i. Biography
The Path
In a restaurant kitchen, continuity is a craft tool. Cody Cheetham moved through Tavernetta in Denver from within, serving as Sous Chef at Tavernetta in Denver (from 2017) before becoming Head Chef at Tavernetta in Denver (from 2017). That progression reads as accumulation: repetition, control, and an increasingly exact read on the room, the station, and the restaurant’s culinary language. The same line of work continues in the Executive Chef role at Tavernetta (since 2017). At that level, the job is less about resetting the menu than about sharpening a point of view over time, keeping the kitchen focused on a clear set of standards and making them hold on the plate.
The Work Today
Italian cooking at Tavernetta in Denver is framed through region, restraint, and ingredient quality. Cody Cheetham’s own description of the menu points to those priorities: honest regional Italian cooking, simplicity, and attention to the raw material. In practice, that gives the kitchen a disciplined center, with the food built to read clearly rather than compete for attention. That approach keeps the menu language measured. Instead of leaning on breadth, the work stays close to the ingredients and the structure of the dish, with each element placed to support the last. The result is a style that values precision without excess. Formal training also sits behind the restaurant’s Italian focus. As a graduate of a Le Cordon Bleu affiliate school in Chicago, Cheetham brings technical schooling to a menu built on clarity rather than ornament. The fit is straightforward: trained technique applied to food that asks for control, timing, and a steady hand.
Signature
Cody's signature dishes include Burrata with Pesto Trapanese, Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu, Tiramisu, Spaghetti, Dungeness Crab, Confit Fennel, Lemon, and Pistachio Pesto. Together, they show a kitchen working inside familiar Italian forms while paying attention to contrast, structure, and restraint.
Acclaim
Cody's honors include James Beard Foundation Awards, Best Chef: Mountain category nomination (2022) and Bib Gourmand. Those recognitions place his work in the trade conversation around technique, consistency, and the point of view that defines Tavernetta.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Cody
What is Cody Cheetham's current role?
As of 2026, Cody Cheetham is Executive Chef.
Where did Cody Cheetham work before?
Cody Cheetham's earlier career included Tavernetta and Tavernetta.
What recognition has Cody Cheetham received?
James Beard Foundation Awards, Best Chef: Mountain category nomination (2022).
