Today we’d like to introduce you to Lowen Millspaugh.
Hi Lowen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, my fabulous gourmet cook of a mother was always entertaining – hosting dinner parties and happy hours. Food has always been a love language in my family. We love a cheese and charcuterie spread. I had the privilege of travelling to Europe every summer when I was young, where we would feast on proscuitto and melon, cornichons, pate and stinky cheese. After college I worked at The Merc Coop for 15 years – a natural and specialty foods store in Lawrence – where I was surrounded by good food. I could walk over to the cheese case and grab whatever cheese I was feeling like that day for an afternoon snack. I caught the entertaining bug from my parents and love having friends over for drinks and snacks. In 2019 a friend mentioned that I should start charging for my snack plates. My first customer was in the fall of 2019 – I look back at the photo of that first platter and realize that I’ve come a long way. When the pandemic hit and people couldn’t go out to eat, my business really took off. I deliver in and around Lawrence and I could just porch drop safely. I’ve been in business for 7 years now and I’m really proud of what I’ve created. I do everything myself – the planning, shopping, prepping, preparing, delivering, bookkeeping. This is a one woman show! I am so very grateful for all the support that my community has continued to give me. I love my clients – I also love delivering to neighborhoods that I don’t normally drive through and see peoples amazing homes and meet their sweet pets. It’s fun to catch a little glimpse into people’s lives and be a part of whatever they are celebrating, whether it’s an engagement, birthday or just a snack hang out with friends.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been pretty smooth honestly. As I’ve continued to grow, I’ve had to make changes but I’m pretty adaptable. I hate saying no to people and want them to get what they want, so in some cases I’ve bit off more than I can chew but I always make it work!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in artfully presented charcuterie and cheese boards. All Rad Platters are made to order using the freshest and most in-season produce and ingredients. Rad Platters will add to your table a pop of color, a fun tasting experience and a conversation piece. Platters are balanced and bountiful and will leave guests remembering your special event.
I am pleasantly surprised how much trust people have in my creations. I’d say 98% of the time my clients don’t even ask what’s going to be on a platter or even have requests. They just order a size and I put my creative spin on it and deliver it. It’s that easy. Maybe that’s a reason people like it so much – they don’t have to make any decisions.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was very spunky, very outgoing. I was in choir, theatre, dance, piano lessons. I’m an extrovert so I love being around people, I love being in the mix. I wanted to be a rock star when I was little and I also wanted to work at Whole Foods. I loved the funky people that worked there and how the store smelled and all the interesting food. Little did I know that I would make a career out of working at a natural foods store when I grew up. The Merc was a fabulous place for me to work. I really got to know my community and I think the relationships that I built there have been a big part of why my business has been so successful.
Pricing:
- small Rad Platter without meat $70/with meat $75
- large Rad Platter without meat $120/ with meat $130
- Veggie platter with dips $65/$90
- Fruit platter $65/$90
- Grazing table $12 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.radplatter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radplatter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radplatter/
