I am happy to present to you our fifth local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Terped Out Kitchen.
Our recent Lake County business featured was Sabrina Andrus, owner of A + H General Store and maker., who chose to Pay it Forward to Kyle Karlsson, owner of Terped Out Kitchen.
The catch is that I will not choose the next business to interview, but the current spotlighted business will choose who I will interview next. Local businesses will Pay it Forward.
Terped Out Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind food truck offering fresh tortillas and some of the best tacos in Lake and Mendocino County (recently winning the SILVER AWARD for The Best of Lake and Mendocino County). Kyle’s mobile food truck is located at the Robinson Rancheria Casino parking lot; going mobile to special events throughout Lake County. Kyle offers everything from award-winning tacos to burritos and so much more!
1. What advice would you give to someone just starting their own business?
As an entrepreneur, the biggest advice I can give is, Just start the business! Obviously, have some idea of what you want to do, write up a business plan, give yourself a time frame to accomplish it all, and absorb as much knowledge along the way as you can. Don’t go into business thinking you know everything, it will put you under faster than you started up.
2. What routines do you follow each day?
My daily routine start at 6 am, start with prep for the day. After prep is finished, I start my rice for the day. We then fire up our grills to start cooking at 10 am and open up the trailer at 11 am.
3. How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
Our business is set apart from any other business because of the quality of food we provide. We source our produce, tortillas, USDA PRIME STEAK , and chicken all locally out of Lake County. The cream sauces we offer are out of this world that you can’t get anywhere else but Terped Out Kitchen, especially our Roasty Ghosty (roasted garlic ghost pepper sauce). The vibe we bring as a business is very open and friendly; we make sure our customers walk away feeling appreciated and loved.
4. What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
The hardest part of being an entrepreneur would have to be to not give up, it’s so easy to fall in a comfort zone and stay there. (For me at least) And there will be days where you just want to throw in the towel. But always remember why you started and the outcome of everything will be so much more rewarding. People will talk down on your business, other businesses will try their hardest to keep you down, but I use that as motivation to keep on pushing.
5. What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
My favorite part about being an entrepreneur would be seeing the joy our food brings people. It means the world to me to see people order food, walk away and try it, then come back saying, “Oh my god, best tacos I’ve ever had in my life”
6. What have been some of your biggest learning experiences in running a business?
My biggest lesson learned over the past two years of being in business would have to be; not every day will things go as smoothly or as planned. There is always a solution to any situation, good or bad.
7. If you could spend the day with anyone (living or not) who would it be and why?
If I could spend the day with anyone, it would be my grandma Helga. She’s influenced me so much when it came to cooking and life in general. She is such a strong woman and would always stand for what’s right. I would want to spend the day with her talking about her past and upbringing into this world.
She’s an immigrant from Iceland and traveled with my dad, auntie and uncle all around the world and somehow ended up in small ole Lake County.
Kyle Karlsson
(707)245-9192
Instagram: TerpedOutKitchen
Facebook: TerpedOutKitchen
Address:
1545 State Hwy 20, Nice, CA 95464 (parking lot of casino)
Hours of operation 11 am-5 pm (or sell out)
Times will be extended once summertime comes around.
Kyle has recommended Sky Shop (auto collision repair shop)
Stay tuned for Sky Shop!
