928: Katie Dixon Head Chef/Owner Birdhouse Cafe

Chef Katie Dixon is the Head Chef and owner at Birdhouse Cafe in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. When she was a kid, Katie was served "love on a plate" by her grandmother at large family gatherings where food was always the center of the proceedings. When she got older, she studied marketing and business in college. In 2015, Katie started Shine Cafe, a small health-conscious pop-up operating out of a Vitamin Shoppe. There she focused on meal prep and making sweet treats healthier. Today there are four Shine Cafe locations. In 2016 she was a contestant on Master Chef with Gordon Ramsey. Upon returning to Mississippi, she created Birdhouse Cafe. In 2017 she competed in The Next Food Network Star and finished in the top 5. She again returned and created Birdie's in Jackson, Mississippi. She has since taken on catering, in addition to teaching cooking classes. She has also just released her first book, titled Be Nourished: From My Heart To Your Table.

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Favorite successes quote or mantra:

• "The wind is against the plane when it flies."

In this episode with Katie Dixon we will discuss:

• Being "scrappy" in this industry
• Meeting the needs of the customer
• Stay true to yourself
• The importance of travel
• Meal prep programs
• Being on Master Chef
• Keep it simple
• Mentors
• Meal prep best practices
• Catering
• Cooking classes

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Gratitude
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Saying yes to everything
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • A huge heart to see people succeed
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Spreading myself too thin
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Always see the best in others
   • Make people feel better when they leave than when they arrived
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • We employ people from the ARC - special needs adults
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • The Art of Living by Epictetus
   • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Zoom call every day between all locations
9. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Forget to slow down and reset
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Don't take anyone or anything for granted
    • Smile every day and remember the little things
    • Enjoy each day as if it's your last

Contact:

Instagram: @chefkatiedixon

Website: https://www.chefkatiedixon.net/

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Katie Dixon for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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