Today we’d like to introduce you to Kailah Moseley Orr.
Hi Kailah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Savor Spice Co. began as a small bakery and brunch cafe in Henderson, Nevada in 2019. We were just beginning to make our mark as a black woman-owned and ran business when Covid-19 hit. Although we were planning to move and expand, we decided as a whole to shut down for the safety of our patrons and workers. We continued with a few catering and baking gigs before realizing it would be a long time before everything returned to normal. I returned to teaching (Middle School ELA) but I really missed the cafe and its patrons in addition to my own friends and family. I complained to my friends that everything felt so overwhelmingly distant and we agreed to make time to chat about food and where the restaurant could go. Eventually, this turned into virtual cooking nights and lessons with my friends and family. I realized that it would be so cool to recreate the dishes from the cafe but not everyone had what I used on hand. I set out to make small-batch products for my friends and family and a few patrons who missed the cafe. This was the pivot I needed. Using a lot of fresh produce (which wasn’t in high demand at the start of the pandemic) I was able to recreate mostly everything we used at the cafe from the spice rubs we used on our roasted pork for bennies to the spiced sugars we used to create larger than life cinnamon rolls, Savor Spice Co. was born!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Business closures, social distancing and the pandemic has put a strain on various parts of our operation but the community we serve and people who support us have really made a positive impact. Prior to the pandemic, much like most small businesses, we struggled with securing long-term capital and investments. A lot of the funding for our first brick and mortar establishment came from friends, family and personal funds. Almost every dollar we earn now is put right back into our business to keep it afloat during these weird times.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a chef and spice curator and I also teach middle and high school English and History. I started cooking and prepping at the young age of 6 with my great grandmother and it has always been my favorite creative outlet. I have been creating in the culinary world for over ten years working my way through various positions before launching my own ventures. I run/have run multiple food businesses including: Soul Roll (organic baby food), Batter (bakery and brunch cafe) and Savor Spice Co. (spice blends). I specialize in Southern Cookery with an emphasis on Cajun and Creole flavors. I currently curate all-purpose spice blends that help cooks blur the lines between dining out and dining at home. My intention is to allow people to bring a piece of my heritage and food history into their homes. I am most proud of my contributions to the culinary world as a black woman who cooks traditional Soul Food. I am proud of my ability to show up and make space for myself and others who look and cook like me but have not always been heard in conversations regarding traditional food history. Although my experiences are my personal and nuanced, I know that I am apart of a collective group of black women with a wealth of knowledge regarding food and history. Belonging to community is what sets me apart.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Please support your local/small black-owned businesses. Engage. Explore. Create. Define.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@savorspiceco.com
- Website: www.savorspiceco.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/savorspiceco
- Facebook: facebook.com/savorspiceco
Image Credits:
Orr Restaurant Group, LLC
