Welcome to the 4th edition of Portraits of Home Made and I hope that you are enjoying this monthly series. I am happy to have the opportunity to meet and share these creative businesses with you and of course, the amazing Moms behind them!
This month's Portrait of Home Made feature is creative in a most delicious way...Enjoy!
Amy Smith is a French Cuisine Specialist and Founder of Amy Smith's Kitchen which offers savoury and sweet, freshly prepared dishes to your door. She is the Author of Blow 'Em Away with Gourmet! her first cookbook. She is Mom to 21 month old Charlotte and lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
Q: In 3 words, describe your business.
A: Personalized, sophisticated, delicious.
Q: Did you start your business before or after becoming a Mom? If after, did having a child inspire the birth of your business?
A: I started my business two weeks after Charlotte was born. At the time, my goal was to see if I could generate a small income from selling my baked goods and my cookbook at my husband's music school. I was open to whatever came from that.
The birth of our first daughter definitely inspired me. It lit a fire. it made me feel strong, it changed me forever.
Amy & Charlotte
Q: Mixing business & motherhood can be a balancing act! What is your approach to making it through the day accomplishing growth in your business alongside nurturing your little one?
A: I try to stay in the moment. I set goals daily to keep me focused and I decide what needs my attention first. Sometimes my focus needs to swing farther to one end of the spectrum, and that's okay. It's like water, always moving.
Citrus Crab Salad in Endive Leaves
Q: What do you consider the biggest perk to having your business in your home? What is the biggest challenge?
A: Biggest Perk: I can work in my pajamas and the commute can't be beat! Also, I love that my daughter gets to watch. I want her to grow up learning how to cook for herself and being knowledgeable about where her food comes from.
Biggest Challenge: A commercial kitchen would be ideal. Its challenging to work in a small, home-based kitchen but it also force me to work clean.
Q: What is your favourite social media platform to share and connect with your customers and why?
A: I'm most familiar with Facebook. Out of all the social media sites, it's most widely used and I feel like a post can potentially reach a large audience.
Q: If you could add another element/extension to your business, what would it be?
A: Staff! I find I'm regularly at capacity with orders and having help with definitely be needed moving forward.
Spiderman & Batman cupcakes
Q: Please name a Canadian artisan you would like to collaborate with (if anything was possible) on a product/project.
A: I'm lucky to be surrounded by strong, entrepreneurial friends and a community that supports me. I've had the opportunity to work with many Canadian artisans that have inspired me. Canadian Living Magazine and anyone from the Food Network; these are companies I would definitely be honoured to work with in the future!
Quinoa Risotto
Q: If you had an unexpected afternoon of free time, how would you spend it?
A: I'd go for a run with Charlotte in the running stroller, stop off at the beach to throw rocks into the lake, then go to Hot Yoga on my own. I'd finish the afternoon off by making a nice fresh meal.
Watermelon Salad
Q: Is there a creative skill you wish you had?
A: If I was able to draw well, I'd have more freedom with cake and cupcake designs.
Rainbow Bright Cupcakes
Quick 3:
1. Coffee or Tea?
I sip on tea regularly throughout the day, but a fresh cup of a properly prepared coffee made with good quality beans, is an experience I love.
2. Music, Movies or Podcasts while you work?
I feel music deeply. I definitely work faster and with more passion when I'm listening to music! My favourite song at the moment is "Carry On" by FUN! It's an inspiring, well written song that moves me.
3. Name a book that has inspired/informed your business.
I Was Blind but Now I See by James Altucher
Q: What's next for Amy Smith's Kitchen?
A: My new website launched this month. I've expanded into offering clients savoury and sweet dishes to order and recipes can now be purchased online. I look forward to delivering more delicious dishes to my clients and welcome new customers!
Tempt your taste buds and stay in touch with Amy online...
Delicious treats from Amy Smith's Kitchen can also be enjoyed at The Guilty Dog Coffee House in Port Credit (Mississauga)
In addition to her business & cookbook, Amy frequently appears on Rogers TV (visit her website to see clips), demonstrates at the Port Credit Farmers Market and is appearing on the Culinary Stage this weekend as part of the Mississauga Waterfront Festival.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Amy and her enthusiasm and warmth are as inviting as her recipes! During her recent Meet the Author event at the Port Credit Emporium, she was sampling her amazing date squares which were perfection and of course, devoured by her fans. Amy's cookbook Blow 'Em Away with Gourmet presents French Cuisine in a simple manner through a great variety of dishes. The recipe descriptions alone will definitely inspire you to get into the kitchen or better yet, order direct from Amy's Kitchen!
Check back mid July for the next Portrait of Home Made!
Are you or someone you know a work from home Mom creating an amazing product or offering an awesome service? I want to meet you - contact me to find out how you could be featured!
1 comment:
Great post!
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