John Hinman is the owner and pie craftsman at Hinman’s Bakery as well as the founder of CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness) in Denver, CO. He has battled through major substance abuse issues to come out the other side grateful and focused not only on his award-winning pies, also in supporting an open dialogue around mental health in the restaurant industry. We also touch on some lighter topics of his favorite pies, his record collection and racing RC cars. He gushes over one of his #UnsungHospitalityHeroes, Jamey Valezquez, and his delicious BBQ, so we hop on a call with him and talk smoke, strong women and Tio.

Website - www.hinmansbakery.com

Facebook - /hinmansbakery   /groups/choworg

Instagram - @piecraftsman   @hinmansbakery

Where were you born / raised?

Rome, NY

First job in the industry?

Pasta Jay's, Denver CO

Proudest moment of your career?

Starting CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness)

Two things most people don't know about you?

I was a ceramics major, I belong to a club that drives and builds scale model RC trucks, Ridge Runners RC

Food and/or drinks staples in your house?

Cheddar cheese and Triscuits

Words to live by?

Live like the extraordinary is ordinary 

John Hinman, Denver’s undisputed pie master, is the owner of Hinman’s Bakery. Hailing from the school of hard knocks, the self-taught pie wizard and bread baker honed his craft in illustrious local kitchens, including Jax Fish House, Lola Coastal Mexican, Pasta Jay’s, Lucky’s Bakery, Roy’s of Cherry Creek and Vesta, a restaurant that earned a coveted spot on 5280 magazine’s Top 10 Restaurants in Denver list, just one year after it opened in LoDo. Coming off that success, John joined the pastry division at Roy’s of Cherry Creek, where he found his calling. Pies, he realized, were his passion, and he began entering local competitions, paving the way for what would eventually become his sanctuary: Hinman’s Bakery. His extraordinary pies have resulted in numerous accolades and awards from Westword newspaper, 5280 magazine, Denver Life magazine, Eater Denver and The Denver Post. In 2018, John Founded CHOW, which is a mental health support group for the Hospitality industry.  When he’s not at the bakery or farmers’ market, delivering pies or taking orders, which he does the old-fashioned way—with pen and paper—John can be found hiking in the foothills, with his RC club. He’s also a self-described “record maniac” with an extensive vinyl collection. “There’s a sweet ritual, sitting and listing to a record, the scent of the cardboard, the ability to read along while it plays, the effort to flip the record, plus they just sound better on a turntable,” says John, who admits that he’s not above busting out Risky Business moves while grooving to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”