Who (or what) Is canyons and chefs?

just a bunch of wild backcountry rockhead chefs

Who we are: Chefs, geologists, guides, adventurers

 

What we do:

 

Chef-Driven Outdoor Experiences

Private Dining
Guided Expeditions
Grand Canyon  Sedona  Utah  Colorado  Death Valley

Canyons and Chefs specializes in Chef-Driven Outdoor Experiences that illuminate the mind, refresh the body, and nourish the soul. Born of two companies, Canyons and Chefs is the meeting place between wildnerness adventure and fine food and drink.

Our two “parent companies” were once known as Red Rock Culinary (a private chef firm) and Blue Marble Adventure GeoTourism (a geology-focused guided hiking outfitter).  They have created the daughter, Canyons and Chefs, colliding the two worlds of fine restaurant dining and natural exploration.

About the Founder

Our founder Billy Woods is a classically trained chef AND and educated geologist.  After spending the first part of his career working in some of the finest restaurants in North America, he pursued his passion for the outdoors with an MS in geology from Northern Arizona University.

Operating the dueling companies for nearly 4 years, it was actually our clients that inspired him to integrate the two concepts.  So many of our private chef firm clients are deeply interested in the outdoors and natural settings of our beloved southwest, while so many of our adventure hiking clients are blown away by the food we offer on our tours.

Henceforth, we’ve created an incredibly unique concept: chef-driven outdoor experiences.  Hike and adventure by day, return to camp and have a meal that rivals some of the tastiest restaurants in the country.

 

 

Why Go Guided?

 So much of the true wilderness experience comes from being able to understand and interpret what you are seeing.  Why are those rocks red?  How did this canyon form?  What is that tree?  What cultural significance are those petroglyphs?  A wilderness experience that includes five-star cuisine is even better.  Tired of the powdered bag meals and trail mix?  We are too.   Our expert guides will not only keep you safe, relaxed, and intrigued, but our professional chefs will make sure you have the delicious food to keep going all day long (and all night too!)

A trained geologist is a person who can interpret millions of years of Earth’s history simply by staring at a rock outcrop for a few minutes.  A chef is a person who can take seemingly humble ingredients and transform them into art.   Anyone can read a book about The Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, or  Death Valley, anyone can read a cookbook or follow a chef on Instagram.   But having the opportunity to put those two things together on the trail and in camp in an unforgettable experience.

 

Why Choose Canyons and Chefs?

Our Mission & Vision

To create an exceptional atmosphere of adventure, fine food, fun and geologic immersion for our guests and employees, and to provide for the enrichment of their life experiences by creating a unique meeting place between wild adventure and fine dining. 
Each of our hiking adventure vacation options includes the same vision and mission:  We will exceed expectation in 5 key areas of your travel.

Professional Chefs, Professional Food

 Few things in life are as satisfying as a home-cooked meal and a cool beverage after a long day of adventure.  We do that, but far beyond.  All of our trips, regardless of style, include multi-course meals for dinner, fresh ingredients prepared by a professional chef (even our backpacking trips utilize ingredients straight from our dehydrator), and adult beverages.  Our basecamping trips include a professional kitchen-on-wheels, which serves as the backbone to us cooking over the fire, in the smoker, and in dutch ovens.  Ever eaten at a Michelin-Starred restaurant overlooking Grand Canyon?  We thought not.  Trust us, you’ve never experienced anything quite like this.

Safety First

Our guests and employees safety is our top priority on every adventure.  Though there are no guarantees in Mother Nature, our staff is trained and certified in CPR and First Aid.  Our guides carry fully outfitted first aid kits, extra water, and are experienced navigators with maps, GPS, and compasses.  Dependent upon the trip, our guides may also have advanced certifications such as Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue, or National Outdoor Leadership degrees.  We operate with the idea that a safe adventure is a grand adventure.

Comfort

All of our multi-day adventures come fully equipped with high-quality tents and excellent sleeping pads rented from trusted gear outfitters.  Our basecamp adventures will even include personal wash/shower stations, and our guides are fully trained and outfitted with the necessary tools to help inexperienced backcountry travelers maintain a certain standard of personal hygiene.  Our luxury tours take this to an entirely different level, with the most comfortable accommodations one can experience in the backcountry.

First-Classs Geologist/Guides

Our lead guides are geologists with at least a Bachelor of Science in geology from an accredited university, as well as certified in CPR, First Aid, and if necessary, Wilderness First Responder or other necessary certifications based on your trip.  They are carefully chosen based upon their expertise in the area of your trip, and will ensure your every need is satisfied.  The rest of our crew, should your adventure require one, will ensure that each and every one of our guests’ desires are met in a timely, professional, and personal manner.

Geologic Immersion

Getting a first-hand perspective of the diverse geologic and cultural history of the unparalleled landscapes to which you will travel adds a layer to your adventure that you may have never even imagined. Veteran adventure travelers know that a fulfilling and memorable vacation goes far beyond gorgeous vistas.  Our focus on the landscapes and how they were created, along with knowledge of the flora and fauna you will see will create a incredibly satisfying feeling as you reflect on what you gained from a tour with Blue Marble.

Time Travel

Time Travel… Really?

The scope of geologic time is beyond what most of us can comprehend.  The age of the universe is theorized to be 14 billion years;  The age of our solar system 7 billion years; and the age of our Earth 4.6 billion years.

The human race has existed in some form for roughly 5 million years.  Imagine that the Earth has existed for one day; this means that humans have existed for about 1 second, and that all life has existed for about 10 seconds.

The fundamental understanding of geology is just how vast and wondrous our Earth and universe is, both in time and space.  To see it through the lens of ancient rocks and formations is to step into a world both home and alien.

Canyons and Chefs at its core is a company that seeks to show each and every one of our guests that time travel is as simple a task as putting one foot in front of the other.  The formations and rocks that we see here in our wonderful Plateau Country and the world over provide opportunity for us to experience a world that came long before us, and that will be here long after we are gone.  To truly revel in the majesty of geologic time is to push imagination and wonder to the limit, to appreciate just how fantastic our world can be just steps away from our busy lives.

We invite you to take this adventure with us, one step at a time, as we observe and immerse ourselves in the greatest mysteries our species has ever known.

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