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

Hi Nick, how do you think about risk?
I believe risk always exists. The only thing you can do is attempt to control it and use it to your benefit. The way I think about it is that there are two sides to taking risk – what is the risk of taking on something and what is the risk of NOT taking on that something. I have found more often than not, that life rewards those that take calculated risks. I’m not advocating being reckless with decisions, but instead thinking about all aspects of taking on additional risk helps mitigate some of the scariness of embarking on a new journey. I’ve always found it very helpful to ask the question, “what happens if I DON’T take the risk that I’m considering” and gauge my gut feeling after thoroughly examining that side of the equation as well.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I firmly believe that food is art. My art is barbecue. I am self-taught using targets from my childhood of taste profiles, smells, vibes, and decor. I spent many years in a corporate environment never really feeling like I was doing my “life’s work” and made the difficult decision to leave that life and enter the unknown of restauranteuring. It wasn’t easy but I was able to draw on my experience in working with teams, knowing myself, having confidence in my product, and generally being an observant individual to create Post Oak BBQ. I wanted people to experience what I had experienced throughout the years of eating Texas barbecue in Texas. My desire was to have people have the same feelings that I got from the environment, the smells, the quality of the food, and the family atmosphere that so deeply embedded itself into my being along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Post Oak BBQ would definitely be my first suggestion (shameless plug here, haha) but then we’d try out some local spots like Blue Pan Pizza, Bakery Four, and Highland Tap and Burger. I’d also try to get us out to eat some Italian food at Carmine’s on Penn and Cafe Jordano. The trip couldn’t be complete without visiting Red Rocks and hanging out in Golden on Washington Street to eat at Woody’s Pizza and head into Lakewood for drinks at Manning’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Looking back, my parents, my wife, and my business coach Paul de la Garza were my primary motivators to pursue my passion of barbecue and give up my lucrative corporate finance career. They provided the support necessary for me to realize that I was not in alignment with my desires and dreams in my career and that it was time to bet on myself and step out of my comfort zone.

Website: www.postoakdenver.com

Instagram: @postoakdenver

Facebook: @postoakdenver

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/post-oak-barbecue-denver

Other: instagram @postoakdenver

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.