‘The Olympics of truck driving’
December 16, 2024
NEENAH – Cooks of all skills now have a new spot to stock up on gourmet ingredients.
Saucy Kitchen, which also includes Select Greek Olive Oil, opened last month at 105 Winneconne Ave. in Neenah.
Alongside shelves lined with mixes and jarred sauces, Co-owner Jennifer Kornowske said customers can indulge in inspiration at the specialty grocer through personable service and a tasting bar.
Inspired by food, community roots
Jennifer, along with her husband and co-owner, Darren, said they couldn’t agree more with the saying – “the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.”
The couple’s inspiration to open a store, she said, came from their mutual passion for food and the customer base they established at the local farmers’ markets with their olive oil and balsamic vinegars.
Jennifer, a Neenah native, said her generational roots in the area strengthened her connection with customers at local markets.
She said she would often have conversations with customers about the availability of their products during the cold winter months, which led her to consider opening a brick-and-mortar location.
“One day, I drove by the building’s ‘for rent’ sign and was so inspired to take action,” she said. “It felt like an answer to a prayer – it just felt right.”
Soon, Jennifer said they were unboxing products, creating labels and setting up shelves.
But before the store could open, she said it still needed a name.
“The name came about after brainstorming for weeks,” she said.
Jennifer said she had several fitting ideas, but after pondering the store’s offerings and looking at her vision as a whole, Saucy Kitchen was the clear winner.
“I want the store to represent our personalities, as well as meet a need in the community,” she said. “The more I thought about it, I realized we had a lot of sauces and a lot of sassy.”
Having previous experience as business owners (with other food-based businesses), Jennifer said she was confident in her decision to open Saucy Kitchen.
“My husband and I have worked in our businesses together for 28 of the 30 years we have been married,” she said. “We have also been students of real-world experience.”
Jennifer said they participated in several business coaching programs, including SCORE, the Packers Mentor-Protégé Program and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Small Business Incubator Programming – all of which were experiences she said have prepared them well.
“We have also had so much support and coaching from friends in our community offering both ideas and perspective,” she said. “Darren and I care deeply about growth and doing our best.”
An assortment of goods
Walking into Saucy Kitchen, Jennifer said patrons are greeted with an open-concept setup with shelves lining the space with various foods and supplies.
From al dente garlic parsley fettuccine noodles and flavored Himalayan salts to glass jar concoctions like orange and whiskey marmalade, she said there is a generous assortment of goods to browse.
Additionally, she said customers will find many gluten-free, non-GMO and vegan-friendly items.
“We really look for products with wholesome ingredients,” she said. “Customers can expect a warm, clean environment surrounded with high-quality, fun foods that are maybe a bit harder to find.”
Jennifer said the store also has an abundance of sauce varieties to choose from, ranging from traditional canned tomato classics to those that are savory, spicy or sweet.
The store, she said, sells Wisconsin-made products, including items made locally in Appleton, Kaukauna, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee.
“We plan to continue to network and support other local small businesses and market in organic ways that get the word out,” she said.
Beyond perishable supplies, Jennifer said the store sells handmade wooden cutting boards, bags of Operation Coffee brand coffee and one-of-a-kind artwork.
“Often people are so inspired by the things they find here, they think of loved ones and gift giving,” she said.
Jennifer said customers can even assemble custom gifts with an assortment of items in the store.
“We believe people will come to the store and find treasures to share their excitement about, too,” she said.
Straight from the grove
Jennifer said one of the focal points of Saucy Kitchen is the Select Greek Olive Oil products, a brand called Ariston, which is brought in right from the source.
“The olive oil we provide comes from friends of ours who own a grove in Greece,” she said. “We love the product so much.”
Jennifer said trying the olive oil taught her about the creation process and how quality makes a difference.
“The very first time I tried it, my mind was blown,” she said. “When we began to take time to understand what happens in the cold-press process, we learned what makes olive oil superior.”
The olive oils, Jennifer said, have won international gold and platinum awards in 2022-23 and customers have an opportunity to taste them right in-store.
“We have a tasting bar where customers can experience several of the products before they buy,” she said. “People can relax and enjoy exploring tastes and colorful products.”
Balsamic vinegars are also available, and Jennifer said the flavor options are surprising – such as an apple-infused variety of a peach-infused white balsamic.
“The olive oil and balsamics have been close to our heart the longest and are the main reason we started the store,” she said.
Though no cooking happens directly in-store, Jennifer said part of her growth plan includes producing a cookbook to incorporate recipes from her food lines in the future.
She said she and Darren also hope to eventually open additional locations throughout the Fox Valley area and around Wisconsin.
“We know the challenges of finding quality food, and we want to help make it easier,” she said. “We are so grateful for the warm welcome we have had so far and hope to give back as much as we can as we continue to grow.”
Saucy Kitchen is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30-5 p.m. Sundays.
For more, head to the store’s Facebook page.
