About First Bite

We are celebrating the Boulder dining scene. We love to share the special events, holidays, and unique offerings you don’t want to miss. We also host the Boulder County Restaurant Week every Fall.

We are creating connections. We know that in many of our lives, connections are made through food. By sharing the stories of our community, we hope to establish and strengthen the connection between diners, chefs, small business owners, farmers and more.

We are building a community. As proud Boulder County neighbors, we prioritize strengthening the community in all aspects of our work. We live in an integrated local economy where the small businesses, restaurants, non-profits, farmers, arts, and schools all support each others success.

So, what can our diners expect from us? First Bite is your one-stop resource for knowing what’s exciting; we will be sharing recipes, intimate stories, insider tips, local issues, talking about advocacy and discussing how the food community is evolving.

In the Press

Denver Business Journal: First Bite 2021

Media Contact

For media inquiries, please contact: Rachael Caraluzzi, First Bite Marketing & Communications Director

[email protected]

303.579.3003

Media Kit

For press release, about, bios and more, click here to view the media kit.

Media Kit
Jessica Benjamin

©Megan Newton Photography

Jessica Benjamin Bio

For nearly two decades, First Bite Producer Jessica Benjamin has committed her time and energy to connecting her community to local food through meaningful events. Throughout her time in Boulder, Jessica has collaborated and worked with area nonprofits, businesses, restaurants, the University of Colorado, and even as a Campaign Manager for her husband’s campaign in 2017. Jessica invested even more into her community by purchasing First Bite: Boulder County’s Restaurant Week in March 2019. In her first year as Executive Producer, First Bite saw a more than 30% jump in diners, serving over 11,300 guests over the nine-day event. Through partnerships with over 68 restaurants, non-profits, local businesses and organizations, First Bite delivered over $542,000 economic impact to Boulder County.

With an intrinsic desire to deepen the connection between her community and the Boulder County food industry, extensive knowledge of the Boulder restaurant scene, invaluable long-term partnerships with area eateries, and an undeniable entrepreneurial spirit, Jessica is driven to build and connect First Bite’s guests to the Boulder County restaurant and food scene all year long.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys all Boulder has to offer with her husband and two small children. On the weekends, they enjoy gardening, traveling, and exploring Colorado’s outdoor wonders as a family. She has worked with Garden to Table (Growe Foundation), both as a board member for the past six years, and as a volunteer for the last fifteen years, to support their efforts to empower school communities with gardens and curriculum to engage all students in experiential outdoor education. Of course, Jess is huge foodie and is often testing new recipes, improving her sourdough and planning out her next dinner party. Food is Love!

Get to Know Jess:

  • Food you could eat 4 nights a week: Tacos! Could I eat them 7?
  • Favorite thing to cook: Sourdough Scones and Chicken Marsala
  • Best drink on a date night: Idaho Mule
  • How do you take your coffee: Vanilla Cortado
  • Famous person dead/alive you’d love to dine with: Anthony Bourdain hands down.

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