Episode 52: Bobby Stuckey

Published: Sept. 4, 2013, 1:47 p.m.

b'Bobby began his distinguished career working in restaurants in Arizona until he moved to Colorado in 1995 to join the staff of The Little Nell restaurant in Aspen as a sommelier. During his five-year tenure, the restaurant received numerous awards for wine and service, including the Gourmets Best Wine Service Award, Mobile Travel Guides Five Star Hotel and Restaurant Rating, Wine Spectators Grand Award, and a nomination from The James Beard Foundation for Best Wine Service. In 2000, Bobby joined world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, California. Within his first year, Bobby received The James Beard Foundations Outstanding Wine Service Award and San Francisco Magazine recognized him as Wine Director of the Year. He also met his future business partner, chef de partie Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson. Before leaving The French Laundry in May 2003, the restaurant received The James Beard Foundations award for Outstanding Restaurant Service. In their pursuit and vision of opening a neighborhood restaurant reminiscent of the Frascas they had visited in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, Lachlan and Bobby opened their restaurant, Frasca Food and Wine, in August of 2004 in Boulder, CO. Having researched and traveled throughout Italy many times, both were deeply inspired by this region in particular \\xe2\\u20ac\\u201d the international influences of its cuisine, the profusion of local ingredients in its rustic yet elegant dishes, its passionate relationship between food and wine, and the gracious hospitality of the locals. Bobby earned the Master Sommelier Diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2004. This diploma is considered by many the ultimate professional credential in the wine and spirits services industry. In 2008, Bobby was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for the Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award and in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 was nominated again for Outstanding Wine Service in America. In May of 2013, was given the award. These prestigious distinctions notwithstanding, Bobby walks the dining room nightly, enthusiastically dispensing advice, recommendations, and sharing his passion for wine with Frasca guests. Tune-in to this weeks program to learn more about how Bobby excels in customer service within his restaurants, and is able to bring the amazing flavors of wines from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region to life. This program has been sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards and Sons. Thanks to The California Honeydrops for todays music. Anybody that works at The French Laundry - you take a lot from that experience. [8:30] There is no other place for a wine person that is so special, than Friuli-Venezia Giulia. [28:10] -- Bobby Stuckey on In the Drink'