Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Schaan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jason. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I got my first job when I was 16 years old at a pizzeria in DC and have worked in restaurants ever since. I attended Johnson & Wales University in North Miami to continue refining my culinary skills in the kitchen and learn more about the hospitality industry overall. While I was studying at the university, I held internship positions at several luxury hotels across Miami, including Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Mandarin Oriental where I was part of the opening team for the fine dining restaurant, Azul. I worked there full-time as sous chef for five years before taking the role of chef at Michy’s where I worked for ten years. I really enjoyed working alongside Chef Michelle Bernstein at Michy’s and continued to cook in kitchens with her at several Miami restaurants, including Sra. Martinez, Crumb, MBC Catering, Seagrape, and most recently, Café La Trova.
Three years ago, I was working at Artisan Beach House at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour and met Brian Skogen who was the hotel’s food and beverage director at the time. Brian and I spoke often of our mutual dream of building our own business. We both shared similar visions of the future of restaurants and dining and agreed that making quality, fresh, gourmet food approachable and accessible is what people want. We knew there was an opportunity to offer delicious food people crave in a convenient way, building a menu that would work well for delivery, takeout and catering without sacrificing friendly service where guests are treated like neighbors. This May, our dreams became reality with the opening of MKT Kitchen.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Brian and I started planning for MKT Kitchen in 2019 and were very excited to introduce our new business to Coral Gables in early 2020. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, our opening was delayed. We were very eager and excited to get to work but had to patiently wait to open our doors until quarantine was over and cities began reopening. No one could have anticipated this roadblock but we rolled with the punches and did what was needed to open MKT Kitchen when the time was right.
Please tell us about MKT Kitchen.
MKT Kitchen serves grab-and-go gourmet cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a mini-epicurean market featuring specialty wine, as well as local products like Funky Buddha beers, Per’La coffee and JoJo Tea. Every week, I review and update the menu to include seasonal dishes that I cook or bake using the freshest ingredients and best flavors available, ideally locally sourced as well. Our daily and weekly specials include a rotation of different kinds of breakfast sandwiches, quiches, sandwiches, soups, entrees and desserts. Some recent local favorites include our salmon quiche, prime rib sandwich, shrimp quinoa salad and gnocchi lasagna, to name a few.
Aside from our delicious dishes, what sets MKT Kitchen apart from other dining spots is our flexibility and friendly environment. You can conveniently order takeout or delivery or dine in for a quick, easy, no frills meal that you know will satisfy your hunger, and you can count on consistent excellent customer service. Our MKT Kitchen team engages with everyone who walks through our doors or calls us as if they were our neighbors. I am proud of owning an intimate, casual neighborhood restaurant where it feels like I’m cooking from my home kitchen and once in a while, I can leave the chopping board or the oven and connect and engage with guests on a personal level.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as achieving creative freedom and enjoying the things in life that truly bring you joy. For me, at MKT Kitchen, this means experimenting with as many recipes as I want, cooking dishes I take pride in serving, and challenging myself to always keep the menu interesting so we give our guests a reason to come back and enjoy meals from us. Outside of MKT Kitchen, this means spending time with my family and friends.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1831 Ponce de Leon Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 33134 - Website: www.mktkitchen.com
- Phone: 305-882-2600
- Email: info@mktkitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mktkitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mktkitchencoralgables/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mkt-kitchen-miami
Image Credit:
MKT Kitchen
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