Entrepreneurship is typically associated with the tech industry. But
Northern Kentucky Incubator Kitchen (NKIK) hopes to expand that perception by highlighting “foodpreneurs” in its
Kitchen Convos series.
“There is a need for food people to come together,” says Rachel DesRochers, founder of
Grateful Grahams, NKIK and
The Hatchery. “I was going to all these entrepreneurial programs and always felt like I can’t really relate to any of that.
“One of the things our incubator kitchens do so well is work together, not in competition — no one is better than anybody else and there is a willingness to help each other. So hopefully Kitchen Convos are creating a space for people to meet and connect.”
Kitchen Convos will be available in two formats: a live monthly discussion held at NKIK in Covington and a weekly podcast.
The live discussions will bring together people from across the regional food industry, including branding, packaging, growers, famers, brewers, manufacturers, writers and chefs.
“I put it out on Facebook that I was looking for people who want to share their stories in and around the food industry,” DesRochers says. “Within three days I had three speakers a month booked through September, each month bringing together like-minded people.”
The live Kitchen Convos begin with panelists introducing themselves and talking about their experience in the food industry, followed by a conversation moderated by DesRochers and audience questions.
“At the February and March programs we had people who just love food, as well as manufacturers,” DesRochers says. “For people who are in the small food business industry who want to come and learn or make connections, it’s a great space to connect into this community. But it’s also for people who just love food and want to hear the stories of why people do what they do.
“Everyone loves to eat, but who are the people producing our food and what are we consciously making a choice to support with our dollars? We’re doing cool stuff, we just need to share our stories and tell people that we’re here in your back yard working really hard together as a community of foodies to help each other.”
Unravel Productions is recording the live discussions and editing them into one-hour podcasts. They’re also working with DesRochers on mini Kitchen Convos, a weekly podcast featuring one-on-one interviews with regional food industry professionals. The first mini Convo will be released on March 23.
Live Kitchen Convos are scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month, although the April program will be held on Monday, April 11. They’re held at the Northern Kentucky Incubator Kitchen, 1032 Madison Ave., Covington. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30; admission is $5.
The April Kitchen Convo panel features Alice Chalmers, founder of Ohio Valley Food Connection; Kate Cook, Garden Manager of Carriage House Farms; and Amy Paul, Advertising Director of Edible Ohio Valley.
“These people are creating their dreams through food,” DesRochers says. “I want people to listen to it and really be inspired.”
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