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

Hi Jacob, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” – from Ryan Holiday’s book, “The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage”

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. 
The most important lesson we have learned along the way, is that being resilient to challenges and set backs is essential to any success. The rule in business is something will always go wrong. Obstacles will arise that you could never see coming, no matter how much planning or careful preparation you have done. Be ready for this. Expect it as a natural part of the process instead of letting it surprise and overwhelm you. Having the ability to be creative and find ways to grow, or at least recover from difficulties is the only way forward. Learn to accept road blocks and detours as part of the process. This lesson can be applied to anything in life. Having this perspective has helped our business survive countless challenges big and small.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
For simplicity’s sake let’s pretend this question is being answered in a “pre-pandemic” time when social gathering was a welcomed way of life… Some must-dos would include, brunch at Chef Stephen Jones’ restaurant The Larder + The Delta, a stroll through the Desert Botanical Gardens, drinks at Chef Bernie Kantack’s The Gladly, or Ross Simon’s Bitter & Twisted, definitely a slice (just kidding, a whole pie!) at Pizzeria Bianco in Heritage Square, and maybe a show or two at Crescent Ballroom or The Van Buren.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people that usually prefer to stay behind the scenes, but are integral to not only our company’s current success, but for the creation of the business itself, are my wife and business partner Natalie Cutino, and her sister Cayla Snooke. Natalie is our co-founder and President, and guides the marketing and creative direction of the brand. Natalie does everything from ensuring the consistency of the visual identity and voice of the brand, to running our social media, acting as PR, leading customer service, and even helping to manage my calendar. She likes to joke “my job is to make you look good”! My sister-in-law Cayla has been a part of the company’s story since pre-launch. With a degree in industrial design from the Herberger Institute at ASU, Cayla is our graphic designer, photographer, warehouse and order fulfillment manager, she assists in our production process, and even used to head up farmers markets when we did them. She literally has a hand in every aspect of the business. We trust her intuition and advice on all levels. We always feel it is essential to recognize that our story is incomplete without mentioning the incredible support and encouragement from the local food community here in Phoenix. From day one to today, we have been so blessed by people’s willingness to promote and rally around us and our brand. Something that sets Arizona apart, is how we tend to cheer each other on instead of just seeing everyone as competition. So shoutout to YOU! Thank you, we appreciate you all more than words can say.

Website: www.cutinosauce.com
Instagram: @cutinosauce
Twitter: @cutinosauce
Facebook: facebook.com/cutinosauce

Image Credits
Katie Levine Cayla Snooke