Lower Downtown District, Inc.

LDDI Personal Profile by Laurie Rachkus Uttich

Sep 13, 1999

Stephen Vice
Executive Chef
McCormick's Fish House & Bar

He's got one of those jobs that almost everybody says they want. But after hearing about his day - broken equipment, absent staff, product vendors who want "just a minute," and a full menu still to prepare - you realize it might
not be the dream job everyone imagines.

Stephen Vice wouldn't agree. A chef for almost 25 years, he's still "passionate about my job" and not complaining in the least. And why not? As Stephen says, "As a chef, you get to eat anything you want and you get immediate gratification. You do your job well and you hear about it from the wait staff, the kitchen and the customers. It's hard to beat that."

Stephen earns his share of compliments. McCormick's Fish House & Bar hosts some of the best seafood in the area, but Stephen doesn't claim to be the "sole" (sorry) reason. "I see myself as a band conductor," he says. "I direct the kitchen staff and give them room to do their magic. It's
definitely a team effort."

This year, Stephen put the team concept to the test as he prepared 3,000 pounds of crawfish for the Crawfish Boil, an LDDI fundraiser. And, now he's preparing for his part in the Lower Downtown Food and Wine Experience. "I
think it's a great way to show off our wares and make people aware of all that LoDo has to offer. A lot of people don't realize that you can walk within four blocks in LoDo and experience any kind of food you want. . .and most of it will be wonderful."

What's your favorite seafood?

I love all of it, but salmon is one of my favorites because it has such good oil content. You can prepare it simply; just grill it with a little lemon butter for a great taste.

How do you get good seafood in Denver?

I used to work on the coast and all I got was seafood from California. Here, I get two to three shipments a day from DIA. They bring a great selection from the East and West Coasts, Alaska, the Gulf and New Zealand. It's wonderful!

What did parenthood teach you? (Stephen and his wife have 3 boys: 10, 2 and 2-1/2 months.)

Time management. Before, I had no life. I was here all the time. Now, I'm learning to pace myself. I don't want to miss out on their childhoods.

What's your favorite movie?

Big Night, the two brothers running a restaurant really rang true to me.

What's your philosophy of life?

Winnie the Pooh said it all.