Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Mikulski.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been surrounded by amazing cooking and great food my entire life. I don’t want to be cliche and say it’s in my blood, but I really do think it’s in my blood. Over the last 5-10 years, I started dedicating more and more of my time to really hone in on my skills. I’m self-taught, so by no means was Mick’s Kitchen built in a day. Plenty of mistakes have been made, and I will keep making better ones! Towards the beginning of the pandemic, like everyone else, I was feeling a bit downhearted and isolated. In this state, and with all of this extra free time, I started cooking just for the joy of it. I would go in the kitchen and mindlessly cook from dusk until dawn, and then I would post about it. I quickly realized the sort of connection that my food was able to bring me. It opened conversations and brought me closer to other people. My messages were always flooded with recipe requests, people who just wanted to talk about food, friends asking me to drop pastries off, etc. and I knew that I need to create a community around this, and that community has grown and taken me to places that I would have never imagined being. Not only do I think that it was exactly what I needed, but I think that everyone else needed it, too and that’s how Mick’s Kitchen was born!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. Like any small business, I’m still in the stage of working my big girl job and going to school to put food on the table, as ironic as that sounds. Managing a few jobs, going to school full-time, working and growing Mick’s Kitchen, and trying to keep my social/personal life and mental health in balance has been the biggest struggle, and I’m sure every other small business owner feels the same way to an extent. It’s hard to still have to think about fallback plans when I’ve devoted so much time, energy, and love to what I’m doing, but it’s definitely still something I have to plan for. I’m grateful to have created and built what I have and am surrounded by a community so understanding of the ups and downs I have faced through this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Mick’s Kitchen was created because I thought that I would be able to do what I haven’t seen anyone do. Food is not boring, and it never should have to be for the average person. People with food allergies, dietary restrictions, healthy styles of eating, etc. should never have to sacrifice flavor in order to have a meal that fits all of their dietary criteria. Eating for your lifestyle should not have to be boring or restrictive and I want to show people that! Also, another thing I’ve tried to do is modernize food. You can find hundreds of recipes for a certain classic food on the internet, and I didn’t want to get lost in that. I’m known for putting very modern twists on very classic foods. I like to keep my palette interested and in the food space, it’s important to keep people on their toes and show them things they’ve never seen before.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My biggest advice would be to find a local community or networking group. They don’t even have to be in your market space, they just have to be a group of people that are willing to support and help each other. Google networking events in your area and you’ll be so surprised by what you find! I’m not from a huge community, so I never even thought to look, but one of my friends introduced me to her group, MET Detroit, and it has helped my business more than you ever could imagine. All of the support, help, and connections that I’ve received are worth their weight in gold. As much as we want to, we can’t do everything on our own. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, reach out to other small businesses owners, even just to chat! You’ll be surprised by what good can come from it.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: themickskitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themickskitchen/
- Other: https://pin.it/7ARf6KK
