Business Of The Week: Shared Spoon

Bring your own ingredients, favorite recipes, family or friends and cook your heart out at the fully equipped commercial culinary kitchen, Shared Spoon.

Shared Spoon recently opened in December 2010 and is the only licensed, fully equipped commercial kitchen in Suisun, said Melody Griffin, employee and sister of Shared Spoon owner Jody Anselmo. 

The 800-square-foot kitchen includes a 10-burner gas range with dual ovens, a full size convection oven, three-door reach in refrigerator, two-door reach in freezer, 20 quart mixer, a five quart mixer, immersion blenders, commercial food processors, a three compartment sink, a separate food preparation sink, whisks, ladles, spatulas and other tools; pots, pans, bowls and additional prepping containers are also available, according to Shared Spoon’s website. Shared Spoon also has an additional 400 square feet that can serve as a dining area.

“Just bring all of your own stuff and you’re free to use all of the equipment,” Griffin said. “We provide as much as we can so that all you need to bring are your ingredients.”

The kitchen is available for rental every day and can be rented out by the hour with a three hour minimum. The price varies depending whether the kitchen is rented during peak hours or non-peak hours.  A peak hour rental can cost the renter $30 per hour, Griffin said.

Shared Spoon is used for many different purposes; cooking classes, team building events and for people who are interested in selling their “homemade” edibles, Anselmo explained.  

“I have a woman who rents out the kitchen and makes these tiny batches of to die for caramel and I tell myself wonderful it is now that she can actually sell her caramel,” Anselmo said.

A typical day at Shared Spoon is a “crazy day,” according to Griffin. Every Wednesday Depot Dinners are made and include a deep dish casserole, salad or vegetables and a sweet treat for dessert, Anselmo said. The Depot Dinners can be ordered by phone or via online and are packed and ready to go at the preferred pick up time.  

Almost every Friday a cooking class is scheduled and depending on the dish, the classes fill up quickly, Anselmo said.

“Typically each cooking class has an ethnic spin or focuses on a cultural meal, but each class guarantees a take-home meal for the family as well as some knowledge about the meal they just prepared,” Anselmo said. "Experimenting with food when you cook just brings a whole different aspect to eating. Being able to bring dinner home for the entire family allows everyone to sit together and enjoy a meal together. Food just brings people together."

Shared Spoon also offers cooking classes for kids, which are very hands on and fool-proof, Anselmo said. All of the meals prepared during the cooking classes are made from scratch so that each cook gets the full cooking experience.

Karen Murray teaches many of the classes at Shared Spoon and absolutely loves helping out in the kitchen whenever she is needed. Murray was once a personal chef and enjoys brining her knowledge of different cuisine to Shared Spoon, she said.

“I love to cook and I love teaching people how to cook,” Murray said. “I’ve been interested in cooking since I was a child. I went to culinary school and pretty much just deal with all things food.”

Anselmo has plans of expanding Shared Spoon and would like to have a total of three fully equipped kitchens. Shared Spoon will soon undergo a façade change as soon as Anselmo receives the city’s approval.

Shared Spoon is located at 301-C Main St. right next door to the