Meet Ian Dedrickson of Ephemera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Dedrickson.

Hi Ian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and found a job washing dishes at one of the local restaurants when I was 15 – just for some extra cash, and no interest in career building. I wasn’t the most popular kid in school, so it was refreshing to realize I wasn’t the weirdest kid amongst the reckless pirate ship that is a commercial kitchen. I fell in love with the shenanigans and the opportunity to be creative and still be my awkward self amongst other freaks.

I took my time learning as many positions in as many places as I could – from getting screamed at as sous chef under a wannabe Gordon Ramsay, to managing a whiskey bar. I had played with enough silly ideas with the creative support of my wife (Jasmine Dillavou), and the chef’s support of my former partner (Adam Ridens). From there I was lucky and happened upon the right partners at the right time to make our actual restaurant happen.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is little to nothing truly “smooth” in our path – be it restaurants or retail – there’s always a hardy patch of roadblocks and potholes along the way. Sometimes we get lucky and bypass some of those hindrances, but nonetheless, the road is always bumpy.

That makes it more fun/interesting at times; and then when we have a smooth patch, it can be a moment of clarity to remember why we love what we do. Remembering every day that you don’t know what you don’t know until you know is the most important part of trying to be a leader.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ephemera?
Ephemera is an experimental dining space with full service inside of COATI in Colorado Springs. We focus on an ever-changing menu, be it our chef’s tasting, or the guest choosing their own adventure via our A La Carte options.

Ephemera offers a getaway within the hustle and bustle of downtown and the crowds at COATI to relax and enjoy a unique and ever-changing experience, whether it’s a glass of wine and oysters, or a full tasting with cocktails and wine pairings, all in a curated gallery-like setting with new art every 6-8 weeks.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Almost all of my success has come from being in the right place to run into the right person at the right time. I hate to say it, but some of the most talented and deserving people just never have the random encounter where they find the door to “success.”

Of course, we all have to do a lot of hard work to make some of those doorways exist at all, but finding the key is often left to chance. The moral is, don’t discount any relationship and do your best not to burn bridges.

Contact Info:

• Website: ephemeradinners.com
• Instagram: @Ephemeradinners
• Facebook: facebook.com/ephemeradinners
• Other: exploretock.com/ephemeradinners

Image Credits
Roman Pena and Jasmine Dillavou