Meet Kevin Kistner | Executive Sous Chef and CEO of TasteInfusion.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Kistner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is an essential part of living- without risks we stay in our comfort zone and there is no growth or development there. Taking the risk to start my business was daunting, being that I was investing 100% of my own savings and the food industry is quite fickle. There is the thought of “what if I fail?” However, that’s when I have to remind myself of the reason I started in the first place and focus more on the “what if it’s a success?”

I believe that if we stop taking risks- that’s when our passion and motivation die and we stop living. Taking a risk was what led me here to the states to work as a line cook; taking risks was what propelled me to the role of Executive Sous Chef at one of the primer country clubs in Stuart Florida.Taking a risk drove me to start TasteInfusion.

My passion for food and providing quality products /services has not subsided since the day I started and so, I will continue to take risks to grow my business, and live my passion.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a chef. My passion was nurtured by my mother who sometimes would task me to prepare meals and then give me her sometimes too honest feedback. I also learnt from observing her and my aunts in the kitchen. They ignited the spark that led me to study culinary arts in high school. While attending school full time, I worked part time as as a prep cook. I worked my way up through the ranks to my current role as executive  sous chef. The journey to this point in my career has not been easy, I grew up poor and often struggled to attend school. It was through sheer will, passion and belief in myself that I kept going. It is this same drive and passion that motivated me to start producing my own line of branded products- knife sets and chef/culinary student bags. The TasteInfusion brand is fairly new and product sales are not where I would love them to be but I believe in our products. Afterall, they were designed and created by a chef, with chefs in mind. I hope that as more and more people learn about us and the products and services which we offer, the brand will grow. However, in the meantime, I will remain steadfast and keep putting my shoulder to the wheel because no empire was built over night. I have learnt that success takes grit, determination, passion and hard work. There is no quitting when things don’t go your way. You have to regroup and start again, remembering the reason you started in the first place. TasteInfusion may be a small brand, however we are not small in our commitment to providing the best quality products and services for our customers. This has set us apart from our competitors.

I hope that one day our products will become a staple in your homes and school life. Hence, if any culinary schools or chefs are searching for quality products, TasteInfusion should be your brand of choice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anyone who knows me knows I love to have a good time and sometimes I love to just relax. Some of my favorite places in West Palm Beach are RH Rooftop – good food and great ambiance; Spruzzo for the view and cocktails; Guanabanas for the casual atmosphere and great vibes and Clematis Street, downtown. It’s a lovely place for a nice stroll, food, music and a bit of the culture of West Palm. I believe going out to places gives me a wider perspective, and an opportunity to learn from others. These experiences allow me the chance to give my clients and customers top notch services.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well, the first person I’d like to send a shout out to is my sister Kennise Watson.The idea of coming up with my own company came to me one night after a long day at work. Amidst my planning, I came up with the name TasteInfusion. I called my sister to seek her opinion since I look up to her. To my relief, she gave me the green light.

My next shout out goes to my customers and clients who’ve been supporting me ever since I launched my first product. Your reviews and recommendations have a made a huge difference in my growth during this trying journey.

Website: TasteInfusion.net

Instagram: Tasteinfusion_chefkevin

Linkedin: Kevin Kistner

Facebook: Tasteinfusion LLC