Kitchen Convos Podcast

What an awesome season we have had! I really do love these conversations. Some exciting news before I dive in to how awesome Kyla Woods is.

This is a wrap. That’s right. After 52 awesome episodes, three amazing seasons and a lot of conversations, we are taking a break from Kitchen Convos.  Don’t worry! I’ll still be here hosting conversations. What it means is that we are launching a new podcast with a broader “net” to be able to talk to more people who are passionate about what they love doing. I am just beaming with pride from this body of work we have created. I am so grateful to Matt Spaulding & Kelly Baldsare for their help in creating and producing these conversations that have been so empowering and good.

Kyla was the bridge for me here. She isn’t a “food person” but is a home cook feeding her family and has an amazing business called Crowd or Camera. When we are together we can talk a mile a minute and, well, fuel each other’s passion for creating change in a positive way. She isn’t afraid of wearing her heart on her sleeve and I absolutely love her Instagram (kylawoodstv) cooking segments she calls “ChefBoyarKay.”

She has been a news anchor and now is using her talents to help build others through Crowd or Camera, a consulting company to help others with public speaking, presentations and interviews. She is so good.

She also has her own podcast with her husband Allen Woods called Permanent Plus One where they get real about marriage and so much more.

Kyla, thank you for having us in your beautiful new home and sharing your heart and soul with me. I am so grateful to know you!

Crowd or Camera

https://youtu.be/dzOm5v-okjY

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

What is it like to be one of the top caterers in Cincinnati? What is it like to be the top woman-owned catering company in Cincinnati?

In this week’s episode I sit down with boss babe Renee Schuler, owner of Eat Well Celebrations, in her Newport, KY home.

Renee made us one of the best bloody mary’s I’ve ever had and a plate of bacon, I mean – HELLO I LOVE YOU!

We talked about her journey, lessons she has learned over the years and why she is a caterer.

But really, she is a celebrations company! SO GOOD!

Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts

https://youtu.be/6N1rxgfXOWE

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

Locally smoked trout. Say wha?!?! In this week’s episode I had the delight of sitting down at Grant’s house, hearing about why and how he is growing a trout company in Cincinnati.

Ok- so maybe a little clarification – he has a freshwater fish company that is actually based in Wisconsin and established in 1955. The original founders were well-known conservationists who took advantage of the ice cold springs feeding the ponds on the property to build the natural trout farm.  

Grant, a computer guy by day, wasn’t really looking at getting into the food industry, but after dealing with his daughter’s food allergies he saw first hand what our food system really looked like.  He was particularly shocked by how unregulated the fish industry was. A few years, and a ton of research later, he knew he could do something about it. That is where Plymouth Springs Fish comes in – he & his wife bought the company in 2016.

They are committed to to providing families clean, chemical free fish and building a business that is transparent and focused on sustainability. They ship products, they do farmers markets in Cincinnati & Wisconsin and some of our favorite restaurants serve their fish.

I have to say – the smoked trout is AMAZING and we ate it all up!

Grant recommends you check out this website to learn more about fish:  http://www.seafoodwatch.org/

You can find out more about Plymouth Springs by visiting their website and don’t forget you can get it shipped directly to your door!

So tune into this week’s episode. Listen to Grant talk about his journey of building a company for the health of his kids!

Plymouth Springs Fish Co.

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

Friends, it is so good to be back! I enjoyed the last couple weeks off and now we are rounding out the last 4 episodes of Season 3. It’s so good!

When I think of David Bach, he is one of these guys who embody what what Kitchen Convos is about.

David worked in the restaurant industry for more than 15 years, giving up a lot of himself and his time for late nights and hard learning. In leaving the restaurant business and starting a custom wood working business serving the local restaurant scene, he has discovered more about himself and what matters most. David got sober, grew his family, and discovered other rad dads who want more family time.

I am so grateful to David of Cincinnati Wood Collaborative for sponsoring this season, getting real about his sobriety and sharing how this new path has brought so much good to his life. Hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

Tune in to this week’s episode and get a REALLY behind the scenes glimpse!

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

I have known Aaron for a few years now. I got to know him at WNKU where he worked for many years until its untimely sign-off in 2017.

I love reminding him about my appearance Movers, Shakers, & Tastemakers when I played Taylor Swift.

So what happens when a guy who loves food but really LOVES music partners with someone who likes music and really LOVES food?!

The answer is the newest addition to the Pendleton Area happens – Lucius Q

Aaron is a co-owner at Lucius Q, a RAD spot (try the queso- I promise it’s good) that opened less than a year ago. This conversation was a fun way to catch up with him, chat about WNKU, great food and how he plans to tie the magic of music and his love of BBQ under one roof. 

Tune in to this week’s episode and get a REAL glimpse behind the smoke!

Lucius Q

https://youtu.be/R0V-Z0O3fQ4

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

I have focused so much of this storytelling platform on the small food businesses that make up our region. This Kitchen Convo is with the awesome team at First Watch.  I walked away from this interview thinking about how lovely it is to hear how big companies still feel small.

The founder of First Watch lives in Florida but is from Cincinnati so this was the first market developed outside of Florida.  Now there are more than 350 locations. What a success story!

I met with Lauren, the regional marketing manager, and two of their directors of operations. We chatted about new menus, laughed a ton, ate cinnamon chip pancakes, washed it down with fresh juices and celebrated how rewarding it is to have a job you love and go home to your kids every AFTERNOON!

It made me remember how important these stories are for all of us because isn’t that what we all want – a job that we love that also supports being home with our families more?!

Thank you Lauren, Tonya and Matt for sharing so much goodness with us!

Tune into this week’s episode. Listen to a team of passionate folks who have found a job they love, making food they love, supporting a community they love.

And finally, a deep heartfelt THANK YOU to First Watch for sponsoring Season 3 of Kitchen Convos.Thanks to their willingness to be part of this project, we were able to launch our YouTube channel and pay our producer, who volunteered his time the last two seasons. Maybe that is too much information but when Lauren called and said they’d love to sponsor, my heart literally jumped out of my chest.

First Watch

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

Can I just tell you that these conversations FILL MY CUP?

I just love talking to folks and hearing their stories of why they do what they do. I love when they dig deep into the trials and JOYS of business. I love hosting these conversations because women like Ronda share their determination and learnings.

Arnold’s is the oldest continuously operating bar in Cincinnati with more than 150 years under their belt.  I mean you guys- COME ON!

There’s some major history there. They also just hired a new executive chef and over all kick ass woman, Kayla Robinson, who overhauled the menu while keeping fan favorites!

In this episode you will hear about more about Ronda, who was at one time a server at Arnolds. You will hear about how she risked it all, how she persisted when times got tough and a bit about a very special holiday misfits event she is very excited to having coming back to Arnold’s!

Ronda spoke after we were done recording she said “Oh, Rachel, I forgot to talk about…Faith” She talked about how faith has gotten her here and how it has helped her support a son in sobriety.  When she didn’t think the restaurant was going to make it or when or wondered if the risk she was taking was worth it, faith got Ronda through it all.

So tune into this week’s episode. Listen to her talk about her journey of taking over an iconic Cincinnati institution.

Arnold’s Bar & Grill

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

Kitchen Convos is hosted at RachelDesRochers.com

Molly Wellman, owner of Japp’s Since 1879 & Myrtle’s Punch House, author of Handcrafted Cocktails: The Mixologist’s Guide to Classic Drinks for Morning, Noon & Night

If you are from Cincinnati, I am assuming you have seen Molly’s BIG BRIGHT smile, either in person or on countless news segments!

She is one of my favorites. Maybe because when we see each other we just get really real – really fast – about the work and growing companies and being lady bosses. I loved catching up with Molly because she has had some major growth and business rearranging in her life this year. She ended her business partnership and got back doing what she loves – making cocktails. With no regrets and deep gratitude for all she learned with her partners, Molly has scaled back to owning and running Japps’s & Myrtle’s, focusing on the basics.

We had a blast sitting on the couch at Japp’s catching up and commiserating over how much we loathe event paperwork – hahah.

So tune in to this week’s episode and listen to Molly talk about how scaling back her businesses is helping her grow so much more!

Japps

Myrtle’s Punch House

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

So what happens when 7 industry leaders join forces to open up a brand new concept based all around spirits? Karrikin – that is what happens. I loved when Jeff so eloquently described the meaning behind their name- Karrikins are regulators, found in the smoke of burning plants, that stimulate new growth. For this definition it represents the newness of this project and the new path the entire team is on together.

In this episode I sat down with 3 of the 7 founding members to hear about the almost 2 year journey of getting Karrikin open. We hear from 2 “beer guys” and Mike, a local chef. Mike is shifting roles with this new adventure to lead the sales team and Eric & Jeff will be in charge of the spirits and flavor profiles!

Karrikin will have a sit down restaurant, a lounge area, a bar area and so much more!  A place to get a small bite or just have a cocktail.

What I LOVED is that they are making it all in house- all drinks will be made right there from mezcal to rum to hard sodas to soft drinks – something for everyone. Of course whiskey will be made too!

Tune in to this week’s episode and get a glimpse of REALLY behind the scenes!

Karrikin Spirits & Co

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.

To be honest, Emily and I would do this episode EVERY WEEK if we could! We just have fun together. We have been friends for quite a few years and even gathered a group of us lady bosses, calling ourselves “The Small Business B*tches.” The group would get together, and still does from time to time, to talk and b*tch and find support with other women doing what we are doing – creating cool food businesses.

I love talking with Emily! In fact, we’ve interviewed Emily before, you can listen to episode 30 to hear us laugh a lot. So much has happened since then, I just had to talk to her again!

Emily was hit by a bus. L I T E R A L L Y hit by a bus. You know that could be a great excuse to stop or give up, but not for Em. I mean you guys – she got hit by a bus but nevertheless, she persisted.

So tune into this week’s episode. Listen to her talk about her drive and passion. Hear all about Share Cheesebar, her newest endeavor and a little tease of what is to come with C’est Cheese.

You can tune in on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review too!

This week’s episode is brought to you by First Watch and Cincinnati Wood Collaborative.