Evergreen is a one-of-a-kind place along the Front Range. Located 30 minutes west from Downtown Denver, Evergreen just turned 150 years-old this July. So if you haven’t been, or it’s been a while, now is the time to celebrate the mountain town.
Once there, the area offers a litany of exciting adventures for families, outdoor enthusiasts, live music lovers, and those seeking great cuisine. From visiting the original tenants’ humble log cabin to stunning natural wonders to culinary leaders taking big strides, this town has a story to tell and plenty to enjoy.
Meet the Chef Changing the Town
The current culinary energy of Evergreen could easily be traced to chef Rand Packer, who runs The Muddy Buck Cafe, Murphy’s Mountain Grill, Kiki’s Fresh Bowls, and Evoke1923. Packer moved his family to Colorado in 2016 and, with his wife Tiffani, has worked to preserve the historical roots of the buildings and landscape while bringing a collection of restaurants into the town. Soon, The Packers will add on to their list with a steakhouse, La Rocca Rossa, coming soon to the nearby town of Morrison.
Before Evergreen and becoming a well-regarded chef, Packer found joy making dinners and baking for his family in California at the tender age of 8. Later in life he moved on to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Packer’s gusto led him to Roy’s in Maui and the world-renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, who ended up guiding the young chef along his culinary path. From there he went on to open Mekenita Cantina in Tampa.
Packer’s travels and love for snowboarding led him to Colorado, where he decided to settle into with his family. Through that move he connected to the former owners of The Muddy Buck Cafe, Murphy’s Mountain Grill, and the former Bistro at Mashdale, each seeking someone who could keep these beloved establishments going…