We recently connected with Denise Righetti and have shared our conversation below.

Denise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My passion for organizing restaurant-centered group events actually grew out of my previous role as Marketing Manager for the largest commercial property owner in my city. I was responsible for promoting over 100 independent, mom-and-pop restaurants and retailers, and I began creating curated events to drive traffic and community engagement.

The events were a hit. We built a strong following, the restaurants saw results, and the momentum kept growing. I realized I wasn’t just marketing — I was creating experiences that brought people together through food.

The majority of these events took place after a full workday — nights and weekends — and while they were successful, I wasn’t receiving additional compensation or time off. That’s when it became clear: I had uncovered something I truly loved, and there was real demand for it.

So I took a leap of faith, stepped out on my own, and Savor Our City was born.

Denise, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the Founder & Chief Foodie Officer of Savor Our City, an award-winning event planning company specializing in creating and operating immersive culinary tours & experiences nationwide.

My journey into this industry began in marketing. I was the Marketing Manager for the largest commercial property owner in my city, overseeing promotion for more than 100 independent, mom-and-pop restaurants and retailers. I started creating curated restaurant-centered events to drive traffic and community engagement — wine series, chef dinners, tasting experiences — and they quickly gained traction. That’s when I realized my true passion wasn’t just marketing… it was bringing people together through food.

Eventually, I took a leap of faith and launched Savor Our City. What began as local food tours has grown into a nationwide company serving corporate groups, social celebrations, convention attendees, municipalities, and cruise lines.

We design highly personalized culinary experiences — from food tours and cooking classes to mixology workshops, wine tastings, and large-scale tasting festivals. At our core, we help people connect. Companies turn to us for meaningful team-building experiences. Cities and municipalities partner with us to support local restaurants and drive economic impact. Cruise lines trust us to deliver authentic, memorable shore excursions.

What sets us apart is that we don’t do cookie-cutter. Every experience is curated with intention. We care deeply about the restaurants we partner with and the memories our guests walk away with.

What I’m most proud of is the impact — supporting small businesses, strengthening community ties, and raising nearly $100,000 for local charities through my long-standing partnership with Wines for Humanity.

At the end of the day, our work isn’t just about food. It’s about connection, culture, and creating experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite “the odds were stacked against me” stories happened while I was standing on the deck of a cruise ship — one hour before sailaway.

My phone rang. A client with a group of 150 people was about to sign a contract with another pub crawl company. The deal fell apart at the last minute because the other company refused to agree to a no-photos clause. They were new and wanted to use event photos for marketing. The client’s contract prohibited that — so they lost the business entirely.

And suddenly, I was their call.

Mind you, I hadn’t purchased a cell phone package for the cruise. Had that call come any later, I would have been unreachable for days. Instead, there I was — ocean breeze, luggage unpacked, mentally in vacation mode — being asked if I could take over a 150-person pub crawl in just two weeks.

I said yes.

Within that hour before sailing, I began assembling a team. In a market where I previously had two staff members, I expanded to six. I contacted each venue, renegotiated logistics, coordinated timing, staffing, payments — all while preparing to lose cell service.

The first week of planning happened from onboard the ship, working with limited access,
For me, it wasn’t just about pulling off an event, it was about proving reliability under pressure.

The event was a success. The client was thrilled. And it significantly strengthened my reputation and partnerships in that city.

What that moment taught me is this: opportunities don’t always arrive when it’s convenient. But if you’ve built strong relationships, earned trust, and you’re willing to move quickly, you can turn someone else’s “no” into your defining “yes.”

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In early March 2020, I watched my calendar collapse in real time.

Booking after booking — cancel, cancel, cancel. Within days, everything came to a crashing halt. My entire business was built around bringing people together — often flying in from across the country or around the world — and suddenly gathering wasn’t just discouraged, it was impossible.

It was frightening. There was no playbook. No timeline. Just uncertainty.

We pivoted quickly to offering virtual culinary experiences — wine tastings, cooking classes, mixology workshops — and while that kept us moving for a period of time, it wasn’t the same as in-person connection.

Fortunately, being based in Florida, one of the earliest states to reopen, allowed us to resume limited tours sooner than many others. We implemented strict safety protocols, smaller group sizes, and adjusted formats to prioritize guest comfort and safety.

That period taught me resilience and adaptability in a way nothing else could. It reinforced that while the format may change, the mission remains the same: creating connection through food and shared experiences.

And when people were finally able to gather again, they didn’t just want experiences, they craved them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SavorOurCity.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savorourcity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savorourcity
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniserighetti
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@savorourcity
• Yelp: https://Yelp.com/biz/savor-our-city-culinary-tours-boca-raton?rr=5