Jennifer Jasinski, Chef, Panzano, Denver, CO

Michael Sanson

Jennifer Jasinski was one travelin' gal until she found a home in Colorado. That was the price she paid while enjoying a sweet career trajectory that took her into some of the country's most-honored kitchens. The 32-year-old Culinary Institute of America grad's first job: Cooking at New York City's legendary Rainbow Room. Next came a 10-year stint that included opening duties at high-profile Wolfgang Puck operations: Postrio in San Francisco, Granita in Malibu, both the Las Vegas and Chicago outposts of Spago, plus a role as corporate chef at Wolfgang Puck Food Company. She's happy to be off the road now and calling the shots in her own kitchen at Northern Italian hot spot Panzano in Denver. "I was ready to spread my wings and Denver seemed ideal," she says. Denver was ready for her, too.

"Critics and diners are raving about Panzano's take on Italian," says USA Today.