Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter Barrera.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hunter. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up cooking with my mother, Keely. We would spend afternoons and evenings in the kitchen together, me mostly doing dishes, but watching her practice her craft. When I was old enough, I started working for her catering company and learning the ins and outs of the business. It was mainly a summer job, but I loved getting into the flow of working in a kitchen. I spent most of my time studying finance, intending to move into venture capital; I didn’t think I would have the chance to step into a larger role in Something Homemade. However, when Keely bought her restaurant, the perfect opportunity presented itself and I felt that it was time to do something bigger. With her help and guidance, and the business knowledge that I’m bringing to the table, I’m excited to see what’s in store for the future!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not. I have been a serial entrepreneur since elementary school, with a few great successes and a couple spectacular failures. A few years ago, I was in the pyrotechnics business. It was going quite well until an explosion at a fireworks convention destroyed most of my inventory and customer records. But, with those colorful experiences come lessons learned (such as keeping digital backups and staying away from highly combustible business models) and I feel that I am constantly becoming more agile because of it. One recent roadblock that comes to mind is the COVID-19 outbreak; we went from fully booked in March to nearly no events in the span of three days. A few years ago, I would not have known what to do in this scenario.
Now, though, I’ve been in enough critical situations to know that we need to pivot. Within a week of the crisis hitting, we shifted our business model from largely in-home catering for large groups, to no-touch meal delivery for families. It’s this kind of obstacle that keeps me sharp, gets the creative juices flowing, and forces me to adapt to this ever-changing world. That’s what I love about business; the markets are so dynamic, especially when you don’t think they will be.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Something Homemade is a full-service catering company that specializes in highly customized events for a variety of occasions. We cook everything fresh on-site, source locally whenever possible, and put a heavy emphasis on flavorful, no-nonsense food. There are three things that I am most proud of as a company. The first is our flexibility and creativity with menus; we’ve done Italian-Mexican-fusion weddings, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free plated dinners, traditional Irish comfort food, and everything in between. Each unique request is an opportunity to push myself and develop my skills further and expand our repertoire as a company.
The second distinguishing factor is our fresh, on-site cooking. Most catering companies prepare everything in their kitchen and then deliver it to the venue in hotboxes. That’s efficient, and food comes out fine, but you can definitely taste the difference. We prepare as much as we can in your kitchen so that everything is as fresh and delicious as possible. The third factor, and I’m especially proud of this, is our people. I can honestly say that every member of our team is an exemplary representative of warm and attentive customer service. You can rest assured that, when we come into your home to cook for you, everything will be taken care of.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
San Diego is an ideal location for us! Californians (and San Diegans in particular) have the most discerning palettes of anywhere that I’ve been. They especially tend to resonate with our philosophy of simple, quality food, and the communities that I’ve gotten the chance to be a part of have been so tight-knit and supportive of each other, it’s really great to see, and a privilege to take part in. I would say the only reason that I may not recommend a new business to start here would be the cost of living and operations; California is expensive, as we all know. However, that’s just a factor of supply and demand. In order to live and operate in a desirable location, you have to be willing to shoulder a high cost of operation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SomethingHomemade.com
- Phone: 858-245-1004
- Email: Hunter@SomethingHomemade.com
- Instagram: something_homemade_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somethinghomemadersf/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/something-homemade-rancho-santa-fe
Image Credit:
Luciana Hanley, Kolette Lavoy
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
COVID-19 Conversations:
Covid-19 is affecting so many in our community. It’s a health and economic crisis, but we can come together as a community to share ideas, solutions to problems, and resources to ensure that we all bounce back strong once the virus is defeated. Check out our conversation with photographer and Voyage Content Partner Stephanie Mantiply below.
