Chef Justin Cucci lives, cooks, and runs a business to the sounds of America’s most famous bands.
The dedicated Deadhead owns six restaurants under the Edible Beats umbrella in Denver, Colorado.
He names each operating company after a Steely Dan song or lyric.
Chef Cucci said he feels humans “nurture in different ways” with both food and music.
“Music and food are languages, and the dialogue never stops. We’ll be cooking for another 10,000 years, and we’ll be making music for another 10,000 years.”
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Several other bands have influenced his brand.
His flagship restaurant, “Route Down,” draws from a series of songs from the Beastie Boys’ 1994 album “Il Communication.”
Chef Justin Cucci is the owner of Edible Beet Restaurant Group in Denver. His six restaurants are heavily influenced by his love of music, especially Grateful and his love of the Dead. (Courtesy of Justin Cucci/Edible Beats)
Root Down is housed in a mid-20th century gas station and is built from reclaimed and repurposed materials. Meanwhile, the “New American” menu focuses on farm-to-table cuisine that highlights the best local flavors.
Ophelia’s features music four to five nights each week, and its name is an homage to The Band’s song of the same name. The act is booked by Ross James, a musician who has played with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh for years.
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Ophelia’s food reflects Southern culture and cuisine.
The Ringer is housed in an ironically vibrant concept space, repurposed from a former mortuary. The menu celebrates street food from around the world.
Root Down in Denver is located in an old gas station garage. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post, Getty Images)
Cucci grew up in the restaurant industry in New York City’s Greenwich Village, where his family owned the landmark Waverly Inn.
His childhood in the 1970s was shaped by the food and music of the time. His earliest musical memories were hearing records of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Van Morrison’s “Moondance.”
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“I still remember the album cover for “Moondance.” When I think back, I can still picture myself putting a record on a turntable. I don’t know how old I was, but at least I could turn a record. He was old enough to work the table.”
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But to him, the Grateful Dead was more than just a band. This group elevated his concept of music and art when he discovered it in his teens.
Jerry Garcia (left) and the Grateful Dead inspire the food and business acumen of Denver chef Justin Cucci (right), who runs six restaurants under the Edible Beats umbrella. There is. (Getty Images and Justin Cucci)
“They had a very strong sense of who they were and what they were doing,” he says.
“But I think they struck a great balance of not taking themselves too seriously and always being at the highest professional level.”
The Grateful Dead now influences his business concept and his desire to create memorable experiences for his guests.
“The Grateful Dead always wanted to connect with everyone who saw their shows,” he said.
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“I’m still unraveling new layers of their music. I continue to find things that remind me of them. I continue to connect on a deeper level with the people who dine in our restaurants. We want to connect with them in a way that keeps them coming back.”We also like to keep them coming back to their favorite music. ”
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