Aging is funny- our memories can get fuzzy. My memory needed to be checked a number of times just to be sure I was correct in stating that Local Table Tours was entering its 10th year of business in 2020. Did I miscount the years? No. I went to my original articles of incorporation and sure enough, January 1, 2010 was the day we filed with the Secretary of State in Colorado, so this January 2020 we are not just the longest running food tour operator in the state and one of the oldest in the nation. We are on our tenth year of business and our tours are more delicious than ever!
This experiment in a new business started with just a handful of locally owned restaurants and one bakery in Boulder. Local Table Tours now has relationships with 90+ establishments across Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, and we are always excited to meet new chefs, bar tenders, restauranteurs, bakers, brewers… if you’re in the food and beverage industry, we want to get to know you. We want to support you and feature you and enjoy a taste of what you’re serving.
So, our memories get fuzzy with age, but you know what memories are most salient? Those that involved an experience, and I have personally been the guide to well over a thousand experiences, many of which I distinctly remember because of the fun people and the delicious food. I’ve been known to get a phone call from a repeat tour guest and be able to tell them exactly where were went and what we enjoyed on the tour- a feat that is impressive considering we do not have a standard lineup that we repeat for every tour.
The past ten years have been a decade of tremendous growth and change in the food service industry in Colorado. We’ve been tasting our way through town as new places open, as our favorite spots thrived, as some of our favorite spots surprisingly closed, and as food halls gained momentum. We were offering cocktail tours back when craft cocktails were just starting to make their way into Colorado. We helped educate hundreds of guests about the art of brewing a perfect cup of ethically sourced coffee. We witnessed restaurants weather the kitchen staff shortages, especially for dishwashers, and understood when they politely declined to let our tours come by because they were operating a two man line and didn’t want that to be obvious to guests.
As I look back on ten years in this vibrant industry I’m filled with pride for having persisted with this small business, gratitude for my husband putting up with me not having a full time steady line of work, and awe that we pulled off so many unique culinary events for thousands of hungry guests interested in a taste of local Front Range cuisine. None of this would be possible without the exceptional featured establishments we work with in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. And I would be nowhere without my team of enthusiastic guides who don’t show up to tours with a script and an act, but are genuinely excited to host a group of strangers who within a few hours have become friends.
There is so much to say about ten years of our food tours and food experiences, but I’m not here to write a book. Well, at least right now I’m not writing a book… let’s see what happens over the upcoming year. We might have a big announcement coming on that topic for those who like to cook (hint hint). We’re certainly going to add at least two more neighborhoods to our Denver lineup, we’re considering offering electric bike tours in Boulder to explore our favorite places that aren’t downtown, and we have fun ideas for our Fort Collins tours with a brand new local guide who would love to show you around her town.
Join us in 2020 for a unique foodie experience. We can’t wait to eat, drink, walk, and repeat with you!
