Chic Spotlight: Cooking with Caitlin Gals
Cincy Chic: How did the concept of
Caitlin MacEachen Steininger: Cooking With Caitlin is made up of me, Kelly Trush, and Molly Sandquist and we are all excited about food and family.
We really wanted to build a business that would bring people together using food as the vehicle. We have growing families, busy lifestyles, and we know that people are just trying to squeeze it all in. So we developed Cooking With Caitlin to help bring people together and have some fun in the meantime.
Cincy Chic: Any advice for aspiring chefs out there wanting to jump-start their own career/business?
Steininger: Do what you love. Don’t compromise. Expect to work hard. Have fun.
Cincy Chic: What a fabulous model of fab, chic, foodie women working together! How much fun do you have?!
Steininger: Oh wow, a ton of fun. Really, we know how very blessed we are to get to do what we love with people we love.
Cincy Chic: Who is your culinary idol/inspiration? Where do you get ideas for new recipes?
Steininger: Jean-Paul Belmont of
Cincy Chic: Quick! You only have five ingredients to make a dish. What would you whip up?
Steininger: A super easy Cooking With Caitlin fan-favorite:
Cincy Chic: What ingredient/dish can’t you stomach to eat?
Steininger: I’m not a big fan of organ meats yet.
Cincy Chic: What’s your most memorable catering job?
Steininger: The first one. It started it all.
Cincy Chic: When you’re at home, with not-a-care-in-the-world, what dish do you automatically crave/want to cook?
Steininger: Busken’s chocolate donuts for me and a Kentucky Hot Brown with Honey Baked Ham for my husband. Kelly usually picks up the phone and says, I have this, this, this and this…what should I do? And Molly, I don’t think she has a go-to favorite ice cream, maybe.
Cincy Chic: What advice do you have for someone stressed about preparing a meal for others?
Steininger: Don’t stress. Plan ahead. And always [prepare] for your guests what you love [to eat] the most. If you are confident, they will love it.
Cincy Chic: If you were on a deserted island, what must-have culinary items would you have in your “pantry?”
Steininger: Kosher salt, sharp knife, fork. Kelly’s would probably be my cheese sauce. Molly would probably opt to graze off of whatever we brought along, and would need her computer.
Cincy Chic: What is your favorite dish to prepare when you entertain? Favorite ingredient?
Steininger: We’ve never served the same thing twice. My favorite ingredient is always whatever’s freshest.
Cincy Chic: Best local restaurant/eatery pics?
Steininger: For comfort food it would have to be Izzy’s or Skyline. We try to get out and go to different restaurants around the city. It is fun to get to sit down and enjoy a great meal.
Cincy Chic: Best place to shop for ingredients/groceries?
Steininger: Jungle Jim’s. No question. If you need it and they don’t have it, they will get it. They are great. And Restaurant Depot. They have the best, best, best employees and always have what you need in bulk.
Cincy Chic: How does Cincy rank in terms of culinary prowess?
Steininger: There’s a great foodie feel in the air. Cincinnatians are excited about fresh new ways to look at food.
Cincy Chic: What’s your favorite thing about Cincinnati?
Steininger: The people, hands down. From day one, this community has embraced Cooking with Caitlin. We are so thankful that we get to build Cooking With Caitlin in the city we love.
PHOTO CREDITS
Photos: Courtesy of Cooking With Caitlin
