Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kaitlyn Kissel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kaitlyn, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My father has been a family practice doctor for twenty years in our tiny town of Greencastle, Indiana, and my mother has worked as a physical therapist for the same duration. They both have an absolutely un-wavering optimism that refuses to give up on patients. Watching this, growing up in this culture has taught me to always believe in what you’re doing and truly believe in it to the fullest, and perhaps most importantly, stay positive!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Much of my work/focus with The Doc’s Inn, our new second inn location, called The Dandelion, and the Bodega Market is centered around lifting up small, local businesses by working together to offer quality products and experiences through what our wonderful community has to offer. Our businesses, and the wonderful group of individuals I work with, have found that offering these products and experiences help to not only drive new clientele to our downtown area, but also to serve local residents better.
The most exciting part of doing this personally is surprising guests with a great experience they weren’t expecting to be here in Greencastle. That could be a perfectly cooked French omelet, a lovely walk at our local nature park, or an unexpected treat at Bodega Market. The best complement I ever received as a chef was from the first year I was cooking at Doc’s, and it was an individual in their early 80s that told me she had never had better scrambled eggs in her entire life. I don’t think she expected to be won over by something as simple as a scrambled egg, nor had she experienced how delicious a simple bowl of eggs, from our local Meadowbrook farms, could taste.
This year, I’m most excited to launch our second location, The Dandelion Inn, and to begin a collaboration supper club with a local whiskey bar, called The Whisk in February 2025.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Without question, the most impactful skills I have developed stem from my studies in classical music. I have a bachelor’s in classical flute performance and studied flute playing extensively before transitioning into culinary. Playing classical music taught me to do the work, not to give up when it’s hard, and to play the long game. This means never sacrificing the quality of your product or experience (even if it means it takes longer to create it in the long run), never giving up when you have a significant challenge, and putting in the patience to do work that builds skill. My advice to younger individuals is to surround yourself with individuals that have a more honed skill set than you, and then learn as much as you can at as high a level as you can.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mom taught me how to play and be creative, and they helped pay for an excellent education.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedocsinn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docsbnb1893/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docsbnb1893/
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bodega-greencastle
Image Credits
Andrew Cooper photography
Laura Lee Halada Art
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
