From running restaurant kitchens to brewing Coloradans’ favorite craft beers, women are leading in all facets of the Front Range’s exciting dining scene—and driving its success. In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, we hope this list makes it easy for you to find and support female-owned and -operated establishments from Aurora to Boulder and beyond.

Who did we as? Email us at dining@5280.com; we’ll update this list regularly.

Bakeries

Bars

Breweries, Distilleries, Wineries, and Other Beverage Businesses

Catering and Meal Delivery Services

Coffee, Tea, Juice and Kombucha Shops

Culinary Retail

Culinary Schools

Culinary Tours

Food Trucks

Food-Related Organizations and Associations

  • Above the Bar: CC Chaput, co-founder; Jillian Hapak, co-founder
  • Bridge House/Community Table Kitchen: Isabel McDevitt, CEO
  • Chef Ann Foundation: Ann Cooper, president and founder; Mara Fleishman, CEO
  • Colorado Brewers Guild: Shawnee Adelson, executive director
  • Colorado Restaurant Association & Foundation: Sonia Riggs, president and CEO; Devany McNeill, vice president of strategic partnerships; Laura Shunk, CRF president; Denise Mickelsen, communication director; Kelsey Berglund, events & sponsorship director; Rachel Pryor-Lease, CRF director of development; Stacy Griest, CRF program director; Erin Dewey, marketing manager; Jen Johnson, business development & engagement manager; Katie Nicholson, territory manager; Casie Kolbeck, office administrator & accounting assistant; Emily Rickert, membership services representative; Tori Steagall, events & sponsorship coordinator
  • EatDenver: Kristen Rauch, executive director
  • First Bite: Jessica Benjamin, owner and producer
  • Flatirons Food Film Festival: director, Julia Joun
  • Les Dames d’Escoffier (Colorado chapter): Megan Bucholz, president
  • Metro Caring: Teva Sienicki, CEO; Donna Munip, COO and CFO; Sisi Dong Brinn, CIO
  • Mile High Asian Food Week: Joanne Liu, co-founder; Chea Franz, PR manager; Annie Guo VanDan, presenting sponsor and president of Asian Avenue Magazine; Pamela Lovett, web developer; Sujie Kim, social media manager
  • Project Angel Heart: Jennifer Lackey, interim president; Summer Polson, sous chef
  • StarryEyed Strategy: Liz Seelye, founder
  • Western Colorado Community College Viticultural and Enology Program: Jenne Baldwin-Eaton, instructor
  • Work Options for Women: Julie Stone, executive director; Angela O’Leary, director of operations; Bailey Denmark, director of development; Kristi Hornick, director of recruitment and community engagement; Tessa Houston, culinary program and special projects manager; Yoselin Corrales, manager of student services; Tamika Simmons, program coordinator; Ebony Magee, mobile culinary classroom assistant chef instructor; Shannon Boehler, cafe and commissary supervisor
  • Women’s Wine Guild of Colorado: Abbie Minton, Sarah Shomaker, and Jessica Roat, co-founders

Restaurants

Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen is 5280’s former food editor. She oversaw all of 5280’s food-related coverage from October 2016 to March 2021.
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Patricia joined the 5280 staff in July 2019 and is thrilled to oversee all of the magazine’s dining coverage. Follow her food reporting adventures on Instagram @whatispattyeating.
Riane Menardi Morrison
Riane Menardi Morrison
Riane is 5280’s former digital strategy editor and assistant food editor. She writes food and culture content. Follow her at @riane__eats.