Born in Denver and raised in Laramie Wyoming, George Gastl chose cooking as a career early on. “It’s all I’ve ever done, “ he said. “Aside from maybe mowing lawns and throwing newspapers when I was a kid.”
George graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona then built his skills and expanded his culinary influences working in restaurants and hotels in Denver, Santa Fe, New Orleans and spent several years cooking in Germany.
“In culinary school, the chefs said you need to work in as many places as you can,” he said. For awhile, I could fit everything in my Bronco so I could pick up and go, learning everything I could food-wise, soaking in different cultures, experiencing new cooking styles and working with great chefs.“
After Germany, George landed back in Fort Collins, leading kitchens in area restaurants and country clubs. When Ginger and Baker opened, he joined the team in The Cache and became Chef de Cuisine in the spring of 2019.
As for his style, George draws on all the different flavors of the places he’s been, while making the most of the great Colorado ingredients. “I’d say my style is clean, straightforward, exciting and fresh every day,” he said. “We’re a small batch kitchen, and the team is young, hungry and looking forward to bringing forward our best food and flavors.”
When not cooking, George spends his time with his wife and son. He also enjoys playing the bass and listening to music.
His favorite pie? Straight up apple pie with vanilla ice cream.