Our Executive Chef
Ben Hoffer, Executive Chef

Executive Chef Ben Hoffer was born in 1978 in Colorado Springs, CO, and grew up in and around Green Mountain Falls, Cascade, and Manitou Springs, attending high school at Manitou High and working in the pantry at Craftwood. After graduating, he decided that the culinary world was where he wanted to be. To further his cooking knowledge, he then left for culinary school in Pittsburgh, PA.

After returning, and serving a brief internship at Mackenzie’s Chop House he was promoted to Chef de Cuisine and ran the daytime kitchen for about 2 ˝ years. Some changes to kitchen management at the Chop House prompted Ben’s departure, and he returned to the Craftwood kitchen for another 6 ˝ years, soon being promoted to sous chef. In the spring of  '08 Ben made the move to Executive Chef at Café 36 in the Fine Arts Center. Not being able to stay away long, he finally returned to Craftwood as our Executive Chef in November of  '09. He has revamped our menu, including more innovative dishes. We are so pleased to have him back, come marvel at his artwork!