Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Foo
Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi y’all! My story stems from a multitude of winding paths, born and raised in Dallas, attended the University of Colorado at Boulder (s’ko Buffs!), took a leap and moved to Philly in search of a new adventure, all before returning home to Dallas to raise my family. I am now an incredibly proud mom to my son Ethyn and daughter Kynsley, My husband Brett and I were childhood friends that grew up through schools together (even attending rival universities) but never truly connected until later in life and I am so thankful to have found such a strong, supportive, and caring partner at the time that I did. The love and support of my family is what constantly drives me to be better both personally and professionally,
Through all these walks of life, I’ve always had a passion for food and the culinary exploration of all cultures, my ultimate love language is preparing a meal for others to come together and enjoy (minus the occasional burnt bacon wrapped Thanksgiving turkey). I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business and coming up in the world as a booming success but as we all know, life happens when you’re making other plans and that ideology was tucked away so I could focus on being there for my family.
When COVID happened I, like millions of others, was craving the instinctual need of social and human interaction that we all took for granted. I started a small social media group offering a weekly poll of prepared comfort meals that I would door drop with a quick wave and smile from behind a mask 6ft away. The consistent group favorite from all the options was always the “dumpling add-on”. Once people started solely making requests for dumplings I realized this could be my dream knocking back on my door.
Fast forward to today and my company, Ugly Dumplin and Co. where our innovative concept weaves together the colorful tapestry of global cuisines while honoring the timeless tradition of dumpling making. We offer frozen prepared dumplings spanning everywhere from classic Asian flavors to creative twists on other cultural favorites such as Beef Wellington and Birria. These unique bites are simple to prepare so that you can bring a memorable dining experience to your loved ones within the comfort of your own home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would summarize my journey thus far as a road that is smooth for a bit then several logistical speedbumps occur and of course some financial large potholes always like to pop up and say hi, anybody that starts a business from ground up knows how daunting it can be and this is no different. In addition to navigating daily challenges, I was struggling internally as well. As badly as I wanted to succeed I found myself constantly questioning myself and spiraling into fears of doubt and the unknown, I was my own biggest obstacle. I’ve learned that moving past your own self doubt, taking it step by step, and to foster the small victories just as much as the big ones, these for me are some of the key pavers for the journey down this road.
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?
Ugly Dumplin and Co offers a unique twist on the typical frozen dumpling, we take the tradition of hand crafting each dumpling and within are flavors like no other. Our focus is fusing different culinary traditions and emphasizing innovation that sets us apart from traditional dumpling concepts. We showcase our commitment to pushing savory boundaries while celebrating and respecting the beauty of all cultures.
For me, Ugly Dumplin and Co is so much more than a company. Growing up I was always taught that the mantra of success is key, and failure is a fault you have to live with. I’ve had many failures through my journey and I spent so much valuable time beating myself up for not being “enough” and being full of regret for actions that had already been made. I created this company to not only spread my passion for love of food to others, but to also extend the message that failures do not define you and mistakes are not variables that have to drag you down. They are tools to learn from, to be better, move forward, and that it’s never too late to pursue your dream.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think I’ve taken a few major risks in life, one most recently is not following the grind of a steady job and paycheck to be able to pursue my dream. A lot of people say “no risk, no reward”, I’m somewhat of a realist in believing that not all risks results in rewards. However, if you don’t put yourself out there you’ll never know how much you’re truly capable of. This ties back to the internal message of Ugly Dumplin and Co that failure and mistakes will happen but you can flourish from them. You will stumble, and you may even shy away from wanting to take any more risks because it didn’t work out the first time. Knowing that your best IS enough, but taking the scary chances, pushing yourself, and working your ass off, that is the only way to find out just how far you can go.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts” -Winston Churchill
I know I still have a very long ways to go with plenty of challenges ahead, but I truly believe in this company and the unique quality of our products and will continue to work my hardest towards flavorful excellence. At Ugly Dumplin and Co, we’re not striving for perfection, we’re celebrating the joy of culinary exploration one delicious dumpling at a time. Join us in a world where dumplings dance to their own whimsical tune and imperfections are celebrated as works of art!
Pricing:
- Pricing ranges from $10.99-$14.99 for a pack of 12 dumplings with signature sauces.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://uglydumplin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugly_dumplin_co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552589307373&mibextid=LQQJ4d
