Hi, I’m Natalia Story — a food & wine enthusiast, world traveler, and lifelong storyteller.

Fittingly, I married into the Story name — though storytelling has always been a part of who I am. From winning middle school poetry contests to launching my career as a copywriter in Denver back in 2011, writing has always been my creative anchor.

These days, I’m the Director of Compliance & Marketing at an investment bank — a surprising turn even to me, but one I truly love. I started this blog in 2014 as a creative outlet, and over the years, it’s grown into something much bigger: a place where I share my passion for food and help support the vibrant culinary community here in Colorado.

Food has always been at the heart of what I do — cooking it, photographing it, savoring it, and sharing it with others. Travel is my other great love, and I channel that into my boutique travel planning business at Epic Story Travels — so check that out if you’re looking for help planning your next unforgettable journey!

I’ve archived many of my older restaurant-specific posts, and this blog now focuses on current food trends and curated favorites from around Colorado. For the latest updates — from restaurant discoveries and events to hikes, hidden gems, and small business spotlights — follow along on mt Instagram at @colorado_bites.

Lately, I’ve also been diving deep into gluten-free cuisine after developing a strong intolerance in my 30s (probably due to Hashimoto’s). If you’re navigating your own gluten-free journey, I’m always happy to share tips, recipes, or just chat about it.

Thanks for being here — I’m so glad you are!

Some fun facts about me:

• If I had to pick my favorite meal, it would be a Louisiana crawfish boil. I fell in love with crawfish when I first visited New Orleans many years ago, and now I go there every year just for the food.
• Yes, my hair is yellow — my favorite color! It all started during my ballroom dancing days in college, but has recently become part of my brand, as you can usually recognize me from far away just by my hair. No, I don’t plan to change that anytime soon.
• I am in love with wine — from having a glass at home with dinner, to hosting wine dinner parties, to visiting wineries around the world. I am about to be WSET2 certified, and considering the European specializations next.
• I love to travel, and my life goal is to see the world. I was born and raised in Ukraine, studied abroad in Germany, taught English in Brazil, and have been to more than 25 countries around the world. As I mentioned above, I am a certified travel advisor, so visit Epic Story Travels and ask me about planning your next trip!