Photo of the Week: Cooking with St. Joseph Montessori School
Campers from St. Joseph Montessori School's Summer Learning Camp had a great time learning to cook fresh pasta with The Kitchen!
Trend: Benefits of Eating Local
Jen & Anne with Kip from Green Edge Farms. He supplies us with eggs, herbs and mushrooms among other delicious produce.
You could hardly say that eating local is a new trend, but it’s what we’re all about here at The Kitchen and it’s a concept that is being widely embraced throughout Columbus.
So why eat local? Well the obvious benefits include giving back to the local economy and investing in local farmland and greenspace, thereby supporting and empowering local farmers and businesses. Giving back to our local food community is dear to our hearts and something we believe our patrons value as much as we do. But there are even more reasons to eat local…
Quite simply, eating local just tastes better. Locally grown crops are picked at their peak and arrive to your plate shortly after. When crops are harvested seasonally they are full of flavor as opposed to fruits and vegetables that must be picked before they are ripe and are designed to be durable in order to be shipped. Food shouldn’t be celebrated for its durability, but rather its deliciousness!
At The Kitchen, we put our money where our mouth is- literally. Whether it’s our plump mushrooms from Green Edge Gardens, our fresh tortillas from Koki’s Tortillas or our high-quality meats from Bluescreek Farm, we believe in supporting our fellow local businesses, but also helping to ensure that our community is receiving the best possible food, from farm to table.
Hello!
Welcome to The Kitchen Blog. In this space we are excited to share with you news and happenings around The Kitchen, as well as recipes, tips and photographs of our recent events. We hope this space will be an extension of your own kitchen table: a place to learn about new recipes, discover new ways to prepare your old favorites and catch up with old friends.
Stay tuned for updates from Jen, Anne and The Kitchen crew and as always, feel free to contact us at info@thekitchencolumbus.com.
Welcome!
Almost six years ago on July 12, 2013, The Kitchen officially opened its doors for business. We are thrilled to still be cooking together six years later and are excited to launch our blog as a way to celebrate! The Kitchen came alive through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $40,000 in just 40 days. It seems only fitting that “crowd-sourced dining” should be made possible through crowd-sourced funding.
Jen Lindsey and Anne Boninsegna are the aprons behind the idea. The two have been cooking, catering and throwing parties together for more than 15 years.
Having worked together through their careers at Franklin Park Conservatory - Anne in Special Events and later executive management and Jen as the registrar before moving into food programming- both know what it means to solve problems creatively, think outside of the box and be financially strategic.
Jen has also studied at Columbus State Community College in the Hospitality Management/Culinary Apprenticeship program and has worked with Chef Paul Yow at Barcelona and Chef Josh Wickam at Rocky Fork Country Club as well as doing in-house catering at the Columbus Museum of Art.
Jen and Anne had been planning a food-related business concept for several years, but it wasn’t until they stepped into the space at 231 E Livingston Ave. that their concept really came alive. The two had been inspired by a cooking camp through The Conservatory that changed their perspective on what a dining experience could be. They loved how it brought people of different walks of life, opinion and background together by allowing food to be a common denominator.
When speaking about the concept, Anne says “We all need food to survive, but how we share that food with others is what The Kitchen is really all about. Friendships are forged and differences forgotten because you have now had an experience with someone that allows you to understand them a little better, you’ve broken bread with them. That is what we hope to accomplish at the end of a dinner.”
It’s been almost six years of community connection, shared memories and, of course, delicious meals enjoyed together- we like to think we have learned a thing or two along the way. We are starting a monthly post about being a woman-owned business that will include our tips, tricks, missteps, greatest achievements and most joyful moments. We hope you enjoy!