Editor's note: In our continuing look at area businesses, today's Thursday Travels piece takes us to Atlanta-based LITKitchen.LITKitchen specializes in planning and hosting private parties and culinary events for businesses, organizations, associations, and private groups.
The business offers a wide variety of hand's-on, interactive events and services designed to educate, entertain and demonstrate the Art of Culinary Excellence. LITKitchen provides an atmosphere where participants learn more than just the preparation of fine cuisine, they attain the fundamental skills and knowledge of the true Culinary Art.
GOATLANTA spoke recently with LITKitchen President Brad Lev about the history of the company, what they offer, and where they are headed.
GOATLANTA: Talk a little bit about the business, what you offer, how long in Atlanta.
BRAD LEV: I moved to Atlanta in 1996 from San Francisco; it was a whirlwind and when I got here I didn’t know anyone. I got a job at Jocks & jills and started my life in Atlanta. I always had a passion for food and in 2000, I came up with an idea to start a business that focused on hosting interactive culinary events, cooking classes and dinner parties. This was before all the rage and before the Food Network even existed. However, I had no idea how to start a business or run a business, so I pushed it away. I got into the IT industry as a network administrator and forgot about the biz. A year later, I would think about it again and again and would push it away. In 2004, after being laid off several times, I got to the point where I had to either go for it or drop it…so I decided to go for it. I started LITKitchen llc which stands for Learning Innovative techniques in the Kitchen and the rest is history.
GA: Given today's economy, have you seen a drop in business in recent months? If so, what is the company doing to deal with that?
BL: For sure, after opening my business in March of '07 a huge percentage of my business was corporate, ranging from cocktail parties to team building exercises that focused on the culinary world. Its tough but the main things that we are going to do are the following:
(A) We are going to start a lunch service; this is going to be a walk in lunch service where you can come in and order lunch, sit down and enjoy yourself. We are also going to start to offer off-site lunch catering for businesses with in the immediate area. (B) The second thing we are doing is moving away from the private functions such as weddings, birthdays and corporate functions to doing more public events such as cooking classes, networking events, happy hours, and out specialty events that fall under the umbrella: "Get LIT @ Sunset" These are my specialty events that combine entertainment, education and the culinary world such as tango and tapas, swinging sushi and Salsa Y Salsa.
GA: How competitive is the business you are in and what does the company do to make the business stand out among the competition?
BL: The event business is very competitive. There are many event spaces all over Atlanta and they all specialize or market to specific areas. We try to market to anyone looking to book specific events. The main things that we have that no other event space has is ouR Kitchen. Our kitchen faces the main ball room area which allows us to host very unique culinary events such as chef wars, recipe throw downs, etc… It also gives an unique experience for our guests where they get to see the food prepared in front of them.
GA: What is the one thing you want would people in the Atlanta area to know about your business that they may not know when viewing your Web site?
BL: The first is that we are going to start to offer off-site catering and a walk-in lunch service. The other are the very unique projects that we are working on such as our “Get LIT under the SunSet” events, as well as something that we are just starting called “so you think you can cook” which is going to be a cooking competition for the home chefs. In the next few months, we are going to host a very unique opportunity for all of those individuals who think they can cook…its going to be a live cooking competition for the Home Chef... stay tuned to LITKitchen for more details.
GA: Where do you see your company a year from now?
BL: I see LITKitchen aka “LIT” as being a market leader in several different areas. One… the private event space for those who want a unique space to host their event; two…a space that hosts a wide variety of events that not only educate you but give you a wide variety of skills and knowledge that you will take home with you; three… a force to reckon with. I have so many unique ideas that have never been done before such as swinging sushi, disco bingo and the ultimate supper club… we will be a place that continually offers unique events to the public so that on a Friday night instead of going to your typical restaurant or bar, you will head to LIT for an amazing experience where you will experience all kinds of different types of things.
For further information on LITKitchen, visit www.litkitchen.com or stop by at: 433c Bishop St., Atlanta, Ga., 30318. You can also call (404) 249-4300 for more information.
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