Mell's Cheese, Denver

Paula, the founder of Mell's Cheese, owes her love of food to her grandfather, Mell Coley, a man who lovingly tended his small garden and grape vines and made his own grape jelly and maple syrup. Though she went to work in the corporate world, food was always on her mind, so she attended classes at the Cheese School of San Francisco and Murray’s Cheese in New York City during her free time. She also obtained her executive wine sommelier certification from the International Wine Guild.

In 2014, Paula left her job and opened up her own cheese, wine, and charcuterie mecca dedicated to the man who first taught her how to appreciate food. She now introduces fellow foodies to her shop's more than 100 hard, soft, washed rind, blue, and fresh cheeses, helping them select the perfect complementary glass of wine or Colorado beer. And she passes on her knowledge during wine-and-cheese pairing classes.