08/13/2026
A huge thank you to every chef who participated in this year’s Battle of the Beef Masters! Your talent, creativity and passion for Colorado beef made this competition one of the festival’s biggest highlights. 🥩🔥
Congratulations to our first-place winners, Chef Fausto Félix of Riqueza Mexican Group, the group behind Rosa Mexican Kitchen, Rumbo 52, Agave Underground and The Dugout Grill & Bar, and Chef Julio Gaspar, Executive Chef at Encanto Cocina & Cantina. The two talented chefs finished the competition tied for first place!
We also congratulate Chef Justin Cde Baca, AKA GrillVault BBQ, for taking home second place!
Thank you to all of our chefs for bringing the heat and sharing your incredible food with the Colorado Beef Festival community. Let’s hear it for our 2026 winners! 👏🏆