We recently connected with Candice Quick and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Candice, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is a funny thing. Sometimes you don’t even realize you have it until you take the time to reflect on tough moments in life. I always used to use my work as a way to push forward. I have found tough moments in life making me more resilient in the kitchen, and tough times in the kitchen made me more resilient in life. It truly takes effort to seek out the silver lining in every situation, and understanding that tomorrow is a new day. While the tough times never end, building endurance to them does make bouncing back easier. I am very grateful to have a constructive outlet like cooking to channel all of that resilience, and create some very delicious moments.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
For more than three years now, we have been creating custom meals for our weekly clients, creating custom events for everything from intimate dinners to surprise parties and even in-home cooking lessons! I recently became a Certified Bourbon Professional, which adds to my level one Cicerone and Sommelier certifications; I love using this knowledge to create pairing dinners for an added special dining event.
We also love sharing our love of dogs through out Mise & Paws Fresh Dog Food. We realized a few years back, our own dog was in need of a fresh and healthy option, and after months of research we finally landed on a really great recipe that our dogs loved and met AAFCO standards that we could feel good about. We know that we’d never want to live off dry cereal our whole lives, and we know our dogs don’t either. We use human grade ingredients and prepare them in a clean and healthy way; it just feels great knowing they love what they are eating and that it is actually good for them too!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Being open-minded, diligent, and adaptable are all qualities I embrace and try to live everyday with. The hospitality industry is anything but consistent or simple. There are constant speed bumps one will come into contact with working in this field, and the only way to succeed is to be open-minded, diligent and adaptable.
Open-Minded: There can be a dozen ways to accomplish a task, and sometimes the best way may be a little different than how you are used to executing it. Staying open-minded allows you to learn a new way to do something, and when life goes sideways it could help to have a few extra arrows in your quiver.
Diligent: When things get tough, it is helpful to be able to keep your head down and power through. I find that diligence is very important when developing recipes for our clients. How items were produced in a typical restaurant setting, isn’t always how it needs to be prepared for the family in-home setting. Life is full of hiccups, and the diligence of working towards something you believe in is crucial. For me, most days, it includes amazing recipes… but in the real world it can be anything that might bring you happiness. Hobbies, work or anything that takes time to master. Diligence is the key.
Adaptability: Being able to course-correct at a moments notice is so imperative to succeeding in the Hospitality world. Clients schedules, product availability, personal moments can all cause unforeseen challenges to the day to day. Staying adaptable creates the opportunity to turn those challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Some of the best ideas can come from periods of uncertainty, so it is always important to sense those moments and find a way to embrace them.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are always looking for other small businesses to collaborate with! We love the idea of working with others that specialize in something that we do not. I would love to work with those who are also skilled in beverage pairings, dessert, or that may work with our furry canine friends!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mise33.com
- Instagram: @Mise_33
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mise-33/100027234863050/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: Candice Quick
Image Credits
All photos taken by Candice Quick
