Kalamata's Kitchen

“All cuisines possess the potential to be kid friendly.” Tu David Phu shares his thoughts on what “kid friendly” means to him, and why sharing a Vietnamese meal is a shining example of a multi-sensory experience that captivates young taste buds. What we collectively believe is that if a kid somewhere in the world is eating a certain food or cuisine, that means “Of Course It’s Kid Friendly!” Go check out the full article on the Taste Bud Travel Guide’s Field Guide to Family Friendly in partnership with Resy - https://lnkd.in/d9xCpmj8 #vietnamesecuisine #vietnamesefood #pickyeaters #kidfriendlyfood #familyfriendly #chef #brandcontent Sarah Thomas Derek Wallace Michael Burk

I’ve authorized a comprehensive investigation into who on our Kalamata's Kitchen team leaked this story to Alligator Weekly, and have no other comment at this time. #mindopenforkready

A proper toast to celebrate certainly does not require booze. And since most Shirley Temples suck, the Kalamata's Kitchen Taste Bud Travel Guide teamed up with Resy to ask leaders of some of the best beverage programs in the country what they are currently serving up that the whole family can enjoy. The roundup is here, I hope the flavors inspire what’s in your glass this evening: https://lnkd.in/eacAG5eh This article is about celebrating as a family, and therefore is a perfect cap to 2023 for us. We partnered with some of our favorite chefs and brands, hosted live events, saw our characters featured in some of the biggest media publications in the world, were finalists for a The James Beard Foundation Award and added some very special members to our growing team (including a newborn). Since we love celebrating so much, you can expect more of all of this in 2024. Kalamata and Al Dente will continue to bring joy to kids and get them excited to experience new things, coming to life in ways they never have before. Our Travel Guide will be an even more important tool for parents, featuring a growing list of destinations and perspectives in the food & beverage industry, further establishing itself as the platform that is shaping the future of family-friendly dining. We can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store. Cheers to all of you in my network and everything you are celebrating today 🥂 #mindopenforkready Sarah Thomas Michael Burk Jess Boonstra

Our final #brandalchemistpodcast episode of the year left me with a simple reminder perfect for 2024: make it 'til you make it is a great mindset, shared with me by my guest Derek Wallace, co-founder of Kalamata's Kitchen. Skip faking and shift that mentality to take action. Sometimes, your vision requires creating something you can touch, see, and hold, which is a powerful part of the process with #CPG. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://loom.ly/cM8YUMw 🔥 or on Spotify: https://loom.ly/X_2Vma8 As we near the end of 2023, a takeaway from this episode reminded me that reflecting on past achievements is essential to the process. Derek shared his story and reminisced about when high-profile execs recognized and appreciated Kalamata's Kitchen's work, a definitive moment reinforcing their value in the industry. They've come a long way from seeing their books in airport bookstores to building relationships with renowned chefs. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Derek and his fantastic team at Kalamata's Kitchen. Wishing you peace and renewed energy as we head into a new year!

I am thrilled to share with you the newest episode of the #brandalchemistpodcast with my guest, Kalamata's Kitchen's Co-Founder, Derek Wallace! 🎧🔥 He shared his journey of turning dreams into reality and the power of believing in your vision. He underlined the necessity of having a clear plan and boundless determination to build a brand. His hard work and perseverance paid off, leading to exciting opportunities with major conglomerates. Our last episode of 2023 is a powerful way to end the year. Give it a listen and share your takeaways! #PodcastInsights #Entrepreneurship

So many of the greatest things ever created started with a personal need. I’ve been thinking about this a lot as we celebrate the anniversary of the day Kalamata's Kitchen was created. For me, I needed something to inspire my son Henry to use food as a way to explore the whole entire world. I wanted him to go on adventures that allowed him to learn things at 4 years-old that I didn’t fully get until I was an adult. I also needed to remove myself from a work environment that was very toxic for me. I needed to find my way to a career that had me surrounded with people who I respect, love and trust. There’s no way I could have known when I woke up that morning that I would answer both of my needs and create my dream job by the time the day was over. But I did. And what’s even more incredible is that it attracted a group of people who needed it too, each for their own reasons. The idea for Kalamata’s Kitchen was mine for about 15 minutes. Then it became mine and Sarah’s. It quickly became all of ours. I’ve said before that Kalamata is probably the only thing that could have brought our entire team together. If it was even slightly different, it would be less interesting to one person or another. Celebrating this Kaliversary has me more grateful than ever for each person that has believed in our dream and joined us on this journey that has entirely changed our lives. #mindopenforkready #dreamjob Michael Burk Jess Boonstra Rachael Powell Jo Edwards Maria Iannarino Mark Hillman Jennifer Haines Wallace Tyler Haak Todd Blake Erin Burk

The 18th edition of Baked is Julia Virnelli's first as Editor-In-Chief. I'm so impressed by the work she and her team have done, and sincerely honored to have our Kalamata's Kitchen story profiled as a part of it. You can check out this article, as well as some outstanding recipes, fascinating profiles and dining tips for Florence, IT by checking out the full digital version of Baked here: https://lnkd.in/eBkKYJZs 📸 Jamie Mercurio #mindopenforkready Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University

Always love seeing Kalamata's Kitchen featured in Bon Appetit for the holidays. It's so cool to see Sarah Thomas and Jo Edwards among the list of giants mentioned in this feature--Padma Pakshmi, J. Kenji López-Alt, Kiera Wright-Ruiz, Carla Hall, Sonoko Sakai, Keiko Brodeur, Cherise Harris, Claudia Lam, Gianna Ruggiero, and Juana Martinez-Neal. Head over and check out these incredible books: https://lnkd.in/g6t3cTzv Thanks for making Kalamata and Al Dente's dreams come true for the holidays Alma Avalle. Derek Wallace

Our Kalamata's Kitchen team celebrated Diwali by watching Sarah Thomas give tips on how to throw a chaat party on the Today Show. Seriously, every kid (and grown-up) loves a chaat party. Happy Diwali! 🪔 #mindopenforkready #diwali2023 Michael Burk Jess Boonstra