Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Summer.
Hi Carrie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Lisa and I met in 2001 on a project she was consulting on. We had a mutual friend, that suggested we meet. I set up an appointment to meet with her and it was an enchanting “love it first sight” moment. We went on to work together on the project she was forming, in which was a coffeehouse turned into a French bistro in Uptown Minneapolis. The restaurant is still open to this day and, several of the original staff are still on. I knew back then that we would be unstoppable and that eventually we would have our own restaurant. Our creativity combined is a gifted, amazing journey.
Throughout the next few years, we would travel in the winter and cook in the summer months. Our travels influence our cookery entirely throughout the years.
Back in 2003 and 2004, we saw the rise of chefs nationally in America doing really good food out of mobile trucks or trailers, and thought “we could do that!” without actually financially committing to a restaurant at that time. We had an insatiable wanderlust and just couldn’t imagine the commitment (at that time) to a permanent restaurant. So we found our first trailer, (from two hockey moms), bought a van to pull it, and we were off to the races. Life was a new, adrenaline fueled adventure, learning the ins and outs of a mobile unit. Some days were harder, but the payday was more than we ever earned in a day, so we kept going. We eventually landed at the opening of the Mill City farmers in downtown Minneapolis. Our Chef mentor and fellow restaurant owner Brenda Langton and her husband Tim had already been in the business 40 years, and were the original creators of the Mill City farmers market. We created some seasonal delights, people lined up for hours and we’ve been there 19 years. It’s an amazing community and synergy with other farmers, vendors and growers.
Meanwhile, we were getting the itch to create something a little more nice and began looking for a restaurant property back in 2010. We scoured the Twin City Metro area and at the time never found anything we fell in love with and something under a million. We then started looking one hour outside of our radius and came across the property in BayCity, Wisconsin. Just one hour from the metro area, in the beautiful driftless area of Wisconsin by the Mississippi river.
In August 2012, we closed on the real estate, got the door open six weeks later for fall dining. It was amazing and many people came to check us out.
Now we’re into our 14th year of finer dining and craft cocktails, it’s been an amazing journey of creativity and many wonderful regulars who support us. We are so thankful to share our vision of French cuisine excellence.
Over the last 20 years, we’ve had two amazing food trucks as well, we built out a few and we’ve sold a few, but we remain with the two originals. Slinging chef made creative eats in a portable manner for people to enjoy on the move. We just love it. And the rest is history…
So, for two cowgirls who grew up in the Midwest and liked Travel, we have been so fortunate and filled with gratitude to be able to cook and make people happy for over 20 years now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Challenges, they become the mirror reflection to growth.
The many challenges of this industry include and are not limited to: stereotypes and sexism, the long hours on your feet in hot and sometimes dangerous conditions. Self-care, rest sleep, and your health are all subject to exploitation at any given moment throughout our careers, no matter your age. And working nights and weekends when the rest of the world and your family and loved ones are on a completely different schedule., so it’s not uncommon to miss many special days, birthdays, celebrations, and quality time with your loved ones.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has been always an extension of my creative ability. From a young age, I could draw and paint and sculpt and create. So I’ve been lucky that food and flavors have been my primary creative endeavor for so long. I enjoyed the immediate satisfaction of creating items that are beautiful, that people can devour with satisfaction.
I also am a gardener and a landscaper, I also enjoy woodworking and leather and yarn making. As well as photography and beautiful things to look at. Building a restaurant space has been my greatest ongoing designer dream.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My happy place is having time to dream and bring creative visualization to life
All while I feel well, rested, healthy, and vibrant.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chefshackbaycity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefshack/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefshackbaycity
