Meet Julian Salas | Chef + Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julian Salas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julian, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
You don’t have to go to school to succeed. I spent more years and less money learning on the job than I ever did at school.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started working in kitchens when I was 14 and it progressed from there. It wasn’t easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Being born in the U.S. but raised Mexican, I was in between both worlds and never felt a belonging to either one. I’m too American to be Mexican and too Mexican to be American. I got labeled a “pocho”, which is a derogatory term used for U.S. born Mexicans. It really ate at me for a while. I struggled with my identity for a while trying to balance both but in the end I realized we don’t belong to either group because we’re a group of our own. That’s what separates me from any other Molino in the U.S. We don’t try to be Mexican or American with Mexican influences. We are simply “pochos”. U.S. born Mexicans trying to carry on the dream our parents came here with.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Straight from the airport we take everyone to Maria’s Empanadas. It became a staple when I used to visit Colorado. Now that I live here it’s great.

From there, take them through one of Colorado’s scenic by ways. My favorite is the Guanella Pass. You have to take a moment to explore Georgetown before driving off to the Pass.

Idaho Springs is another place to visit! Breakfast at Main Street Restaurant. They fill up quickly, so you have to go when they open.
For dinner, head to Beau Jo’s. The pizza there is one of a kind and don’t forget the honey.

If we are staying local, sports is a big thing for me. I Would go to a Nuggets Game and enjoy the city. Before the game, I would eat a juciy Italian Beef from Mustard’s Last Stand. It’s a Chicago Style hot dog stand that I can’t get enough of.

I like to have a mixture of city and mountain activities when friends and family come visit. As I spend more time in Colorado I can’t wait to expand this list.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have 3 people to shoutout that contribute to my success. My grandpa for helping guide me in the direction of cooking. Aaron Harris of Molino Tortilleria expanded my knowledge of tortillas and masa. Lastly, Jonathan Zaragoza for changing the way I view and think about food.

Website: https://msha.ke/donzorrosmolino

Instagram: @donzorrosmolino