love when anybody puts their own twist on a classic. ChoLon’s dumplings are so great.” As for the Lumineers, “they seem like they’d be down to try a French onion soup dumpling,” mused Ezra. Of course, the music portion of the episode would have to take place at Red Rocks Ampitheater, the twins conjectured. Or perhaps at Belly Up in Aspen, where the brothers have watched the Spazmatics play during the Classic. “We’d love to film that Spazmatics show, with all the [Food & Wine Classic] chefs dancing,” Adeev says. “It’s one of the only times when all the chefs are music-focused.”

By the end of our conversation, the twins had reimagined their dream Colorado episode as a picnic at Red Rocks catered by ChoLon, Jerusalem (“It’s definitely the place to go late-night after a long gig”), Departure Denver Restaurant & Lounge (“Gregory Gourdet’s presence in Denver speaks to the city’s developing food scene”), and Aspen favorites Casa Tua and Aspen Kitchen. The Lumineers would jam, and the Potash twins would join in. Stranahan’s whiskey would presumably flow. I can see (and hear) it now, can’t you?

If you watch: Beats & Bites with the Potash Twins is streaming here.