462: Building an Apron Empire with Ellen Marie Bennett
Sep 11, 2024
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Ellen Marie Bennett, founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, dives into her journey of reinventing the apron and building a beloved kitchen gear brand. She shares insights on culinary education in Mexico City and the evolution of home cooking during the pandemic, inspired by social media. The chat also touches on exciting culinary trends, including hidden gems like a new Cantonese restaurant in NYC and the upsurge of outdoor cooking. With personal anecdotes, Ellen infuses humor and practicality into her relatable culinary adventures.
Ellen Marie Bennett highlights the evolution of aprons from flimsy materials to durable, chef-focused designs essential for professional kitchens.
Her culinary journey in Mexico City deeply influences the authenticity and traditional techniques reflected in the products at Hedley & Bennett.
The podcast discusses the shift towards embracing cultural diversity in the culinary world, allowing chefs to showcase their heritage through food.
Deep dives
Elevating Kitchen Gear
The episode discusses the evolution of kitchen gear, particularly focusing on the quality improvements in aprons since their inception. Previously, aprons were often made from flimsy materials that posed safety hazards in the kitchen. The founder of Headley & Bennett emphasizes the need for durable, well-designed aprons that cater to the needs of chefs, leading to an evolution in professional kitchen attire. This focus on quality and functionality has helped the brand become a favorite among top restaurants worldwide.
Culinary Journey in Mexico City
The podcast highlights the founder's culinary journey, including her experience at culinary school in Mexico City, where classes were conducted in Spanish. This unique educational background allowed her to learn hands-on cooking techniques and traditional Mexican recipes from local chefs. Her time in fondas, traditional food stalls, played a significant role in shaping her culinary style and understanding of authentic flavors. This deep connection to her heritage greatly influences her current work and recipes at Headley & Bennett.
Changing Food Culture
A discussion on how the food and restaurant industry has transformed over the years reflects a shift toward cultural authenticity and inclusivity. The founder notes that early in her career, the culinary world focused heavily on high-end, Michelin-starred cuisine, often disregarding cultural diversity. In recent years, chefs and home cooks alike have embraced their heritage, showcasing traditional recipes and cultural techniques rather than trying to blend them with other cuisines. This growing celebration of diverse culinary backgrounds has inspired many, allowing for a richer food culture.
Collaborations and Product Expansion
The founder reflects on the expansion of Headley & Bennett beyond aprons into various kitchen products, driven by customer demand. After years of perfecting their aprons, they sought feedback from chefs to create high-quality knives and cookware, ensuring that each new item met the same standards. This grassroots approach allowed the team to deeply understand functionality and design based on professional needs. Collaborations with other brands, like Crocs and Vans, further helped integrate their products into the broader culinary community.
Kitchen Glow Up Show
The founder is excited about her new show, which focuses on renovating home kitchens to be more functional and chef-friendly. This initiative aims to inspire confidence in home cooks by transforming their cooking spaces into efficient and aesthetically pleasing environments. The renovations not only improve practicality but evoke emotional responses from homeowners, often leading to heartfelt moments during the process. The show's engaging format blends practical tips and personal stories, highlighting the importance of a kitchen as a central space for creativity and family bonding.
Ellen Marie Bennett is the founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, a beloved apron and kitchen gear company that’s found in top restaurants around the world. She’s also a chef and the host of Kitchen Glow Up, a new kitchen renovation show from Tastemade. It’s so fun to have Ellen on the show to talk about Hedley & Bennett’s evolution, the CPG cookware boom, her proudest kitchen renovations, and more.
Also on the show it’s the return of three things where Aliza and Matt discuss exciting food and drink on their radars. These include: Paola Velez’s plantain sticky buns are at all Nordstrom Cafes, Hebel & Co. is doing great halva, rejoice because Mariscos El Submarino is now open in Greenpoint, Just Salad wraps are actually good, Jake’s Gouda is now doing a new cheddar called Moo Echo, YAO in FiDi is a hidden Cantonese gem, and some thoughts on the passing of Justin Chearno.
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