Boulder EATS! debuts at The Museum of Boulder!

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Boulder EATS! Food Traditions Along the Front Range

Museum of Boulder Opens New Exhibit Celebrating How Boulder Changed the Way America Eats

BOULDER, CO | November 3, 2025 – The Museum of Boulder is excited to announce the upcoming exhibition Boulder EATS! Food Traditions Along the Front Range, opening November 14, 2025 and on view through July 26, 2026. This vibrant exhibition is a celebration of Boulder’s food history, past and present, showcasing how what we eat reflects who we are as a community.

Exhibit Runs: November 14, 2025 – July 26, 2026

“Boulder EATS! is the embodiment of our mission to tell inclusive community stories,” said Christopher R. Taylor, Executive Director. “Just as recent exhibitions like Voces Vivas centered Latino voices and Bending the Arc celebrates LGBTQ+ courage, this exhibition creates space for everyone who has contributed to making Boulder what it is—from the entrepreneurs who started with a bucket of tofu to the immigrant chefs and farmworkers whose stories have gone untold.”

Featuring more than 300 objects from the Museum’s historic collection, Boulder EATS! explores the evolution of local food culture through restaurants, farms, gardens, and kitchens. Visitors will discover Boulder’s pioneering role in the natural foods movement, the technology that has shaped our kitchens, and the diverse culinary traditions that define our region today. The exhibition traces Boulder’s food history from the 1890s, when the Colorado Sanitarium introduced whole grains and plant-based diets, through the countercultural revolution of the 1970s, to today’s thriving natural foods industry. Boulder is home to the nation’s largest concentration of natural and organic products companies – including Celestial Seasonings, Justin’s, White Wave, and Boulder Brands – and has the highest per capita consumption of organic foods in North America.

“When Chris joined the Museum as director, I told him that creating an exhibition about food was my career dream,” said Elizabeth Nosek, Curator. “Food isn’t just sustenance, it’s identity, memory, and community. Boulder EATS! tells the complete story of how Boulder changed how America eats, while honoring the diverse voices that made it possible.”

The Museum collaborated with local food historian John Lehndorff and Rachael Caraluzzi, and Jessica Benjamin of Savor Productions to create an interactive restaurant experience within the galleries. Giving the spotlight to over 175 restaurants throughout Boulder’s history, the restaurant portion shares stories of family recipes, famous dinner guests, namesakes, prestigious accolades, and how so many local restaurants served Boulderites through the years.

Using the lens of food, this entire exhibit creates a space for reflection, storytelling, and connection. It amplifies the multiple voices found in Boulder’s food history and honors the communities who have cultivated, cooked, and shared their tables across generations.

Join Us for the Opening Celebrations

Members Preview Reception

November 14, 2025 | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

An exclusive first look for Museum of Boulder members. Enjoy light refreshments, beverages, and a relaxed opportunity to explore the exhibition while connecting with fellow food enthusiasts and members of the curatorial team.

Grand Opening Celebration

November 15, 2025 | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Experience the official launch of Boulder EATS! at a spectacular community event featuring five small plates and sips from Boulder’s most beloved restaurants, immersive exhibits, and a commemorative Museum of Boulder glass to take home.

This is a ticketed event with limited capacity.

Reserve your spot here.

Exhibition Highlights

Boulder EATS! explores Boulder’s dual legacy as both a center of natural foods innovation and a community enriched by immigrant entrepreneurs. Featured stories include:

The Colorado Sanitarium’s pioneering health food practices (1896)
The birth of iconic Boulder food companies and their national impact
Immigration’s transformative influence on Boulder’s culinary scene
Boulder Valley School District’s nationally recognized school lunch reform
The contributions of farmworkers and kitchen staff
Contemporary food innovation and the evolution of farmers’ markets and farm-to-table dining
The legacy of Frank Day, John Bizzaro and other families who had a great impact on Boulder’s restaurant scene

Boulder EATS! Program Series

The exhibition is accompanied by robust programming, including cultural cooking classes, community dinners, youth programs featuring an on-site educational garden, panel discussions on food equity and sustainability, intergenerational storytelling, and chef-led workshops.

Parents’ Night Out: Snowman Cookie Decorating with Lucky’s Bakehouse
December 2, 2025 | 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Guided Food History Tours with John Lehndorff
Monthly from December 2025 through July 2026 | 10am – 11am
Yalda Celebration and Food Demonstration with Persian Cultural Circle
December 8, 2025 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Fire Cider Workshop with Lucky’s Market
January 5, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Intro to Our Local Food Systems with Slow Food Boulder County
January 12, 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Parents’ Night Out: Yogurt Parfaits with School Food Project
January 13, 2026 | 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
National Pie Day Competition with John Lehndorff
January 25, 2026 | 10am – 12pm
Brewing Beer in a Time of Temperance with Beer Culture Center
February 4, 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Venezuelan Immigrant Chefs’ Stories with Cocina Libre
February 23, 2026 | Time TBD
The History of the Boulder County Farmers Markets Panel Discussion
March 2, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Flavors of Morocco and North Africa with Savory Spice Shop
March 9, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Behind the Scenes with the Curator, Elizabeth Nosek
March 16 and 21, April 13, May 17, 2026 | Various Times
Tales of Tofu Town with John Lehndorff
March 30, 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Developing Immigrant Identities Through Food with Cocina Libre
April 20, 2026 | Time TBD
Flavors of the Mediterranean with Savory Spice Shop
May 4, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Down to the Garden Family Night with Growing Gardens and Slow Food Boulder County
May 11, 2026 | 4pm – 6:30pm