Conversations with Kara Mickelson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Mickelson. 

Hi Kara, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I think it all started with an Easy Bake Oven. I am a creator at heart, even from a young age. Whether in the kitchen combining ingredients for a new recipe or in my garage staring at stuff and thinking this could be useful. It’s how my mind is wired. As a content creator, my day-to-day work life is varied. 

I might be in the kitchen creating recipes, helping clients with their brand identity and visual assets, or producing a story idea for a video, digital, or print publication. I like the process of researching and creating. It keeps things exciting and never dull. I suppose you could call me a multi-passionate solopreneur. 

I graduated from UCLA and Le Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts and created Styled Delicious, a boutique culinary brand. I worked as an event and incentive planner before trading my corporate power suits for culinary school chef jackets and checked pants. 

Over the years, I have produced videos, developed recipes, styled food for the camera, written food and lifestyle features, appeared on a few culinary shows, and published a cookbook. My work-life role is constantly evolving. 

I wrote my first branded cookbook in 2021, with Insight Editions, based on the Central Perk Cafe in the Friends series. It was a way to use my skills as a writer, creator, and chef/recipe developer to support a famous brand. Creating recipes that would tie back to characters and critical moments in the show was a lot of work yet also fun. The project led to additional work. Recently, I helped a chef develop their own cookbook outline and created recipes for a client’s cookie brand. 

Whether working on my own or collaborating with others, it’s all about creating something new, interesting, unique, and exciting. Seeing ideas come to life is very satisfying to my soul. Truthfully, a creative career can be messy and chaotic. It’s about looking for new ways to connect the dots and stay afloat. I like to think of it as managed chaos, and if you have ever worked on a professional food styling shoot, planned a large event, or written a cookbook, you would know exactly what I am talking about. 

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?
So, while I don’t have a blueprint for how to live a creative (out of the box) stress-free life, I know it’s more complex than following your passion. Everybody has a different path. However, for most people, resources will be the number one issue. Do you have enough time, bandwidth or money to make it? Next, you must capitalize on your strengths and find a way to overcome obstacles and weaknesses. Nobody is great at everything. However, when we offer our best to the universe and truly value what we offer, providence kicks in, and doors start to open. That’s been my experience. You can call it luck, persistence, being smart, clever, or perhaps all of the above. However, you need to stick around for the wins, and that takes some grit. 

Often, it’s about who can stay in the game the longest. And your version of success keeps evolving as you grow and take on whatever is in your way. I had the benefit of a lot of crossover skills right out of culinary school. I chose a unique culinary career path, leveraged my professional background and skills, and kept looking forward even when it seemed challenging. I’m grateful that I didn’t give up, although I made a lot of course corrections along the way. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a classically trained chef, food stylist, recipe developer, and producer specializing in food & lifestyle content. My corporate event planning background helped create a foundation for my creative pursuits. I’m known for making food brands look good, creating delicious recipes, and producing engaging content. I’m good at creating content that tells a story, even if there aren’t any words. You don’t have to say “delicious” if everything looks delicious! It’s all in the details and helps to have strong visual skills and an artist’s sensibility. 

I didn’t have a straight path to where I am now, although my passions are more aligned these days. Let’s say I am a bit of a dabbler. I have a lot of interests and hobbies. Perhaps that is the creative part, a restless feeling pushing and pulling me forward and sometimes frustratingly backward. Creativity is another way to see the world; for me, it’s always essential to be intellectually curious. It’s not factory work, and there isn’t a formula for success. Every day you have a new client or project is a win. 

I’m happiest when creating and learning, whether developing recipes, writing, painting, traveling, taking photos, or simply looking at things differently. I’m incredibly proud of my editorial contributions, and I appreciate my clients who value my creativity and feel very fortunate in all my creative pursuits. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.styleddelicious.com
• Instagram: @styleddelicious
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kara.mickelson
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/styleddelicious
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4NpXQiWQN7EA9TfphLCqVQ

Image Credits
Shane O’Donnell
Kara Mickelson
Southbay Magazine
MoonTide Media