This December, James Beard Award-winning Chef Matt Vawter of Rootstalk and Radicato will introduce Threefold, a new bakery and cafe in Breckenridge, CO, in collaboration with longtime friends and acclaimed Chefs Sean and Melissa McGaughey of Healdsburg, California. Located in the former Mom’s Baking Company space just off Main Street in historic downtown Breckenridge.Threefold will offer artisan pastries, house-made sourdough breads, expertly crafted sandwiches, a curated espresso program, and more.
The name Threefold reflects both the partnership of the three friends and the artful technique central to their respective — and now collaborative — crafts. Through this newest venture, the trio brings together Colorado and California culinary excellence: Vawter is the 2024 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Mountain and owner of Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge, while the McGaugheys own and operate Healdsburg's acclaimed Quail & Condor bakery, named one of the “best bakeries in country” by the New York Times, and the Michelin-recognized Troubadour Bread & Bistro
Matt and Sean first worked together at the Cellar in Breckenridge over 20 years ago. The trio later reunited as part of Mercantile Dining & Provision's opening team — Matt as Chef de Cuisine, Sean as Sous Chef, and Melissa as Head Pastry Chef — before pursuing their respective ventures.
Joining Vawter and the McGaugheys at Threefold will be Director of Hospitality Patrick Murphy and Chef Cameron Baker, Vawter's partners in both Rootstalk and Radicato, who also worked alongside the trio at Mercantile.
Threefold's menu will feature a dedicated sourdough program, offering long-fermented, naturally leavened whole-grain breads made with freshly milled Colorado grains. The menu will also include authentic French pastries, such as croissants and kouign amann, breakfast items, and a concise lunch menu featuring premium sandwiches and salads. The bakery will also offer a robust coffee and beverage program featuring Huckleberry Roasters espresso, wine, beer, and cocktails.
The establishment will serve as a morning coffee and breakfast spot, a quick lunch destination, and a "third place" for community gathering.
Chef Matt Vawter
2024 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Mountain, Chef Matt Vawter was raised in Summit County, Colorado. In 2007, he joined Fruition restaurant in Denver, and in 2014 helped open Mercantile Dining & Provision at Union Station. Drawn back to his mountain roots, Vawter returned to Summit County in December 2020, opening Rootstalk in Breckenridge. Rootstalk offers an approachable, technique-focused, ingredient-driven dining experience designed to evoke the feeling of coming home. In 2022, Vawter and partners launched Radicato, a modern Italian restaurant celebrating seasonal, technique-driven cuisine inspired by Italy's rich culinary traditions.
Chef Sean McGaughey
With 20 years in the hospitality industry, Sean has built a diverse career, from managing a 3-Michelin Star kitchen to recipe development, culinary directing for award-winning cookbooks, and owning two successful restaurants. Locally, Sean spent over five years as Executive Sous and eventually Head Chef at SingleThread before co-launching the Quail & Condor project with his wife, Melissa, during Covid in 2020. He played a key role in spearheading the popular Friday pop-ups at the bakery in Summer 2021, leading to the opening of Troubadour Bread & Bistro in 2022.
Chef Melissa McGaughey
Melissa has spent 15 years in the hospitality industry, from starting as a young baker with her grandmother to leading large pastry programs for renowned names like Bien Cuit in New York and Gjusta in Los Angeles. A graduate of pastry school, she opened her first bakery at age 23 in Denver before winning the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship in 2019. Melissa is also passionate about brand development, retail restaurant design, and leadership training. Since moving to Northern California, she has worked at SingleThread as the Hotel Pastry Chef and baked for farmers’ markets, hotels, and wineries. In 2020, she and Sean bootstrapped Quail & Condor, a thriving retail bakery. Together, they opened Troubadour Bread & Bistro in 2022.
