Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Richards.
Rob, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
With more than 28 years in the culinary profession, I have cooked my way through the North East, the Carolinas, and the great state of Texas – in both restaurants and hotels.
Being a native of Jackson, Mississippi, I moved to Texas at a very influential age. I started my career early, working as a dishwasher and prep cook before moving to the front of the house. During that time, I longed for the back of the house. My love affair with how to cook and make food for people was my driving force behind pursuing a culinary arts school. So I packed my bags and moved to Vermont, where I completed my studies at the New England Culinary Institute.
Traveling and working in kitchens around the North and South in my tours, some of my creations have been served to two presidents and several government officials as well as the countless number of celebrities during the years.
Then Two Skillets was born. In spite of the name, it does not mean what you would think! It has nothing to do with cooking at all. In fact, it is named after the two most influential people that have been part of my life, my Dad and his father, my grandfather.
My Dad instilled in me the morals and integrity of not only striving to be the best but also never giving up! But we owe this to my grandfather as well. Here is why…
My grandfather’s name was Corry “Pick” Richards. My Grandfather was an incredible man that instilled values and a work ethic in my father that were then passed on to me. Those values included hard work, dedication to your craft and worked harder than anyone around you.
Growing up in the 1920’s, my grandfather had 20 brothers and sisters. Back then, you had big families because you had to work on the farm. When going out and picking corn, they would get paid by the weight of what they did for the day. Although he was one of the youngest, my grandfather would pick more corn than any of his brothers and sisters! So, of course, they started making fun and started calling him Pick. And there came about the nickname that would stick with him for the rest of his life.
Later in life, Pick opened The Richards Farm Store in Illinois. There they would sell all local groceries and meats from all around the area. My grandfather would buy the whole cows and butcher them on site, then age the meat for his customers. He even had a thought of doing a new concept and open something with a “grocery store” theme that he heard about. When he mentioned it to my Grandmother, she told him that it was a stupid idea! Well, we all know what happened with that “stupid” idea!
In this business, you always need to reinvent yourself. Doing things differently is hard in the restaurant and catering business, where new raw materials are tough to come by. Chefs achieve artistry through relentless creativity, as well as tastefully and consistently executing their menu. It is no accident that many restaurants and catering companies fail. Even great restaurants and catering companies can eventually bore their customers if they do not continue to innovate and train staff. Customer service needs to be just as important as our food…no matter what! That’s how Two Skillets came about.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha! No has not been smooth at all! I guess if it was easy, everyone would do it correctly! Let’s say life took over for a time and I let it. Two Skillets is something that means a great deal to me if something could happen as a catering company! I am a person that lets ideas or material marinate and “see what happens” if you will. Two Skillets was something completely different when I first thought about it. It was going to be a meal kit program. Funding needed to happen and overhead was too high. So I put that idea on the back burner.
During this time, life really took over. My sister was living on the streets of Dallas because of her alcohol issues that unfortunately took over her life. Along the way, my niece passed away (who was the daughter of my homeless sister) not for certain the exact cause, but she had a heart attack in front of my mom and passed away at the age of 20. My mom was not strong enough to help her. She could not roll her over to administer CPR. My mom had been a nurse all her life and she could not help her. The following year, my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer. Then my sister followed shortly after that.
So the last year I really did a great deal of soul searching! What was it that I needed to do? Something did not feel complete in me. I started doubting myself as a Father and as a Chef. Doubting my family, how I grew up and who I was personally. I have never been that way, ever! So I did what other Chefs do! I cooked and got back to why I became a Chef in the first place!
I have always surrounded myself with great people! I have some incredible friends and a fantastic family! I talked with all of them and asked them their thoughts on life and cooking. I essentially started all over again. From scratch, if you will! Just going back to the basics of what I love to do! Catering opportunities kept coming up. I love cooking for the masses and I do it better than everyone else! I know that I have cooked for half your readers and they don’t have a clue! But over time, I have gotten better than I was…even five years ago! I love it! I see and look at food completely differently now! My Love Affair with Food is back and I can’t wait to see what happens for the future. I am so damn excited.
So, here we are! Two Skillets came along. It was always with me, but even more now! I kid around. People ask me what do two skillets mean! Not making a long story, I just tell them well all you need is Two Skillets. You have more than Two Skillets. You are doing it wrong!
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Two Skillets is a full service catering company and also a staffing company. We can cater to any event large or small, from five of your closest friends to a gala of 5,000 people. Nothing is too small or large for our company.
Of course, we specialize in food and creating the perfect experience for our guests. But Customer Service – This is THE number one – above all things before the food, staff, even the owner. Exceed customer expectations… EVERY time. Customers are the reason you are open. Learn your customers, anticipate their needs before they ask. Talk with your guests constantly. They want to know the owner, server or chef. Two Skillets staff will make them feel as though they are part of the restaurant’s way of life, without excuses. They don’t care why something is not right. They just want it done right. Creating an experience that is second to none for every guest, every time is our goal.
Our Staffing company is one of the best here in Dallas. Everyone that is working for me, I have known for a while. Everyone is nothing but a professional and hold our core values close to our hearts. We are a family here at Two Skillets. We can take care of all your waiter and bartender needs. We also have cooks and captains for any event you would need help with at your private party or Gala.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Oh Gosh! I see a huge transition, I believe. I think we will move away from how we are buying food and go back to the source… The Farmer. I always preach every time food gets recalled. I say, “know your farmer. You will never have an issue.” In my opinion, there are way too many things in the food available to the masses now. I think that is the reason why we see more food allergies now than we ever have. It is really scary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twoskillets.com
- Other: youtube.com/twoskillets
- Phone: 214-250-4118
- Email: rob.richards@twoskillets.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/twoskillets
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoskilletscatering/
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