Micheal Popovich, referred to as Pop, joined the Mountain Standard chef team in November 2023. However, he is no stranger to mountain life or kitchen life.

‍

Pop was born in Colorado Springs and moved to the valley shortly before his 6th grade year. He was “infatuated with the idea of living in the mountains ever since [his] first time snowboarding.”

‍

His career in kitchens and cooking started at Moe's BBQ in Eagle and Vail, Colorado before going to culinary school. After attending Escoffier in Boulder, Colorado for the Culinary Arts Program (with an emphasis on farm to table and sustainability) he spent just over 3 years at The Pig and The Sprout in Denver. There, while just being down the street from Coors Field, he worked his way up to Chef de Partie (CDP).

‍

Like most of our team, the city life became overrated and the mountains were calling. Chef Micheal, or Chef Pop, moved back to the valley and worked at Grouse Mountain Grill as a Sous Chef. At this time of 2020, covid took its toll through the valley and he was let go from Grouse Mountain Grill due to closures.

‍

From there he joined the Mountain Standard team and has been with us for the past three years as a cook. During the summer season he would work as a Head Chef in a remote lodge outside of Homer Alaska. But after joining the chef team at Mountain Standard as CDP, he states he is back for good.

‍

What started as helping cook dinner and baking sweets with his grandma, turned into a love of cooking and realizing the magic that happens when a group of people sit down around a table and share good food together. This ultimately started his passion for cooking.

‍

When not in the kitchen, you can find Chef on the mountain snowboarding and looking for fresh powder or at home playing guitar.