DANA RODRIGUEZ

Chef de Cuisine
Bistro Vendôme

The journey from studying computers and owning her own clothing boutique in her native Chihuahua, Mexico to running the kitchen at an award-winning French bistro on Denver's historic Larimer Square has been quite a trip for Dana Rodriguez.

After vacationing and visiting family in Colorado, Dana decided to stay in the state and applied for a job at Panzano, an upscale Italian restaurant in the Hotel Monaco. It was there she met Jennifer Jasinski, the Panzano chef who took Dana under her wing, focused on her strong work ethic and intelligence and ignored Dana's difficulties with the English language.

From dishwasher to prep cook, through pasta making and the bakeshop, and finally as a sous chef at Panzano, Dana worked her way through the ranks learning from Jasinski and others the skills necessary to excel at each job and how to manage staff, especially male staff, something that did not come naturally. While Panzano was not her only kitchen job, she worked at Tamayo and other Denver restaurants, Dana knew that her future was with Jasinski.

The dream of Jasinski and Panzano General Manager Beth Gruitch was to open their own restaurant and Rioja was born in 2004. Not only did Jasinski want Dana to be part of the kitchen team at the new restaurant, she was invited to invest in the new venture and has been a sous chef and partner at Rioja since opening day.

Dana was appointed chef de cuisine at Bistro Vendôme in 2011. Acquired from its founders by Jasinski and Gruitch in 2006. Bistro Vendôme is tucked away in Larimer Square and has a reputation for flavorful French food in a bistro setting.

Born in 1974, Dana studied computers and engineering at the University of Monterey in Mexico. A single mother of three beautiful girls, she lives in Denver, Colorado.

Chef de Cuisine
Dana Rodriguez

Owner / General Manager
Beth Gruitch

Owner / Executive Chef
Jennifer Jasinski