Meet Emily McMurray of Gourmet-ish Catering

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily McMurray.

Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve spent most of my entire life in the Kansas City metro area. After graduating from Kansas State University, I worked as a probation and parole officer for seven years. In 2010, I took a leap of faith and moved to Long Island, New York—for love. It was there that I first discovered my passion for cooking, inspired by my (now) husband. I enjoyed coming up with creative, delicious meals that would impress him.

In 2013, we returned to Kansas City, which we’ve proudly called home ever since. After 16 years together, I still love cooking for him—though I’ve definitely spoiled him by now!

In 2018, I casually shared a photo of our dog, Champ, lying on a cookbook while I was making my grocery list. A friend jokingly mentioned that she’d love some help with her meals—and I decided to give it a try. That moment sparked an idea, and I began offering weekend meal prep for a small group of friends. Over time, what began as a side hobby organically evolved into Gourmet-ish, a growing catering company.

I always knew I wanted to pursue something that truly made my heart happy. Once I experienced the joy of cooking for others and saw how much they appreciated it, I realized this was what I was meant to do. Recently, I took another leap of faith and left my full-time position at a law firm—after 13 years—to focus on building my business full-time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I knew I couldn’t take Gourmet-ish to the next level while cooking out of my home kitchen. From my research, I understood there were several regulatory hurdles to overcome just to become licensed. At times, the process felt overwhelming, and there were moments when I put Gourmet-ish on the back burner (pun intended!).

But in 2022, I heard that a brand-new Mid-Continent Public Library was being built nearby—and it would include a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen available for rent by small businesses, opening in the summer of 2023. It felt like the sign I had been waiting for. I reached out to the library’s kitchen team, who were incredibly helpful and walked me through every step of the process.

By summer 2023, I had all my paperwork in order, with only one task left: submitting my health department application. With a pep in my step, I headed to the health department—only to be told that just that morning, they had informed the library kitchen that all catering businesses would now be required to use a commercial vehicle for food transport. The supervisor even mentioned that if I had come in just one day earlier, I would have been grandfathered in. I was devastated!

Not knowing how to move forward, I stepped away for a few months to regroup. Eventually, I realized that if I truly wanted Gourmet-ish to be legitimate and sustainable, I needed to invest in a proper vehicle. In spring 2024, I was finally able to purchase a van—her name is Sous (of course!). And in March 2024, everything officially came together. Since then, Gourmet-ish has been growing steadily—and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

I have plenty of other challenges, but I’ll leave it at this! 🙂

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gourmet-ish Catering?
At Gourmet-ish, we specialize in high-quality catering and private chef services, tailored to a wide range of events—from weddings and special celebrations to corporate lunches, board meetings, and everything in between. Whatever the occasion, our goal is to make it memorable and, most importantly, delicious.

I like to describe myself as a self-proclaimed foodie. I have a deep love for fresh, flavorful food, and my mission is to share that same joy with my clients. Every dish I create is made with intention and care, and I strive to provide a personalized, thoughtful experience from start to finish.

Warmth and hospitality are at the heart of everything I do. I genuinely love connecting with people, and I believe that friendliness and attention to detail go a long way—especially when it comes to weddings. I’m always honored when couples trust Gourmet-ish to be part of one of the most meaningful days of their lives. That trust motivates me to make their catering experience as seamless and stress-free as possible, so they can focus on enjoying every moment.

Some fan favorites include our tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese croutons, rich three-cheese baked mac and cheese, beef bourguignon topped with crispy fried shallots, and—surprisingly—our roasted broccoli with garlic butter.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on this journey is: don’t be afraid to ask for help. In the beginning, even the thought of it made me cringe—I worried I was burdening my friends and family. But as Gourmet-ish grew, especially with the increasing number of weddings and events, I realized I simply couldn’t do it all on my own.

Over time, I’ve built a small but mighty crew of people who are not only willing to help, but genuinely excited to be part of this with me. And you know what? It’s made my life so much easier—what a game changer!

Pricing:

• My pricing really depends on the type of service

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gourmet-ishkc.com/
• Instagram: Gourmet.ishfood
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Zxfqg3mgj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
Tomato soup shooters and cajun chicken pasta photographed by D. Woods Photo.