Meet Zack Brown

We recently connected with Zack Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Zack, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I think confidence and self-esteem naturally ebb and flow with life. They aren’t constants—they’re qualities we can lean into when we need them most. I’m not naturally confident; it’s something I’ve had to build over time. For me, confidence shows up when it’s needed most.

When I’m in the courtroom, I have to be confident on my clients’ behalf. When I’m teaching a cooking class, I have to be confident for my students. When I’m explaining a culinary science process to someone new to food, I have to be confident in my ability to explain it clearly. My confidence really stems from a desire to help people.

When others are relying on me, or when there’s something that needs to get done and done well, that’s when confidence kicks in. It’s less about being fearless all the time and more about stepping up for others when it matters.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Zack Brown, and I’m the creator of Cooking Convos. I’m a full-time law student in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but my background is rooted in food journalism and culinary science.

I started Cooking Convos in college as a way to document my culinary journey, and it has since grown into something far beyond what I ever imagined. What began as a space for easy, creative recipes has evolved into baking pop-ups, cooking classes, collaborations with local businesses, writing, and more—all centered around bringing people together through food.

My latest venture, Kos Bakes, is a Scandinavian pastry pop-up inspired by my own Norwegian heritage. Through it, I hope to share the cozy, spiced flavors of Scandinavian baking with the Twin Cities community and beyond. Minnesota is home to so many people with deep Scandinavian roots—myself included—and I’m excited to celebrate that connection by introducing (and reintroducing) people to the art of Scandinavian pastry.

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?

I think understanding the science behind food, how recipes are developed and written, and how to genuinely connect with an audience have been the most impactful skills in my journey. For me, it all comes back to one word—why.

You have to understand the reasons behind your passion before you can share it with the world. Why does baking require such precision? Why are recipes structured the way they are? Why should my audience care about what I’m creating or saying? Once you understand those reasons, everything you do becomes more intentional and authentic.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is to invest time in learning those foundational “whys.” Build your skills, study your craft, and understand your audience before attempting to grow your audience. The more you focus on the roots of what you’re doing, the stronger your platform will become later on.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always open to discussing partnerships or collaborations—but I’m intentional about the ones I take on. I have to genuinely love a product or believe in a brand’s mission before sharing it with my audience. For me, it always comes back to authenticity and staying true to the people who follow along.

With Kos Bakes, I’m always on the lookout for charming spaces to pop up around the Twin Cities, up north, or anywhere in between. If you’d like to host a cozy Scandinavian pastry pop-up at your storefront or event, I’d love to connect—send me an email!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cookingconvos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooking_convos/?hl=en
• Other: Kos Bakes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosbakes/