Sean Kelly - Chef, Proprietor

Sean D. Kelly, 43, was born and raised in Rumson, New Jersey. At age 14 he began making pizza at the local Italian restaurant, and he has been cooking ever since. In 1985, Sean went to work for Larry Forgione and the late Stephen Spector at the Pear Tree in Rumson; Sean credits this experience for instilling in him the high standards of fine cuisine. In 1991, Sean headed west to Denver, where he was hired to open Barolo Grill. Barolo immediately shot to the top of the Denver dining scene, with Sean’s country Italian fare receiving critical acclaim from critics near and far. The highlight of Sean’s Barolo days was a 1994 benefit dinner planned and cooked with Julia Child.

In 1995, Sean fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant. Aubergine Café was a small, intimate setting which featured simple but elegant Mediterranean cooking. The cuisine, which had its “soul” in Provence, attracted fans and critics coast to coast, including Bryan Miller and R.W. Apple of the New York Times. Aubergine was chosen “Best Restaurant” by 5280: Denver’s Mile High Magazine and Sean was voted “Best Chef” by 5280’s readers. In 2001, after six years of consistently high marks from Denver’s food community, Sean sold Aubergine. He laid down his knives and took up the pen, writing a weekly column about seasonal produce for the Denver Post.

In April 2002, Sean opened Clair de Lune, an eight-table French/Mediterranean bistro. As both the sole chef and owner, Sean cooked dinner five night a week (Tuesday through Saturday), aided only by a “garde manger.” During its two year run, Clair de Lune was featured in a New York Times article and received the 5280 Editors Choice for “Top New Restaurant.” In addition, Sean again won the reader choice for “Best Chef” (5280 Magazine, June 2003) and the “Best Celebrity Chef” award from Westword’s annual Best of Denver edition (March 27, 2003)

Sean closed Clair de Lune in 2004. In the same-though expanded-location, he now runs Somethin’ Else, a casual, affordable restaurant featuring Mediterranean small plates. Sean recently won both editors’ choice and readers’ choice awards for Denver’s “Best Chef” from 5280 Magazine (June 2005).

Sean is married and the father of 7-year old twins.