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The impact of social media on the restaurant industry is undeniable. Research shows that 69% of consumers trust information they get from social media influencers over information provided directly by brands, and food and beverage is among the top five sectors (along with travel, beauty, fashion and entertainment) that will benefit most from the $24 billion influencer marketing industry. Once platforms for organic word-of-mouth, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook have become full-fledged marketing channels.
In fact, many of today’s influencers would rather be called “creators” than simply “influence” others, as their many roles include shooting videos, directing photoshoots, doing voiceover work (often with the help of a team), etc. But there’s no doubt that their influence has changed the face of restaurant reviews and food media as a whole.
“Most content creators don’t offer in-depth critiques on the scale of a Pete Wells’ New York Times review, but they do tell a story about a restaurant, which is often very compelling and informative,” says Bryant Palmer, founder of Oh Hey Creative, a Denver-based PR and marketing agency specializing in food and beverage brands. “Once I trust a content creator, I’m happy to go and try the places they feature, or even try a particular dish or two for myself.”
Like any city, Denver is home to a plethora of content creators dedicated to showcasing the city’s culinary scene. Following recommendations from local restaurant groups and PR firms, we spoke with four creators that foodies should follow to learn more about who they are, who they feature, and what it’s actually like to work on them.
Editor’s note: These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Kip Wilson
What’s your favorite Denver restaurant?
Hop Alley. The spicy, flavorful food is paired with a fun, lively atmosphere and a great wine list. The service is excellent. If I had more money I’d go there every week.
What’s your best recent discovery?
Alma Fonda Fina in Lohi. This is the best fine Mexican food. It’s often thought of as street tacos but it’s also a sit-down meal and it’s just heavenly delicious. I also love the new location of Sắp Sửa. It used to be a pop-up but now it’s its own place. They’re doing God’s work there with amazing herbal flavors.
How do you decide what to feature?
I try to do a jig [others] zag. We strive to find quality food and pay for your meals, and instead of relying on click-heavy gimmicks, we wait for information from trusted sources: friends in the restaurant industry, journalists, chefs, and more.
Stoned Appetit host Kip Wilson (left) with co-host Chris Byard and Comida owner Raymie Rosello. Photo by Kip Wilson.
Do you have a favorite dish?
I love Asian food and spices, and I’ve quickly grown to love Mexican food here in Denver. I also love seafood. I was born in New Orleans via Mississippi, and there’s no authentic Cajun food here in Denver that satisfies that craving.
Who is your audience?
Stoned Appétit seeks to speak to people who are willing to try new things and step outside of their comfort zones and neighborhoods. People who are willing to kick up stones.
What are the future plans for your platform?
[Chris Byard and I] We’ve been doing a podcast for a few years now. We want to visit farms and agricultural sites and tell more of the story of where our food comes from. We’ve hired a videographer to bring our talent to new countries and cities through video series. We focus on supporting the farmers and chefs who prepare our food, quality dining places, and local businesses.
Haley Paez
What’s your favorite Denver restaurant?
That’s the hardest question. It always depends on my mood. For comfort food, it’s Yuan Wonton. I could eat dumplings forever. They’re like little gifts and the variety that Wong and her team offer is so unique. I can go every day and get something new. For bakeries, it’s Parker’s Poulette Bakeshop. I first met them when they were a small bakery. It’s great to see them grow and innovate.
What’s your best recent discovery?
La Forêt is Beatrice & Woodsley’s latest remodel, serving traditional French cuisine in a Colorado nature-focused hideaway setting. Anyone who can wow me with chicken really knows their stuff. Also check out Sắp Sửa, a fantastic scrambled egg dish with brown butter fish sauce infused into rice that’s not really dinner related. It looks simple, but it’s packed with so many complex elements.
How do you decide what to feature?
I love trying new places. There’s nothing I don’t like. I’ll try anything at least once. There’s a reason why I make everything I make. Food is a gateway to understanding cultures, people and their identity, to get to know them on a personal level. I want to know about people. It’s a story. I want to learn everyone’s story.
Do you have a favorite dish?
I love seafood and Asian food, I also love sushi, and if you’re looking for Japanese-inspired cuisine there are a ton of places with really creative chefs.
Who is your audience?
I want to be a resource for anyone wanting to discover something new and get involved in the local community to see what Denver has to offer. I want this to be a tool for everyone to explore and discover things they’ve always wanted to try or that are outside the norm.
What are the future plans for your platform?
We’re starting a podcast on YouTube so people can get to know us better and we can get to know them better. It’ll be out in the next month or two.
Amanda Bittner
What’s your favorite Denver restaurant?
Kart Driver or Joy Hill! I love high-end pizza places.
What’s your best recent discovery?
I recently discovered morning pastries at Rebel Bread on South Broadway. So delicious! I loved it so much that I participated in a Bread Flight tasting where I got to try all 20+ pastries and see the kitchen. Also, Boychik in Stanley Marketplace has been one of my favorite meals lately, especially the grilled yams appetizer. Little Bodega is a sandwich shop I featured recently that I wish more people knew about.
How do you decide what to feature?
Many restaurants invite me to feature them on their social media accounts or to media events to test out the menu and atmosphere before they open. Because my content goes beyond just food, I tend to feature local food content that’s timely or newsworthy to my audience (e.g. new restaurant openings) or particularly unique experiences (e.g. bread flights, hidden gems, conveyor belt sushi, etc.).
Do you have a favorite dish?
There are three foods I never turn down: pizza, pasta and sushi.
Who is your audience?
My ideal audience is basically people like me: curious millennials with disposable income for experiences and the drive and desire to try new things. More specifically, I’ve noticed that a lot of people new to Denver relate to my content because I’m sharing my experiences online as a relative newcomer to Denver. While the restaurants and things I share may be outdated information for longtime Denver residents, I’m discovering them for the first time and sharing everything in hopes that it can help someone else in a similar situation.
What are the future plans for your platform?
I would love to expand my content to showcase more unique experiences and trips. Although I have a lot of fun creating content about all the great things about Denver, my true love is traveling and taking trips on the weekends. Some people joke that my account is like the Denver Yellow Pages. I would love to share more about destinations and travel destinations outside of Denver and Colorado. I am in a season of exploration and experimentation with my content and I hope my audience will tune in to my evolution.
Yesenia Chinchilla
What’s your favorite Denver restaurant?
There are so many great places to choose from, it’s hard to pick just one. My favorites in Denver are Nola Jane for their delicious catfish po’boys, Kiké’s Red Tacos for their birria tacos, and Star Kitchen for dim sum.
What’s your best recent discovery?
My team and I recently visited Chef Dave Hadley’s new brick-and-mortar Samosa Shop and were excited about his new menu items, one that stood out to us in particular was the Smash Lamb Kebab Burger – a must-try burger and definitely one of the best.
Yesenia Chinchilla on the Denver Food Scene. Photo by Yesenia Chinchilla
How do you decide what to feature?
We choose what to feature based on recommendations from our followers, outreach from restaurants, and our own discoveries of hidden gems.
Do you have a favorite dish?
I love Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, but honestly, I enjoy exploring new cultures and foods.
Who is your audience?
Our audience ranges from casual diners to food enthusiasts who are open to exploring Denver’s dining scene. We aim to reach everyone interested in trying new places, enjoying the city’s diverse dining options, and discovering other local attractions across the state.
What are the future plans for your platform?
We plan to continue supporting small business owners wherever we can, highlighting lesser known spots, showcasing the diverse culinary scene across Colorado, and expanding our coverage to feature more activities and attractions.
