Read about 15 years of First Bite

About First Bite: Boulder County Restaurant Week

For the past fifteen years, First Bite: Boulder County Restaurant Week has illuminated the Boulder County restaurant scene, becoming one of the most popular restaurant events in Colorado. Every November, over 10,000 diners come out to see what their favorite restaurant is serving up and to visit that new restaurant they’ve been dying to try. By featuring a myriad of restaurants – everything from best-kept secrets to fine dining stars – diners experience a celebration of the culinary creativity of the season’s best ingredients.

First Bite prioritizes strengthening the community, just as much as it prioritizes elevating the Boulder County restaurant scene. Our restaurants are an essential piece of the vitality of Boulder, and our diners know that the restaurants are one of the biggest supporters of the local schools, non-profits and events of all kinds. In 2019, a new program was launched to raise money and awareness for local non-profits with the support of local businesses and the restaurants. By bringing together 68 organizations, the First Bite program generated more support and deepened the connection locals have to their community.

This last year has changed the way we can dine and connect with our friends, family and community. It’s forced our beloved restaurant industry to reinvent themselves, and thankfully our community is hugely supportive of however we can dine with them. We are proud that in 2020, First Bite produced A Bite of Boulder, a limited-run cookbook featuring over 40 recipes from 30 local restaurants and 50% of proceeds from A Bite of Boulder go back to the participating restaurants. We still have a few copies left, so be sure to get yours today. By sharing your love for Boulder’s incredible restaurants, their people, their food, you can also support their survival. Food is Love – Now, more than ever, show the love.

Our 2021 plans will be announced in late spring.

©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.

After growing up in Colorado and receiving her degree from the University of Colorado, Jessica spent a decade working in marketing and events for local restaurants and then for large-scale corporate events around the world. In 2010, Jessica founded 1517 Events, first as a side-hustle and then in 2014, left the corporate world to dive in full time working more intimately in Boulder County.

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 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 often enjoy gardening, traveling, cooking and exploring Colorado’s outdoor wonders. She has worked with Garden to Table (Growe Foundation), both as a board member for five years, and as a volunteer for most of the last fifteen years, to support their efforts to empower school communities with gardens and curriculum to engage all students in experiential outdoor education.

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 often enjoy gardening, traveling, cooking and exploring Colorado’s outdoor wonders. She has worked with Garden to Table (Growe Foundation), both as a board member for four years, and as a volunteer for more than a decade, to support their efforts to improve nutrition at school, and enrich education experiences through school gardens and curriculum.