Meet Jill Keiken

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Keiken and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success, and the heart of Tasty Wandering, is connection. Everything I do comes back to creating experiences that bring people together through food and wine.
Living and traveling in other countries, I often found myself sitting at tables or in cooking classes where we didn’t share the same language, yet we connected instantly through food — learning, tasting, and sharing without needing words. Those moments taught me that food is a universal language, one that can bridge cultures and create a sense of belonging anywhere in the world.
Those experiences continue to shape how I approach what I do today. Whether it’s a wine tasting, a curated menu, or a baking class, my goal is always to recreate that same feeling of warmth, curiosity, and connection – because the magic isn’t just in the meal, it’s in the moments shared around the table.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey really began with a love for sharing delicious food, unique wine, and great company. Even before I had a food business, friends and family were always asking me to make food for their gatherings—or I’d simply invite neighbors over for dinner. Back when I worked in corporate jobs, I was the one planning team events and showing up with homemade treats or a new dish to share. Looking back, it’s no surprise this is where I ended up.
That passion eventually led me to start my first Food Tour Company, which became a local favorite and was featured in publications like Edible East Bay and Visit Tri-Valley. I learned that people don’t just want great food and wine—they want connection and experiences that feel personal and memorable.
When I moved back to Colorado, I wanted to bring that same energy into more personal settings. Around that time, I also began expanding my wine knowledge, earning my WSET Level 3 in Wine. That deepened my appreciation for how food and wine truly enhance one another—and inspired me to share that knowledge in a way that feels fun and approachable for everyone.
And that’s how Tasty Wandering came to life—blending my love of global flavors, approachable wine education, and the joy of baking and sharing good food. Now, I love to create custom food and wine tastings, hands-on baking classes, and curated small bites and desserts for events—all centered around one mission: bringing people together through food, wine, and meaningful shared experiences.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d definitely spend time outdoors! So hard to choose a favorite hike… let’s go to Palmer Lake Reservoir and afterward have the amazing Pastrami sandwich from Black Forest Café & Deli. Another day we’d head over to family-owned Momo Korean Restaurant. Start off with the kimchi pancake – incredible flavor! And my favorite entrée is the Bulgogi.
We’d be lucky if Chef Brother Luck has one of his signature cooking classes at Eleven18 that week. Sitting around the chef counter learning tips and techniques, enjoying the amazing food Chef has prepared in front of us and being entertained with stories. It’s quite the night!
Being a Chicago native, I have to shoutout Rock 24 Pizzeria! The deep dish is spot on! The sauce, the crust, the sausage… muah… chef’s kiss! And the tavern style thin sends me down memory lane! So good!
And before we eat all that food, let’s go shopping at two local boutiques, Rosa Della Moda and Corina’s Salon & Boutique. It’s so much fun having your own personal stylist – they always pick out items I wouldn’t choose on my own and I get so many compliments when I wear them.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to my mom.
She’s always been my biggest cheerleader and the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome the moment they walked through the door. From her, I learned that hospitality isn’t about having the perfect home or the fanciest food; it’s about making people feel seen, cared for, and comfortable.
Some of my favorite memories are the two of us baking Christmas cookies together, laughing in the kitchen, and sharing those treats with friends and neighbors. Those moments taught me the joy of creating something with love and the beauty of sharing it with others.

Website: https://www.tastywandering.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastywandering

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