Port People: Meet Chef Nick and Meghann, Co-Owners of Kitchen to Aisle
In just three years of being in business, Kitchen to Aisle Catering + Events is already making waves in the industry with a shiny new Best of North Shore Magazine 2020 Readers Choice Award for Best Rehearsal Dinner. The Chamber interviewed experienced co-owners North Shore Executive Chef Nicholas Peters Bond and Director of Events Meghann Basque to learn more about their creative cuisine and event planning backgrounds.
Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how + when you started Kitchen to Aisle Catering and Events.
A: Both Nick and I have been working in restaurants and event venues since we were 15 years old. From hostessing, serving, bartending, managing 200 person weddings to being a line cook, washing dishes, a restaurant FOH manager, and an Executive Chef, we have done it all! I went to college for business and event management, and Nick studied culinary and hospitality. We both met at a restaurant in Newburyport where I worked as an Event Coordinator for years. Nick and his husband got married there in 2016 and from that point on we hit it off as great friends. In the late summer of 2017, Nick was catering a backyard wedding on his own and he had asked me if I would help out and bartend. After that wedding we realized we worked so well together and decided to team up and start brainstorming ideas to start our very own company!
Q: What is unique about your catering service that is different than other services?
A: We believe that we are unique in the way that our menus are fully customizable. We personalize each menu and event to the client’s wants and needs. We also offer day of coordination services so our clients do not have to worry about anything other than enjoying their event!
Q: Who is your ideal client? Do your services meet the needs of a specific market?
A: We cater and plan events ranging from a small cocktail party in someone’s kitchen, to helping a couple walk down the aisle for their big wedding day. We do not necessarily have an ideal client but someone that is willing to have fun with their event and get creative is always a plus!
Q: What is your favorite part about being a business owner?
A: Although it can be very stressful at times, we absolutely love being business owners. It is so fun to be creative, be our own boss, and have somewhat of a flexible schedule. We both have never been (and probably never will be) the Monday-Friday 9-5 type, so we enjoy having something new and exciting to wake up to everyday!
Q: What is the most interesting aspect about your business that many people might not know?
A: What some people may not know is how close Nick and I are not only as business partners but as good friends. We are in constant communication all day everyday interacting about all of our clients, events, and fun ideas we have for the future!
Q: Do you have a success story that you’d like to share with the membership?
A: We recently won Best of North Shore Magazine 2020 Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Rehearsal Dinner. To only be going into our third year of business in 2020, we are so proud to be already making waves in the industry.
Q: What advice would you give to a young aspiring entrepreneur?
A: To not overthink and go for your dreams! It was super scary for us when we first started out and really still is to this day however, you have to take risks in life in order to make your dreams and goals come true! We asked a lot of questions and tried to get as much help as possible. Having great family, friends, and people within the industry to rely on is huge!
Q: Are you from Newburyport or the surrounding area originally?
A: I grew up in Amesbury, MA, I’ve always loved Newburyport and the area we live in. Nick was born and raised in Stoneham, MA. With both of us being pretty local, we are super fortunate to now be owning a business in such a supportive community.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Newburyport?
A: We both LOVE to eat! We love to try out new restaurants within town and really enjoy having some of our work meetings along the waterfront in Newburyport.
Q: What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
A: Our very own Chef Nick has been on Hell’s Kitchen on FOX twice! He placed Top 5 on Season 14 and then was a Finalist on Season 17 which was the All-Star Season. His newest accomplishment is he will appear on Food Network’s Chopped Sweets in just a few weeks! Tune in on Monday, March 30th at 10pm to watch. As a company we are both proud of how far we have come since starting out in 2018. At Just 27 and 28 years old we started a successful and fun company and are both so proud of what we have accomplished at such a young age.
Q: Besides owning a business, how else are you involved in the community?
A: We love doing local pop ups at breweries in Amesbury and Newburyport. We also have catered for local organizations such as the Amesbury Carriage Museum, numerous events for The Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, and one of our biggest accomplishments was catering Amesbury’s Mayor Gove’s Inauguration! We have also participated in Anna Jacques Hospital Great Chef’s Night and are looking forward to getting involved in many Newburyport Chamber of Commerce events!
Q: What are the business’ goals for the future?
A: Going into our third official year of business, we have many goals for the future. Our dream and end goal is to own our very own event space someday! We want a new and modern space where clients can host any type of event and be able to offer onsite catering at the venue. For now, we are going to keep working hard everyday and enjoy this amazing opportunity life has given us!