Taylor Stark
The Wolf's Tailor | Denver
july 2022
While growing up in Southern California, Taylor Stark spent years learning how to cook himself dinner. That sense of independence pushed him towards a career in the kitchen. At the age of 20, he moved to Portland, Oregon and landed a job at Pan-Asian eatery Departure, where Chef Gregory Gourdet taught Stark how to run a kitchen with respect, care, and dedication. Stark moved to Denver in 2017 in order to open Departure’s second location as chef de cuisine. He was on the path to opening a new Sage Hospitality restaurant in 2020, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they were forced to abandon the project.
In search of a new team that aligned with his ethos, Stark connected with Rising Stars alum Kelly Whitaker of id est hospitality group. With a shared love for local produce and an emphasis on promoting healthy working conditions, Whitaker brought Stark on as chef de cuisine of his farm-to-table, tasting menu restaurant, The Wolf’s Tailor. Stark’s menu focuses on intense usage of chiles and acid, often amplified by the built-in kushiyaki grill. Dishes like his honey-tamari-glazed guinea hen served with black rice and house-made gochujang are indicative of Stark’s goal to not fall into any traps of convenience.
