Chef Josh Monopoli
Private Chef In VailGet to know me better
I bring to you creative flavors, amazing textures, fantastic smells, and satiated bellies!
I am a professional chef that has been honing my skills and craft for nearly 20 years. Most recently, I stepped down from my post running the kitchen as Chef at Mountain Standard Restaurant in Vail, CO. I have trained in some of the finest and funnest kitchens that not only Colorado has to offer, but also Atlanta, in my home state of Georgia. I am a creative chef, whom, while having a great respect for cooking traditions, enjoys challenging said traditions to bring exciting new flavors, textures and smells to your palate!
More about me
For me, cooking is...
about family and friends, creating amazing memories that happen to revolve around food!
I learned to cook at...
I have focused much of my career working for award-winning, forward thinking chefs who have taught me the secrets of FLAVOR!
A cooking secret...
Allowing an ingredients own flavors to SHINE, while creating balance in a dish.
My menus
Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls OR Cornbread with whipped honey butter
Yukon Gold Potato Puree
Fresh Cranberry Sauce(none of that canned business)
Cornbread and Root Vegetable Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions
Roasted and Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Streusel
Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Candied Bacon
Mac N Cheese - Lasagna style(trust me!)
Traditionally roasted CO turkey with thyme and rosemary gravy
Cajun rubbed CO turkey with gumbo gravy
Smoked dry rubbed turkey with charred onion gravy
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Fudge Torte
Traditional Apple Pie
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Smoked Almond Soup, roasted sunchoke, sesame seed crunch, toasted pecan
Root Vegetable Salad, roasted and raw winter vegetables, spinach, maple-stout vinaigrette, spiced pepitas
Spicy Greens Salad, smoked orange vinaigrette, roast carrot, radish, fresh ricotta, crunchy quinoa
Goat Cheese Dumplings, CO goat cheese, tons of herbs, polenta shell, slowly cooked in french onion soup
Bourbon-Onion Toast, cider-honey jelly, fresh bay ricotta, fresh herbs
Roasted Acorn Squash Salad, kale, chicories, pickled grapes, honey-grape vinaigrette, parmesan frico
Fresh Mozzarella, warm hand-pulled cheese, slow cooked onion, pine nut vinaigrette, tarragon, buttery flatbread
Collard Green Steamed Buns, creamy collard green filling, chili oil, scallion, smashed cucumber pickles
Carbonara, spaghetti alla chitarra, smoked mushroom, black pepper, egg yolk, Pecorino
Fennel Crusted Fennel, roasted peppers, gremolata, citrus
Roasted King Trumpet Mushroom, braised barlotti beans, roast sunchokes, lemon, fried garlic salsa verde
Mushroom Arepa, fluffy corn masa cake, roasted Colorado mushroom, whipped avocado, salsa macha, cilantro
Carrot "Osso Bucco", cipolline agrodolce, kale, crispy garlic
Butternut Squash, creamy grits, roast oyster mushrooms, sumac jus, sage toasted breadcrumbs
Eggplant "Braciole", Parmesan and herb rolled, olive bread crumbs, tomato jus, charred broccolini
Roast Eggplant, Potato gratin, braised celery, castelvetrano olive “ketchup”, crispy shallot
Smoked Beet, Seared polenta, creamed greens, crunchy pepita, “red eye” gravy
Chocolate Mousse: brown butter-orange zest crust, pistachio crumble
Colorado Fruit Tart, the best in season fruit, honey custard
Basque cheesecake, saké-cranberry reduction, ginger candied cranberry
Cocoa pavlova, banana ice cream, white chocolate ganache, pistachio crumble
Rice Pudding, chocolate tuile, preserved pear, toasted coconut
Cashew pound cake, whipped and brûlée'd honey, preserved lemon and poppy seed
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Fresh Mozzarella: warm hand-pulled cheese, slow cooked tomato, pine nut vinaigrette, tarragon, buttery flatbread
Foie Gras Mousse: blueberry vinegar(my own) reduction, preserved blueberry jelly, coriander blue-corn crackers
Pork Belly: Boulder raised pork belly roasted until tender, pickled oyster mushroom, hot sauce sabayon, crunchy sunflower seed crumble
Potato Gnocchi: brown butter, roasted sunchoke, sage, Pecorino
Carbonara: spaghetti alla chitarra, pancetta and soppressata, black pepper, egg yolk, Pecorino
Risotto: cooked in porcini stock, roasted mushroom, caramelized shallot, truffle
Tortelloni: en brodo, butternut stuffing, escarole, Parmesan
Egg Yolk Raviolo: fresh ricotta, crispy prosciutto butter, herbs, lemon
Spicy Greens Salad, smoked orange vinaigrette, roast carrot, radish, fresh ricotta, crunchy quinoa
Root Vegetable Salad, roasted and raw, spinach, maple-stout vinaigrette, spiced pepitas
Roasted Acorn Squash Salad, kale, chicories, pickled grapes, honey-grape vinaigrette, parmesan frico
Rack of Lamb: Boulder raised, seared in cast iron, braised Sea Island red peas, slow roasted tomato, smoked cipollini onion, shaved celery and herbs
Pork Chop: Boulder raised pork chop, seared polenta, roast oyster mushrooms, sumac-pork jus, sage toasted breadcrumbs
Short Rib "Osso Bucco": CO raised Beef, cipolline agrodolce, kale, crispy garlic
Pork Loin: Boulder raised pork, roasted whole with a fennel crust, fresh fennel, roasted peppers, gremolata
Beef "Braciole": CO raised Ribeye, Parmesan and herb rolled, olive bread crumbs, tomato jus, charred broccolini
Roast Chicken Roulade: Saltimbocca style, proscuitto, CRISPY skin, olive, roast mushroom, tomato sauce
Trout: rocky mountain filet, braised barloti beans, roasted sunchokes, lemon, fried garlic salsa verde
Tiramisu: fresh ladyfingers, traditional assembly!
Almond-Ricotta Cake: preserved lemon and poppy seed, honey
Chocolate Mousse: brown butter-orange zest crust, pistachio crumble
Panna Cotta: vanilla bean, hazelnut, Moscato poached pear
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Pork Belly: Boulder raised pork belly roasted until tender, pickled oyster mushroom, hot sauce sabayon, crunchy sunflower seed crumble
Smoked Almond Soup, grilled sunchoke, toasted pecan, sesame seed crunch
Collard Green Steamed Buns, creamed collard green filling, chili oil, scallion, pickles
Chicken Liver Mousse: blueberry vinegar(my own) reduction, preserved blueberry jelly, coriander blue-corn crackers
Lamb Meatball: spiced Boulder raised lamb, cilantro creme fraiche, roasted pepper and pickled onion salad
Spicy Greens Salad, smoked orange vinaigrette, roast carrot, radish, fresh ricotta, crunchy quinoa
Root Vegetable Salad, roasted and raw, spinach, maple-stout vinaigrette, spiced pepitas
Fresh Mozzarella: warm hand-pulled cheese, slow cooked leeks, pine nut vinaigrette, tarragon, buttery flatbread
Bison Tartare: hand chopped CO raised bison, cured egg yolk, caramelized butternut squash, red eye aioli
Goat Cheese Dumplings, CO goat cheese, tons of herbs, polenta shell, slowly cooked in french onion soup
Bourbon-Onion Toast, cider-honey jelly, fresh bay ricotta, fresh herbs
Roasted Acorn Squash Salad, kale, chicories, pickled grapes, honey-grape vinaigrette, parmesan frico
Chicken: Boulder raised breast, CRISPY skin, quinoa and swiss chard stuffed poblano, citrus mole, cotija cheese
Leg of Lamb: Boulder raised, spice rubbed and roasted, warm quinoa salad, collard green kimchi, pomegranate gastrique
Mushroom Arepa: a delicious and fluffy corn masa cake, roasted Colorado mushrooms, whipped avocado, salsa macha
Trout: rocky mountain filet, creamy Anson Mills grits, slow roasted sunchokes, fried garlic salsa verde
Pork Chop: Boulder raised pork chop, seared polenta, roast oyster mushrooms, sumac-pork jus, sage toasted breadcrumbs
Steak: CO raised beef, hasselback potato, creamed greens, grana padano, crispy herbs, veal demi glace
Short Rib: CO raised and beer braised, grilled broccoli, cheddar, peanuts and bacon
Pork Shoulder: Boulder raised, braised and seared crispy, chive gnocchi, roasted and glazed winter vegetables, charred onion butter
Cashew pound cake, whipped and bruleed honey, preserved lemon and poppy seed
Cocoa pavlova, banana ice cream, white chocolate ganache, pistachio crumble
Basque cheesecake, saké-tangerine jam, ginger candied kumquat
Maple Rice Pudding, coconut poached pear, chocolate crunch
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Squash Salad: roasted and raw summer squash, butter lettuces, shaved peach, peach vinaigrette
Cucumber Gazpacho: chilled soup, tomato, hatch green chili marmalade, toasted almond
Fresh Mozzarella: warm hand-pulled cheese, slow cooked tomato, pine nut vinaigrette, tarragon, buttery flatbread
Goat Cheese Dumplings: CO goat cheese, tons of herbs, polenta shell, slowly cooked in french onion soup
Spicy Greens Salad: smoked orange vinaigrette, grilled corn, roast beet, fresh ricotta, crunchy quinoa
Bison Tartare: hand chopped CO raised bison, cured egg yolk, salted cherry, red eye aioli
Pork Belly: Boulder raised and Vail roasted pork belly, pickled oyster mushroom, hot sauce sabayon, crunchy sunflower seed crumble
Foie Gras Mousse: blueberry vinegar(my own) reduction, blueberry jelly, coriander blue-corn crackers
Lamb Meatball: spiced Boulder raised lamb, cilantro creme fraiche, roasted pepper and pickled onion salad
Trout: rocky mountain filet, creamy Anson Mills grits, blistered shishito peppers, fried garlic salsa verde
Rack of Lamb: Boulder raised, seared in cast iron, braised Sea Island red peas, slow roasted tomato, smoked cipollini onion, shaved celery and herbs
Chicken: Boulder raised breast, CRISPY skin, quinoa and corn stuffed poblano, peach mole, cotija cheese
Pork Chop: Boulder raised pork chop, grilled, "creamed" corn, roast fennel, pickled fresno, XO butter, basil
Ribeye: 6 oz CO grass fed, "creamed" corn, okra, garlic confit, roasted tomato demi
Leg of Lamb: Boulder raised, spice rubbed and roasted, earl grey collard greens, puffed rice, cherry gastrique
Pork Shoulder, chive gnocchi, charred onion and peach butter, roasted summer vegetables
American Wagyu Beef: Snake River Farms Culotte, hasselback potato, creamed greens, grana padano, crispy herbs, veal demi glace(add $25 p/p)
Shortrib: beer braised CO beef shortrib, grilled broccoli, cheddar, peanuts and bacon(gluten free if desired)
Basque cheesecake, peach and sherry reduction, fresh peach
Warm cashew cake, whipped and bruleed honey, lemon and poppy seed brittle
Crunchy cocoa pavlova, cherry sorbet, pistachio crumble
Colorado Fruit Tart, the best in season fruit, honey custard
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