At Montagna [2], the renowned restaurant in Aspen's Little Nell Hotel, chef Ryan Hardy's menu reads like The Pleasures of Slow Food cookbook (think homemade farm lamb sausage and fire-grilled lamb T-bones). So perfect is Hardy's blend of local ingredients and clean, sophisticated cooking that he's captured the eye of the James Beard Foundation [3], the nation's culinary epicenter. The organization is bringing Hardy to Denver next week to star in its Celebrity Chef Tour [4]. He will join Lola [5] chef Jamey Fader at the latter's Lower Highland restaurant to prepare a special foundation benefit dinner. Thursday, October 9, 7 p.m. 1575 Boulder St., 720-570-8686