Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1479440
V O I C I N G S silly, it sounds silly, it's true. Every day is a gift. Nothing is that hard anymore, because even on hard days, I'm like, "I'm here, I'm alive. Let's go." I feel now that…I have a mission with all the people I love and care about to make sure that they are showing up and getting their checkups and appointments. I don't know that there's a cooler part of running a business than making decisions in how you get to impact your community. As soon as there becomes enough to donate or give back to organizations we care about, whether that's working with the Cheese Culture Coalition to teach education to BIPOC kids in the Girl Scout community in Inglewood, or we host blood drives four times a year here…sometimes it's just us sending a board to a women's reproductive justice organization so they can fundraise. Has this experience changed anything about your employee management? I know it can be so hard for small businesses to be competitive with benefits, but then folks in food service are always in such precarious positions when it comes to insurance and prevention. SS: When we started the business—this was before I even got cancer—we wrote down things that were not offered to us in hospitality jobs over the years that we wish had been offered. And the number one thing was fully paid PPO health insurance. That had never been offered in one job I'd ever had in a hotel. Even in some of the bigger hotels, health insurance would be supplemented or matched, but you still had to pay for it out of your paycheck. And it was usually HMO. BS: This ties into being a responsible business owner where you sit down and you make your belief system. Here's what we believe is the right thing to do as a business owner. SS: So, a little over two years ago, I met with an insurance consultant and put together the framework for what it would cost us to do, with our full-time staff, which I think now we're about 13 people. I'm so proud to say that a little over a year ago, we did hit that goal. And everyone here that is a full-time employee has access to 100-percent fully paid PPO health insurance, which, like the day I signed the agreement, just makes me wanna cry, 'cause it's something that just isn't offered. Yeah! That's incredible! I was even afraid to ask this question because I didn't want to make you guys feel bad. SS: Oh no, you don't. It's something I'm so proud about. I have other small businesses that call me and are like, "How did you do it?" And it's possible. So that's really exciting. Ok, for my last question, I'm borrowing a little from Hot Ones. I want to ask about this post on Sarah's Instagram where you guys are eating a bunch of incredible-looking cheese by candlelight? In like, 2019. Parish Hill is tagged. What's going on there? BS: Dude, that— SS: First can we just say what fans we are of Rachel and Peter. I'm sure your readers will know about Parish Hill. Boo, you tell the story about how this night happened. BS: So, I flew to Boston for my other job. And I had, like, six hours before I had to be back at the airport, and I texted Sarah. I'd looked on the map and I was like, "Parish Hill…is this like Parish Hill Creamery? In driving distance?" And she's like, "Dude, you should text Rachel." SS: So, I write a text, I'm like, "Rachel, we buy your cheese. You don't know us…" it was the very beginning, you know? BS: She texts me back and she gives me an address. And all it says is, like, would love to see you, come by. Here's the address. Make sure you screenshot the map before you start driving, you will lose reception halfway." I was like, okay, got it. I get on the road, and I start going up this road where there's just lots of snow and nothing else. And I head up this driveway, and when I get up there I realize I'm at her house. She's given me directions to her house. I go up and knock on the door and these little dogs are attacking me at the front door, and I walk in, and it's just the two of them hanging out in their, like, robes at home. And they say hi, I get the biggest hugs. And they just welcomed me into their home to sit at their table in their house. And I remember seeing they had a culture magazine article pinned up. There was cheese, there was fresh goat's milk on the table. SS: They had it all just stacked on the counter, like a cheese shop. BS: And they're sitting there, and I remember asking when I first sat down, "Do you mind if I record this?" Because Sarah couldn't be there, I just felt Sarah really would've wanted to be there. And so I sat there for a couple of hours and we just talked about everything, about all the different cheeses, and we're sitting there just cutting and tasting, and the dogs are hanging out at my feet. And I was just like, this is the cutest thing I've ever experienced in my entire life. I just sat there thinking, I love this industry. I love cheesemakers. I love these two humans. And then [Rachel] goes, "You gotta see this. Let's head down the road." So we go into what looks like, what are those little huts that the hobbits live in? It's literally a hobbit hill, a natural hill with a door. And she says, "Take off your shoes." And we go into this wood door, and it is a cheese aging cave that they have built into this hill. And I just remember thinking, this is artisan cheese. SS: And they packed up all the cheeses they tasted because they wanted me to try them all! BS: Sarah picked me up at the airport, and by the time we got to her house, it was getting dark, and Sarah has the worst lighting ever in her dining room. So we lit candles, a lot of candles on the table. And we sat there and I played that recording from my afternoon with them. And I tried to look at the labels, and I was trying to like, give her the slice as we were talking about that thing. That is very cute. SS: It was magical. They're incredible humans. And I got to listen to that conversation via candlelight. It was pretty romantic. BS: Well, when you talk to someone who knows the name of the cows where the milk is coming from— SS: Peter makes his own cultures, no one does that. BS: He is a cheese wizard. It's so fun to talk to people like that. It's really fun because our job at Lady and Larder is to tell their stories and sell these products. Our shop does not exist without people like this. c Sarah + Boo's Go-to Host/ Hostess Gifts 'Tis the season for celebrations, so Sarah and Boo told us which items in their shop they'd bring to a party—and why they love 'em. • Mommenpop Aperitif (CA) + bundle of farmers' market herbs—Perfect for a pre-dinner spritz or served on the rocks. • Lady Crackers (CA) + Stepladder Creamery bloomy rinds (Ragged Point and Big Sur) (CA)—These ensure you always get invited back. • Basket of seasonal farmers' market fruit—During winter, nothing is better than California citrus. It's like gifting literal sunshine. • Zab's Hot Sauce duo (CA): Original and St. Augustine style, the best best best! • Danica Design Tapers (extra-long hand- dipped candles) wrapped in velvet ribbon (ME)—We sell these in an array of stunning colors. • Fat Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil tin (CA)— Insanely good small-batch olive oil.