Who They Are:
With more than 15 years of experience in the world of food and restaurants, both as a chef and in management, Mike Lund is using his extensive knowledge and skills to promote high-quality local foods. Mike Lund Food offers catering service and prepared foods using locally sourced ingredients, as well as cooking instruction on-site at his kitchen on Central Avenue in Staunton or in clients’ homes and businesses. The business, Mike explains, “was created out of my love for all things food and, further, my passion in teaching others how easy it really can be to create restaurant-style food at home.”

Entrepreneurial Philosophy:
Mike describes his philosophy in business as being “similar to the way I run my household: frugal but not at the expense of quality,” and with a dedication to foods that are sustainable and enjoyable. He keeps a close connection to the food he both eats and prepares — growing food on his tenth of an acre in Staunton and composting food waste from his kitchen, Zynodoa restaurant, and other businesses. He wants to give other “locavores” in the area an opportunity to share his passion and experiences firsthand, be it in their own homes, at a local eatery, or during one of his cooking classes. We have all eaten meals, Mike adds, that are clearly not created with lots of love, interest, and quality ingredients. Mike Lund Food aims to offer something very different, based on “respect for the food, where it comes from, knowing who produces it, and doing the food its just due.”

How did you get here?
After many years in the restaurant industry, including working as the chef at Zynodoa and some of the most notable restaurants in the world, Mike Lund left to be a father. But one day he had a revelation, which led him to create Mike Lund Food. He has been honing his teaching skills over the past year as an adjunct instructor at Stratford University outside of Washington, D.C., as well as teaching cooking classes at the Charlottesville Cooking School, Wade’s Mill, and several wineries in Northern Virginia. “I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for and meeting countless celebrity chefs, dignitaries, politicians, athletes, and Hollywood stars,” Mike says. “I now plan on building my fortunate experiences into my own successful business,” right here in his “adopted” home of Staunton.

Meet them:
300 N. Central Avenue
Staunton, VA 24401
www.mikelundfood.com
Facebook: Mike Lund Food