Meet Jason Dollenger of Chef Dolly in Lafayette

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Dollenger.

Jason, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started working in the kitchen beside my father in our family business in Baltimore when I was 12. I became comfortable with a knife and familiar with the ins and outs of the kitchen. Soon, I just naturally found myself thriving in the culinary world. I think I really enjoyed the fast pace of kitchen life back then. I was immersed in the culture of the kitchen which included the use of alcohol and drugs pretty heavily. After moving to Colorado, I spent eight years working in Boulder’s St. Julien Hotel as a Sous Chef. This position really helped me gain confidence and experience. I started taking on more responsibility and management positions. I also got sober off drugs and alcohol. After that, it was like a veil had lifted and it propelled me into really asking the question of what I wanted to do in this world. I left my job to take a risk and assisted in the opening of a Louisville restaurant, Bistro 4, where I was intricately involved in building the team and creating the menu. I loved it! And I felt my gift for creating functional kitchens from the bottom up. I went on to assist in the opening of Louisville’s Alfalfa’s Market. When you get sober, you’re propelled into a world of growth and there’s really no stopping it. I started to gain consciousness around what I was putting into my body and began to experience a shift around eating and feeling better. I sought out more education on how I could expand my culinary scope. It led me to become a Certified Vegan Chef.

Soon after, I realized I had to do my own thing. That’s when I started to pursue this passion project where my skill and creativity could be utilized. From the beginning, I had a vision of bringing more connection to the food I was cooking. Realizing that food is not only an amazing way to nourish and heal the body but increasingly it has become a political statement. As my awareness has grown around the agricultural industry and the health warnings involved in their farming practices, I’ve been inspired to bring education and awareness through the act of sharing my food. I now specifically work with locally sourced, nutrient-dense ingredients and get to create delicious meals from scratch as a way of bringing health and healing from the inside out. I know personally, the connection that our eating habits have on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s so great too because I now receive amazing feedback from clients who find they are inadvertently losing stubborn weight, feeling more energized and noticing they are generally feeling more content. This has become so amazing for me to witness how I can help change people’s lives and give them delicious food.

Has it been a smooth road?
The hardest part of starting this business was taking the leap. Leaving the security of a paycheck to take the risk took time and courage. I’m now responsible for finding clients, advertising, creating menus and cooking. Keeping my prices low and maintaining the integrity of my mission can be challenging. Finding locally sourced ingredients can be more expensive. Luckily, the clients who I prepare meals to understand this value and share my vision.

What else should our readers know?
Chef Dolly prepares weekly meals for Colorado families using organic and locally sourced ingredients. We cater to allergies and dietary restrictions.

We are as zero waste as possible. We use all glass containers. We compost. We do all the shopping as local as possible. We create the menu (based on client taste and diet preferences). We prepare and cook the food. We deliver.

Our commitment is to clean, sustainable and delicious food.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We are progressive. We get to live so close to nature and yet have all the perks of big city living. We have a desire for a better world and people are willing to do their part.

There are so many people who really care, it’s inspiring. The mountains are also inspiring. We are so lucky to live here.

The downside to living in such an amazing place is that everyone wants to live here and the price of housing is getting a little crazy.

Pricing:

• $18-22 for a Meal per Person

Contact Info:

• Website: ChefDolly.Com
• Phone: 7204702501
• Email: Jason@chefdolly.com
• Instagram: @chefjdolly
• Facebook: Facebook.Com/chefdolly

Image Credit:
Jason Dollenger

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