Montecito Moms: Sophie McNally
Sophie McNally, a visionary entrepreneur and owner of the company Kitchenette, is changing the way people interact with food through innovative technology. And she is doing it right here in Montecito!
“We moved to Montecito during Covid. During that time, we were so worried about the virus and I didn’t trust going out to eat, so we were cooking all our meals at home, three times a day. I found that it was good but also exhausting! So, I started thinking about how I could make meals and freeze them to save myself time,” McNally said.
With two young daughters (Olive, 4, and Maya, 2), and her husband, Adam, McNally began to work on recipes that could work for everyone in her family: “I wanted something that was tasty for grownups, but simple enough for kids.”
It should not be a huge surprise that McNally, whose parents are restaurateurs in New York City, was drawn to making good food for her family. McNally’s vision centers around bridging the gap between traditional cooking methods and modern, time-constrained lifestyles. The result is a culinary experience that is not only efficient but also immersive and enriching.
She started with four basic options: harvest lasagna with cheese and butternut squash; build-your-own burrito bowl with chicken in a light tomato sauce, guacamole, and roasted bell peppers; Santa Maria-style BBQ chicken and corn succotash; and turkey meatballs with spaghetti squash. Nothing too fancy… just hearty, healthy meals.
And easy! McNally has set up a website where the customer picks the delivery date and food choices. She recommends ordering one to two meals a week and then keep them in your freezer for those days you are in a pinch: “We want to give families options for those weekday nights when you are rushing around with kids and activities and just want to come home and have a delicious meal. Our costs break down to about $12 per serving.”
McNally’s story is a testament to the power of combining passion, innovation, and determination to create positive change. Through Kitchenette, she has proven that technology can enhance and elevate age-old traditions, bridging the gap between the past and the future of cooking.
“Now, we are branching out and offering other choices and side dishes to complement the main meals. But our primary focus has just been to offer an alternative to the age-old question: What’s for dinner? Instead of calling for delivery, you just need to open your freezer and stick your Kitchenette meal in the oven!”
McNally uses special “flash freezing” technology so that the meals are always fresh. “People associate frozen food with the TV dinners from the 1950s. Even today, what you typically find in the freezer section is either low quality or low flavor. We are changing that stereotype.”
McNally’s business launched this spring and delivers to the Montecito/Santa Barbara area. “We currently make all our meals in a commercial kitchen in Camarillo, but we are hoping to move into a commercial kitchen in Goleta this fall, which will help with our operational expenses.”
As for her family’s “temporary” move to Montecito during Covid? “We are definitely here to stay! We love the beach, hiking in the mountains, and of course, eating at local restaurants like Bettina, Loquita, and Merci.”
To check out Kitchenette’s food offerings, go to: www.getkitchenette.com.
