Up High 'N Hungry

04/13/2023

Tonight's the night! Have you gotten your tickets??

38th Annual Chocolate Lover's FantasyJoin us at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Pavilion for an evening of empowerment and connecting with our community. Enjoy chocolate tastings, savory appetizers, beverages, and live music from Wanderlust Road.

04/04/2023

I've been busy prepping all day for all you lovely Wine Club Members!

Can't wait to see you all, tomorrow at 4pm!

Our Wine Club Member Happy Hour Event is being celebrated in our Tasting Room tomorrow from 4-7pm. We're looking forward to seeing our club members! 🍷

03/16/2023

We had so much fun last year, that we had to return for a second! I hope to see some familiar faces supporting an amazing cause!

Don't forget to purchase your tickets to this event! I just might bring some of those award winning Kentucky Bourbon Balls!

38th Annual Chocolate Lover's FantasyJoin us at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Pavilion for an evening of empowerment and connecting with our community. Enjoy chocolate tastings, savory appetizers, beverages, and live music from Wanderlust Road.

03/13/2023

1 year ago today, I hosted an opening party for my business, Up High ‘N Hungry, and haven’t looked back! Within weeks, I quickly booked up throughout the spring and summer months for weddings, family reunions, private dinner parties, bachelor(ette) parties, fundraising events, and meal prep/delivery services. Honestly, the year flew by faster than I could have imagined.

It hasn’t been easy, but it sure has been fun! I worked hard to create meaningful relationships with local farmers, ranchers, and businesses to be able to provide the community with some of the tastiest food the valley has to offer.

A huge shout-out to some of the people and businesses who have helped endorse and support me! Without the help from businesses like Badger Creek Ranch, Rocky Mountain Garlic, , Ark Valley Voice, Wheeler Farm, Vino Salida Wine Cellars, Poncha Creek Gardens, Robin's this wouldn’t be possible for me.

Looking forward to my second year of business, I hope to continue to put smiles on faces and make bellies happy. I’ll be looking to add more team members as I continue to grow and expand. And, I promise I’ll be better about making social media posts!

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support my vision and dreams. You all mean more to me than I'll ever be able to express!

01/28/2023

A big thank you to Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and The Stardust BV for this great event!

10/17/2022

Sit tight and enjoy the ride once you book your holiday party or private in-home dinner with Up High 'N Hungry! Chef Lauren creates custom experiences for all of her clients and it's not only the delicious food being served that you'll enjoy but the memories made in the process! Send your inquiry in today to where your custom menu can be made for your preferred date before she's booked for the season! 🏔👩‍🍳🎄

09/25/2022

The people have spoken! 📣

I'm now currently booking for holiday parties and for 2023! Thank you all for your continued support through this first 6 months in business, I appreciate you all more than you know! 💚

09/19/2022

Since May, I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to cook for Badger Creek Ranch retreat guests and staff. What an amazing experience it was! Not only was I able to use some of the best beef in the valley, but I gained another family. Throughout my time at the ranch, I found a greater appreciation for the food we eat, how it is cared for, and the people who oversee these types of operations. I’ve felt a part of something special that not everyone gets to experience, and for that I’m forever grateful. 😊

Special shout out to Dave and Chrissy McFarren, Cris, Sam, Sarah, Walter, Gregory, Cindy, Liz, Kathy for taking the time to teach me the ranching ways and letting me feed carrots to all my friends!🐴

09/11/2022

Voting is open for the Best of Salida and we all know who the best chef in town is! Vote for Lauren Hotetz of Up High 'N Hungry! 💚

Link to vote: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SalidasBest2022

06/22/2022

“That was THE BEST wedding dinner I’ve ever had!” 👰💍🤵‍♂

Not only was this said to me once this weekend, but TWICE as we kicked off wedding season! 🥰

This was my first back-to-back weekend and each wedding was absolutely incredible! Both brides were gorgeous, their families were amazing, and I even got to save a baby cow!🐄🤣💯

Congratulations to all of the families and everyone I was able to serve this weekend!🎉

The start of the first summer season for Up High ‘N Hungry is off with a BANG and I’m already starting to book dates for 2023! 💥 Thank you all for your support, here are some food pics from this first wedding weekend! 🍽

05/31/2022

My favorite moment of cooking for others has to be the transition from everyone talking before being served to the silence of their first bite. This has always been followed up with "yummmm", "WOW", or "that's so good'' and my heart immediately fills with gratitude. 🎉

Tonight was my first retreat catering at Badger Creek Ranch and it was amazing! Not only are Dave and Chrissy some of the greatest people I've met since moving to Salida, their energy is infectious, and the people they attract are incredible! I'm happy to say that throughout the summer I'll be out there with them at least once a week and I can already tell we are going to create some wonderful memories collaborating together! 😎

On the menu tonight was a seared sirloin steak with a rich red wine mushroom sauce served with smashed garlic fingerlings and herb roasted veggies. Not only were a majority of ingredients local or from the ranch itself, the wine used in my custom sauce was also from Vino Salida Wine Cellars! 🥩🍷

With this being only the beginning of the summer season, I'm just getting started and can't wait to see what comes next! 🍽👩‍🍳

05/27/2022

Our 2022 Public Graduation Dinner is now underway at Robin's! 🎉

Come out today and tomorrow from 4-9pm for All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Brisket and Chicken + Loaded Mac & Cheese Bar! 🧀

We are open to the public, you don't have to have a grad to attend so come out and try something new! 🍽

05/20/2022

CALLING ALL GRADS AND THEIR FAMILIES! On Friday, May 27th, and Saturday, May 28th from 4-9 pm I will be serving up an All-You-Can-Eat BBQ with Brisket and Chicken + a Mac & Cheese Bar at Robin's! Be sure to grab your tickets at robinssalida.com and I'll see you there! 🎓🎉🎟

05/20/2022

CALLING ALL GRADS AND THEIR FAMILIES! On Friday, May 27th, and Saturday, May 28th from 4-9 pm I will be serving up an All-You-Can-Eat BBQ with Brisket and Chicken + a Mac & Cheese Bar at Robin's! Be sure to grab your tickets at robinssalida.com and I'll see you there! 🎓🎉🎟

05/11/2022

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who came out for Bourbon Balls and Breakfast at Robin's! I had a great time meeting you all and catching up with some familiar faces! My next public event announcement is coming out on Monday so be on the lookout! Hint: 🎓🍽😎

05/06/2022

POP-UP ALERT! Tomorrow I will be doing a pop-up at Robin's here in Salida with my People's Choice Award-Winning Bourbon Balls to celebrate Derby Day! Bring your friends and family for breakfast and I'll see you from 9am-1pm TOMORROW! 🏇🍫

04/25/2022

This first month in business has been NUTS! So much so that I completely passed my first full month of being open without even noticing! Time flys when you're having fun! 💯🤣

It's been such an incredible experience meeting and cooking for everyone that I have so far! Thank you all for your support, it truly means more than you know! 💚

04/24/2022

Want Some Award-Winning Bourbon Balls? 😍

On Derby Day, May 7th, I'll be doing a pop up at Robin's here in Salida so you can come get breakfast and bourbon balls! You'll be able to get either a 4 or 8-pack of them to enjoy as I bring my Kentucky roots to the valley!🤌

They are my Grandmother's recipe that won at the Chocolate Lovers Fantasy and you won't be able to get them anywhere else! Share this with your friends and I'll see you on Derby Day! 🏇

04/16/2022

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE YESTERDAY HAPPENED! 🎉🤯🍫

Yesterday at Chocolate Lover's Fantasy was such a blast! Not only was I able to help support an incredible organization within the community but my Grandmother's Bourbon Ball recipe took 1st Place for The People's Choice Award! 🏆

Thank you to everyone who came out to support The Alliance and stopped by my table! The Alliance helps empower individuals beyond sexual and domestic violence throughout our county and is a much needed blessing within the area. I truly appreciate meeting every one of you last night and I'm excited to cook for some of you in the future! 🍫❤️🍽

04/15/2022

UPDATE ALERT: I am currently booked on multi-week meal prep and delivery until further notice! The response from you all has been incredible and the waitlist has begun! I do still have the availability to cater your in-home dinner parties and events though including upcoming graduations and weddings this summer so don't hesitate to reach out! 🎉☀️

04/06/2022

I went from Grand Opening to catering for Olympians REAL QUICK!

Although it's quite a bit to wrap my head around, one thing that stood out from catering for was that we all had someone help get us to where we are now.

This organization is the first step to becoming an Olympian snowboarder or free skier and all of these great athletes started there before winning their medals.

After 20 years in the industry, I am also incredibly grateful for those that helped me get to where I am today. Without their guidance and training, I wouldn't be in such a great place now with this new endeavor. Thank you for your continued love and support, yall know who you are! 😘

03/21/2022

I've been getting A LOT of questions about when my next public event will be, and here it is! I will be at the 2022 Chocolate Lover's Fantasy at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort on April 14th with some sweet treats! Be sure to grab your tickets early, and I'll see you there! 🍫🍽

03/14/2022

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Up High 'N Hungry Grand Opening! It was great to see everyone, meet some new faces, and celebrate this new venture with all of you! More noms coming soon!!! 🔥🎉

03/13/2022

TODAY IS GRAND OPENING DAY! 🎉

BIG SHOUTOUT to all the local businesses that have contributed their ingredients or time to making this a possibility! 🙌

It is the goal of Up High 'N Hungry to source products as locally as possible to give back to our community, and we are off to a great start! 🏆

THANK YOU TO:
Copper Kettle Apothecary
Little Red Hen Bakery
Badger Creek Ranch
Sawatch Artisan Foods
Poncha Creek Gardens
Robin's
Well Rooted

We are excited to see you all Vino Salida Wine Cellars TODAY from 2-5pm! 🎉🍽

03/13/2022

Invitations have gone out to the entire area, the prep of the incredible dishes are complete, all that's left to do tomorrow is EAT!! 🍽

This is your reminder that you're invited to the Grand Opening of Up High 'N Hungry at Vino Salida from 2-5pm! See you there!! 🎉

03/02/2022

Helloooo Ark Valley!

My name is Chef Lauren Hotetz, I am the proud owner and operator of Up High ‘N Hungry. As a recent transplant from Denver, CO with almost two decades of experience in the food service industry, I’m wanting to share my passion and love for food with the Arkansas Valley and surrounding communities! After hiking the Colorado Trail in 2020, I conceptualized a food truck catered towards feeding hungry hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Since moving to Salida, CO I transformed my business model into a more viable way for the community that I fell in love with, to be able to have different options for food and dining.

Up High ‘N Hungry is the newest private chef and catering company in the Arkansas Valley and surrounding areas. At Up High ‘N Hungry, we take pride in our efforts to cultivate long-lasting relationships with local ranchers and farmers. This enables us to provide our clients with the freshest ingredients while also funneling our profits back into the community that has held our hearts for the last year. It is our intention to spread awareness about the amazing products that are found within the Arkansas Valley.

Whether it be an intimate gathering in your home, small event catering, or quick and easy meals to be able to reheat and serve, Up High ‘N Hungry is dedicated to working with our clients in order to provide a meal experience you won’t forget! For more details and information, please check out our newly launched website!