Do you get bored with your same-old meals? Do you like to support local businesses? What if we told you that you can learn to cook new and exciting things and support our local farmers in one delicious dish?
This week, Union County husband/wife duo, Rob and Franki Clement, launched Piedmont's Bounty - a meal kit and virtual cooking class service that uses locally grown and farmed ingredients (including fruits, veggies and meats), to help you create something your whole family will love.
Here's how it works:
Once a recipe is selected and class scheduled, the team at Piedmont’s Bounty will reach out. Then there is a brief introduction and questionnaire to learn about any dietary restrictions or special requests. Next, Chef Rob gets to work building your box of locally sourced ingredients.
The beauty of this is that, while Piedmont’s Bounty is based here, classes are done from the comfort of your own home. Once your class is scheduled, the team at Piedmont’s Bounty collects your fresh ingredients and delivers them to your door the day of or day before your class. Then using online web-video platforms, Chef Rob talks you through cooking the dish and plating it, restaurant style. The video chat starts and in a little over an hour you have dinner. If only they could reach through the screen and do the dishes too!
Not Local to the Charlotte Area? No problem! Piedmont’s Bounty offers a grocery list version of their classes too. Or you could choose their Pantry Clean Out option where you spend some time with Chef Rob over video chat and then within 48 hours he sends you recipes using the ingredients you already have.
Classes are currently offered 5 days a week, with a wide range of time availability.
Who are Rob and Franki Clement?
Rob and Franki started Piedmont's Bounty in May 2020 when Rob had to take a leave of absence as an Executive Chef due to Covid-19. Rob, a trained chef of more than 20 years, he has done every job imaginable in the kitchen. This helps him to teach others as much as possible about cooking. From line cook to executive chef, Rob has worked in a variety of restaurants which helped to establish his long standing relationships with farmers and artisans.
Teaming up with his wife, Franki, was an easy decision. Franki had an impressive career in hospitality and sales - with a focus on event management and catering sales. Plus, she is one heck-of-a baker! Parents of an infant and a toddler, they needed to find a sustainable way to raise their children while supporting the family as well. They looked at what they both excelled at and decided a virtual cooking school made a lot of sense. The only question was, "how can we make this unique?" Rob wanted to figure out a way to support his friends who have helped him accelerate his career as a chef while bringing something new to the Charlotte market.
As a company, they seek to help spread the word about the amazing food our region produces, but more importantly the people who are behind the food. Along the way, Chef Rob will teach you some restaurant-level skills that will make you forget about those big name, national meal kits.
Piedmont’s Bounty will be donating 15% of their net proceeds to the Southeastern African American Farmers' Organic Network.
They believe that Southern Foodways would not be possible without the recognition of black Americans who built our food culture. We encourage you to visit their website and learn more about their cause!
Ready to sign up? CLICK HERE to get the most updated offerings!
