Introducing Kind Cuisine, an extraordinary local business run by Courtney Gavilanes, a classically trained chef and entrepreneur. Courtney combines her love of food, cultures, and cooking to create a new and exciting menu each week, bringing fun and kindness to your table. The best part? Kind Cuisine is delivered straight to your door, ready for you to simply reheat and enjoy! In today’s interview, I speak with Courtney about her journey as a visionary chef and her efforts to shepherd the hospitality and dining industry into a new era. Bon appétit!
Courtney, thanks so much and congratulations on your success with Kind Cuisine!
Thank you Shields! It feels great to be a part of something that people enjoy!
To begin with, please tell us a little bit about your inspiration for creating Kind Cuisine.
Kind Cuisine started after my best friends’ father had a stroke. She was trying to find a way to take care of her parents in the difficult time afterwards. It made me so happy to cook for them and help in any way I could. I realized that she and I couldn’t be the only ones that had a need to help a loved one during a hard time, and there were likely many other people who wanted to send love to someone or themselves–and food is an excellent way to do that. At this time I had been away from the restaurant industry for about a year after having my second son. I needed a way to contribute to society and my family, and also exercise the professional part of my brain and get back to food and hospitality. I needed something that fulfilled my passions but also allowed me to be a mom. Kind Cuisine was the answer!
How exactly does it work?
We publish a new menu every Sunday–it goes live on our website and is sent to those who subscribe to our emails. Every week features 4-5 new dishes and guests can order what they like via the website. The menu denotes any allergens such as gluten or dairy. There’s no subscription or obligation to make a weekly purchase, they can order whenever they choose–ordering closes Wednesdays at midnight. The food is prepared and delivered to them the following Monday. Delivery is free in Ashland and Talent. Meals are intended for one person, but people often find that if paired with a salad or additional side, it can be shared. Because the food is freshly prepared, it has a 5-7 day “best by” date so it can be eaten any time throughout the week. Some people order 1-2 meals to enjoy for one day, and some people order something different for each night of the week. Food comes in oven-safe containers with heating instructions and can be reheated and enjoyed whenever the guests chooses.
Every week you are cooking amazing food. Tell us about it.
I am so blessed to have a supportive family that believes in me and my business. My husband has a more than full time job as a chef and helps me cook when he can. My dad is my “assistant” helping to procure ingredients and take care of the back end of the business. My mom watches our kids. My husband and dad are the delivery drivers. Each one of us cares deeply about our guests and Kind Cuisine wouldn’t be what it is and growing as it has without this team. When a guest heats up their meal and sits to enjoy it, they know that an entire team of people came together to make their meal amazing.
How do you find the inspiration for your weekly recipes?
This is the best part of the whole business for me! I’ve studied and lived in different parts of the world and I feel like there is no better way to appreciate a culture than to enjoy and share their cuisine with others. When I make the menu I try to present each dish from a different cultural background. I like offering the option of variety instead of people having to choose which type of restaurant they go to–one person could have a Japanese Donburi bowl, and their companion could enjoy Lasagne Bolognese in the same meal. The menus are also influenced by the abundance of produce we have here and what’s available at the farmers market. There’s nothing better than fresh seasonal ingredients!
Courtney, what sets Kind Cuisine apart from any other food delivery business?
Our meals are delivered fresh, not frozen. They are ready to heat and eat with no preparation involved. The containers are metal, glass and compostable biopolymer instead of single-use plastic. The dishes are cultivated in a way that the ingredients are all ones that reheat well, and the integrity of the dish won’t be compromised by reheating. The heating instructions include heating in the oven versus in the microwave to help maintain this integrity. The menu changes every week so it offers something exciting and new to try. In my family, when someone comes over we say “did you eat?” meaning “let me take care of you by feeding you.” I know it’s like this in so many families from all different cultures, and Kind Cuisine is an expression of that love and care for others.
What are your customers saying?
Our guests look forward to Mondays, our delivery days! A lot of the favorite dishes are the comfort foods like beef stew, chicken pot pie, braised beef short ribs, and chicken marsala. We hope to add standing menu categories like a vegan option every week as well as a “calorie conscious” macro-driven option. A lot of our clients are busy parents, seniors, and working professionals. Also those expecting guests and would rather spend time with their guests instead of in the kitchen. We really have such a great network of supporters; our customers feel like family and we feel so supported and appreciated!
Courtney, I would love for you to say more about your vision of bringing kindness into people’s homes.
The food and hospitality industry is changing. People seem to have enjoyed the in-home dining of the pandemic, and found that they could have restaurant quality food at home. This business model is at the front of the wave of change and meeting people where they are; bringing professionally prepared food and kind hospitality to their own dining table without having to leave the house or put real pants on! They say people might not remember you but they will remember the way you made them feel. When their meal was delivered with a smile, and the way they felt with a belly full of warm delicious soup. We truly believe that this business model is something that could benefit a lot of communities. Kind Cuisine is for everyone and everyone could use a little kindness.
Awesome. I love the vision. How can we as a community support the work you are doing?
You can support us by trying Kind Cuisine! Order it for yourself, order it for your mama, or your nephew or neighbor. Buy a gift card for your friend that had a baby or as a holiday gift to a teacher! We’re working really hard to have our own commercial kitchen (and have some exciting things in the pipeline) so we can expand our delivery area and have a pick up location for those that prefer to pick up. I grew up in Ashland and owe a lot to this community for instilling in me the value of being kind and having empathy. It’s my turn to pass these values on to my kids and show them that the recipe for success is hard work and empathy for others.
How do we get started?
You can go to our website, KindCuisine.org and subscribe to our weekly emails. We won’t spam you I promise! Then you’ll be a part of the KC Fam and will get the menus as soon as they’re published. Order a dish or two and see what you think! We look forward to cooking for you and delivering you some kindness!
Learn More:
Kind Cuisine
KindCuisine.org
