Rising Stars: Meet Monica Notaro of Bloomfield Hills/Birmingham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Notaro

Hi Monica , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with Miroh Meals began as a single mom with a background in biochemistry, recognizing a real need for gourmet, plant-based meals in the community. Seven years ago, I started creating meals out of my own home, focusing on providing nutritious, delicious options that people would love. As a professional singer for the Detroit Red Wings and the Tigers, balancing my passion for food and my singing career wasn’t always easy, but I knew I was on to something that could make a difference.

After realizing the potential of Miroh Meals, I expanded to a ghost kitchen, where I immersed myself in learning how to run a restaurant and meal prep company. This hands-on experience was invaluable, and it allowed me to scale the business in ways I hadn’t imagined. Three years ago, I opened my first brick-and-mortar location, serving hundreds of people weekly across Metro Detroit.

Miroh Meals now offers weekly home delivery, and customers can also stop by our store to pick up meals. It’s been an incredible journey, and my daughter has been by my side every step of the way, watching the business and industry grow. Today, Miroh Meals delivers thousands of meals each week and stocks local stores and businesses, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started Miroh Meals, I faced so many challenges—many of them completely unexpected. Having no experience in the restaurant industry, everything from sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients to managing a kitchen was foreign to me. Learning how much produce to order without wasting food was a process of trial and error. There’s an art to it, and I had to figure it out along the way.

On top of that, running a business was completely new to me. Managing employees, handling payroll, and keeping the business organized felt overwhelming, especially because I was doing it all without outside funding. Each step I took—from securing a ghost kitchen to eventually opening my own brick-and-mortar store—came with significant risks. I had to learn how to budget, market my business, and maintain cash flow, all while ensuring I continued delivering high-quality meals to my customers.

As a single mother, balancing Miroh Meals and parenting was another major challenge. Running a business while being the only parent meant I had to juggle everything—school schedules, business meetings, cooking, and being there for my daughter. There were countless late nights and early mornings, and even now, finding that balance is something I work on every day. Without any outside funding or a safety net, every decision I made carried extra weight because there was no backup plan if things went wrong.

Despite the struggles, I kept pushing forward because I believed in Miroh Meals and the impact it could have. Starting from the ground up meant I made a lot of mistakes, but each one taught me something valuable about building a successful business. Even today, I’m still learning and growing, both personally and professionally, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Miroh Meals, we take pride in our commitment to creating gourmet plant-based dishes using only the finest local, organic produce. Our mission is to deliver exceptional taste and quality with every meal, and our menu reflects that dedication. With a diverse selection that changes every two weeks, we ensure that our offerings remain fresh, innovative, and tailored to our clients’ evolving tastes.

We are particularly known for our ability to reinvent traditional meat-based meals into plant-based versions that are so flavorful and satisfying, many of our clients don’t even realize they’re vegan. In fact, they often find these plant-based options more enjoyable than their meat counterparts. This unique approach allows us to offer a culinary experience that is both delicious and surprising.

Our service is designed to provide the convenience of having a private in-home chef without the need for a subscription plan. You can simply visit our location and select from a variety of meals at your convenience, making it easy to enjoy gourmet, plant-based dining without any long-term commitment.

Beyond our culinary innovation, we are deeply committed to giving back to our community. All unpurchased meals and produce are donated to local refrigerators around Metro Detroit, ensuring that surplus food supports those in need and reduces waste. This dedication to community welfare, combined with our focus on quality and creativity, truly sets us apart in the Metro Detroit area.

We are proud to offer a service that not only provides exceptional meals but also makes a positive impact in our community. At Miroh Meals, we’re more than just a meal service—we’re a distinctive culinary experience that blends innovation, convenience, and compassion.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The COVID-19 crisis taught us several valuable lessons. One of the most significant challenges we faced was sourcing produce, as the supply chain disruptions made it difficult to get the ingredients we needed. Despite these hurdles, our business experienced a surge in demand during the pandemic, which was both a testament to our adaptability and a driving force behind our growth.

Since our business model was not dependent on walk-in traffic, we had the unique opportunity to focus intensely on refining our delivery service. This period allowed us to tailor our delivery operations more closely to our clients’ needs, ensuring that we maintained the highest level of service and efficiency. We were able to hone in on the details of our delivery aspect, improving our processes and enhancing the overall customer experience.

These experiences have strengthened our resilience and adaptability, and they’ve shown us the importance of being flexible and responsive to unforeseen challenges. The lessons learned during this time have been instrumental in shaping our approach and continue to influence how we operate and serve our clients today.

Pricing:

• Entrees- 16$
• Juices- $11
• Breakfast- Varies
• Chia Pudding- $9

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mirohmeals.com
• Instagram: @mirohmeals
• Other: @Monica_Notaro