Linda Hampsten Fox
A Life Bound by Food, Family and Craft
Photos Courtesy of The Bindery
For Linda Hampsten Fox, chef and owner of The Bindery, food was never simply about what was on the plate. It was also about family, creativity, culture and connection.
Long before she became one of Colorado’s most celebrated culinary voices, Hampsten Fox was a curious child growing up in New Jersey, fascinated by recipes and the stories they told. While other children collected baseball cards, she collected recipes, carefully studying the handwritten instructions her mother kept tucked away in a kitchen drawer.
“I was a really picky eater,” she laughs. “But I was fascinated by food.”
That fascination was nurtured by her mother, who cooked everything from scratch and introduced her daughter to a world of flavors, traditions and hospitality. One of Hampsten Fox’s earliest culinary memories is receiving an Easy-Bake Oven at age 6, a gift that would spark a lifelong passion.
Though she once imagined becoming a doctor, a trip to Colorado changed her trajectory. Drawn by the state’s creative spirit and natural beauty, she enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned degrees in studio art and art history. While there, she discovered a passion for bringing people together through food, cooking for friends, family events and private gatherings. Demand grew organically, leading to catering opportunities and, eventually, formal culinary training.
Her culinary education, however, looked different from what young chefs learn in the rigid kitchens often associated with professional cooking. Instead, she spent 12 years in Europe, absorbing traditions from families and artisans in Italy, France and Switzerland before returning to Colorado.
“Someone would say, ‘Come into my kitchen and I’ll show you how we make croissants,’ or ‘Uncle Mario is making pasta today,’” she recalls. “It felt warm and personal. I was learning culture and history through food.”
That global perspective is woven throughout The Bindery, the elegant LoHi restaurant she opened in 2018. Equal parts bakery, café, market and restaurant, the space reflects the all-day gathering places she encountered throughout Europe—where neighbors stop for an espresso in the morning, return for lunch and linger over wine in the evening.
Flooded with natural light and filled with timeless details, The Bindery feels sophisticated yet approachable. Guests often describe the space as calming and welcoming before they’ve taken their first bite. “I want people to feel good when they walk in,” Hampsten Fox says. “Comfortable, familiar and inspired.”
Her cooking follows a similar approach. Deeply rooted in tradition, Hampsten Fox draws inspiration from classic recipes and ingredients while allowing herself creative freedom. A simple Italian melon-and-prosciutto pairing might become grilled caramelized cantaloupe with spice and cocoa-crusted pork belly. The goal, she says, is to create something that feels both familiar and new.
Motherhood has also shaped her culinary philosophy. Raising her daughter, Emma, while building a career taught her that food is ultimately an act of nurturing. Together with her husband and three stepsons, family remains at the center of her life and work. One of The Bindery’s most popular brunch dishes, the Emmabella, is named after her daughter and serves as a reminder of the role family continues to play in her work.
Today, Hampsten Fox remains inspired by travel, particularly the vibrant flavors of Mexico and South America. Yet at the heart of everything she creates is the same lesson she learned from her mother decades ago: Food has the power to bring people together.
At The Bindery, every dish tells a story—and every story begins with connection.
1817 Central St., Denver
Holly Shrewsbury loves crafting stories that connect people. When she’s not creating campaigns or building partnerships, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors with her family, coaching dance to local youth, or planning her next adventure.
