What's the most popular item on the menu? And what is your favorite? What makes everything unique?
Rose: The most popular items on the menu are Llapingachos (Ecuador), Black Hash (Russia) or Buttermilk Soup (Nordic). My favorite item is the Llapingachos.I grew up eating these Ecuadorian cheese stuffed potato pancakes on weekends while in Quito, Ecuador. From the mashing of the potatoes to the sizzle of butter in the pan, it is all sense memory for me. At Red Bread we serve it with some of our house cured collar bacon. What makes Red Bread unique is our commitment to building our own pantry from only local organic California Farms. There isn't a jar or bottle opened in Red Bread we haven't made from the ground up, mustards, dressings, sodas, jams, etc. These are the building blocks we use to make our food great.
Lauren: My fave items at RED BREAD... dear, how to pick?! If I'm feeling something savory for lunch, the meatloaf sand which is off the hook. And this is coming from a sometimes vegan so that's saying something! For breakfast the fried eggs on her home made biscuits and house cured bacon make you feel like its 1943 and you could have a whole day of farm work ahead of you and you'd be just fine. Not sure why that makes sense but it does. And then of course there's the cracked cookies. Name says it all.
How often do you come in to the Red Bread? Was it difficult starting out? As we understand how hard it is just starting any type of business.
Rose: I am in Red Bread every day. There are so many components in running a business, especially food. Even having started many businesses in my time as a lawyer, Red Bread was a tremendous learning experience because we wanted to do something so different. Not only in our food but our corporate structure. We were committed to giving back to our community through a donation to fight hunger with every sale. Thankfully, so much of what we were trying to accomplish resonated with the Los Angeles community.
Lauren: I try to come in at least once a week. Me and my family usually head there for breakfast Sunday mornings before we hit the farmers market. Best church ever. I've also taken Rose's yeast class and bread making class. But I have a LOT more to learn.
Lauren, how do you balance being an actor, mother and Red Bread partner...etc ?
Lauren: As for balance... It's not something I think much about. I really enjoy all aspects of each of those things and just let my instincts prioritize.
Rose, what's the one greatest piece of advice you received for being an entrepreneur?
Rose: Pay attention. Stay flexible. Don't give up. I think this is great advice for life, and I try to keep it in mind. As an entrepreneur starting out new information comes at your constantly, unless you are paying attention and listening you'll miss it. Unless you remain flexible, you won't be able to adjust. You won't be able to redirect to something greater. So often it's the unexpected which can profoundly change and move your idea forward. Once you get momentum a lot of naysayers will come out of the woodwork, don't give up.
Photography // Jessica Castro