On a cold night in Boulder, diners downed their drinks to the melody of pans sizzling and conversations rising. At the center of it all was Hosea Rosenberg, chef, restaurateur, and Top Chef Season 5 winner. His calm precision and quiet authority defined the room – a trademark of someone who has lived in kitchens where focus is survival.
But behind the chef whites and national accolades, Rosenberg’s most important title is Dad.
A Chef’s Ascension
Rosenberg’s culinary path has been anything but traditional. He has a degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering-Physics from the University of Colorado before discovering kitchens as his true calling.
“I was never raised thinking I was going to be a chef,” he once said. “Once I found my way into kitchens, though, I realized that was exactly what I wanted to do.“
That realization led to his breakthrough moment in 2009, when he won Bravo’s Top Chef Season 5. Humility and focus shone through on television and remain central to his approach to food: honoring simplicity, provenance, and authenticity.
Over the years, Chef Hosea has earned numerous accolades:
- Winner, Top Chef Season 5
- Hero of the Year, Conscious Alliance
- Outstanding Philanthropist, Colorado Restaurant Association
- Honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a business owner inspiring entrepreneurship nationwide
- Michelin Guide recognition in 2023 and 2024: a Green Star for sustainability at Blackbelly, and Michelin Recommended honors for both Blackbelly and Santo
- In 2025, named a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Mountain Region
Blackbelly: More Than a Restaurant
When Rosenberg opened Blackbelly Market in 2014, he wasn’t just creating a restaurant, he was pioneering a concept. Blackbelly is the first and only licensed program in Boulder to cure and sell housemade charcuterie. “We wanted to show people that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword,” Rosenberg explained. “It’s a practice. It’s respecting the animal, the farmer, the land, and making sure nothing goes to waste.“
That ethos helped Blackbelly and its sister restaurants, Blackbelly Market Denver and Santo – become culinary landmarks. They aren’t simply places to dine, but ecosystems where chefs, farmers, and guests come together around food that tells the truth of its origins.
Another Battle: Sophie’s Neighborhood
In 2017, Rosenberg and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their daughter Sophie into the world. Parenthood brought joy, sleepless nights, and new purpose.
But in 2020, just before she turned three, Sophie was diagnosed with multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis (MCTO), an ultra-rare and progressive genetic disorder that affects bones and kidneys.
The diagnosis was devastating. “As chefs, we are used to handling problems under pressure,” Rosenberg said. “But nothing prepares you for hearing that your child has a disease with no known cure.“
Determined to fight back, the Rosenbergs founded Sophie’s Neighborhood, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research and treatments for MCTO and related disorders. Thanks to Rosenberg’s connections in the hospitality world, chefs nationwide joined the cause through dinners, auctions, and special events, raising millions to support groundbreaking studies that once seemed impossible.
“Every plate I serve, every meal we cook, in some way connects back to Sophie,” Rosenberg said. “She is my why. She is why I keep going.”
Looking Ahead
The future continues to unfold with momentum. Blackbelly sharpens its reputation as one of Boulder’s top culinary destinations, while Santo, rooted in Rosenberg’s New Mexican heritage – has expanded with a new location at Denver International Airport.
Meanwhile, Sophie’s Neighborhood continues to drive progress in rare-disease research, fueled by the same resilience and community spirit that define Rosenberg’s cooking.
“Top Chef gave me a platform,” Rosenberg said. “But being Sophie’s dad gave me a mission. And that mission makes every victory, every dish, every challenge worth it.“
Words from a Father
On Instagram, Rosenberg shifts easily between posts about perfectly seared steaks and playful moments with Sophie. That contrast defines him: a chef at the height of his career and a father humbled by life’s hardest battles.
“If cooking has taught me anything, it’s to work with what you have,” he reflected. “Sometimes the components aren’t perfect, but with love and care, you can make something extraordinary. That’s how we live now, we take what we have and turn it into beauty.”
When it comes to Hosea Rosenberg, resilience means hard work, unshakable faith, and a father’s promise that his daughter’s story will never be forgotten.
📌 Learn more / support Sophie’s Neighborhood: http://www.sophiesneighborhood.org/
📌 Watch Hosea’s story: YouTube Video
📌 Follow Chef Hosea: Instagram @chefhosea
