On a trip to Britain, Chelly Vitry was determined to stop at an authentic apple press. She was eager to sample Scrumpy—a British version of hard cider—and see how it was made. Despite days of searching, however, she couldn’t find a press that would allow her visit. With Denver Gourmet Tours, Chelly guides small groups on the same kind of hands-on culinary experience she sought in Britain. During her excursions—which change seasonally—Chelly and her guests spend three hours strolling Denver’s streets, meeting food specialists, and trying the food at four to six culinary hot spots such as food trucks, sweet shops, and craft breweries.

Along with her main tours, Chelly customizes culinary trips, designs gastronomic team-building activities, and hosts events such as progressive dinners and tasting parties. She also fills her guests with newfound culinary skills during hands-on cooking classes, where they learn to craft cupcakes, bake bread, or grow pizzas in their garden.