“Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo,
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you.”
The song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory came to mind as we entered The
Inventing Room in Denver, Colorado. A large painting of Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka face
underscored the impression as we entered the world of fantasy and creativity.
Our family trip, consisting of the seven of us with my husband, children, and grandchildren from ages 6 to 66, was full of diverse attractions and outdoor spaces, the very first one being a trip to The Inventing Room.
Chef Ian Kleinman based his brainchild on Roald Dahl’s inventing room in Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory. This small “factory” shows how science can be both fun and delicious.
Tickets are required and sell out quickly because the group is limited to 15.
We arrived as told and waited until the appointed hour to enter the shop. We lined the wall in front of the workspace so we could all watch and be mesmerized by the science performed in front of our eyes. The first item the chef made was my favorite—Cheetos “fried” in liquid nitrogen. Imagine eating fantastically crunchy Cheetos with “smoke” streaming from both your mouth and nose. Throughout the hour, we waited eagerly as we watched the magic being performed and learned about the science behind the performance. The glow in the dark cotton candy was best experienced in the black-lit back room where we spread some of the dust from our candy onto ourselves and others in our group. Liquid nitrogen fried taffy was another favorite of the group.
The finale was the creation of liquid nitrogen ice cream sundaes. The ice cream was frozen so hard that it never melted while being eaten! We had our choice from three types which may change throughout the year.
We should have planned the visit so it was not right before dinner, but the treats were excellent and the science was fun for all ages.
Have you visited The Inventing Room or want more information for your trip to Denver?
Go to their website here.
