Mawa McQueen is the passionate owner and James Beard nominated executive chef of several esteemed restaurants across Colorado, including Mawa’s Kitchen, Mawita, and Crepe Therapy Café. Her diverse life experiences, which began on the Ivory Coast and continued in France, have laid the groundwork for her deep-seated passion for providing food and comfort.

Chef Mawa has garnered recognition for her exceptional culinary skills, nominated as a 2022 semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: West. Furthermore, Mawa’s Kitchen was honored to be included in the MICHELIN Guide as a recommended restaurant for 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Driven by a desire to inspire, Mawa released her cookbook, Mawa’s Way, and authored the motivational book Unstoppable Ambition, followed by the Unstoppable Workbook to assist readers in their personal development. In addition to her restaurants and a highly successful catering business, Mawa is also the founder of a granola company, Mawa’s GrainFreeNola.

Beyond her roles as an executive chef and entrepreneur, Chef Mawa is committed to making a positive impact. She was honored with the 2025 Award for Excellence from Spoons Across America and serves on several prestigious culinary councils. She remains a dedicated advocate for Africa and its people, supporting community development and education through organizations like Brake The Cycle and Action in Africa.