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

Hi Josh, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Entrepreneurship has long been a dream of mine. Over the past 12 years, I’ve immersed myself in the restaurant and catering industry, diligently honing my skills and accumulating invaluable knowledge.

What should our readers know about your business?
In the heart of Arizona, amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, The Local Caterer emerged as a beacon of culinary passion and community commitment. Founded in 2020 by my wife Kasandra, and myself, our journey goes beyond catering; it’s a story of resilience, love, and a deep-seated desire to serve.

With a rich background boasting over 15 years in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry, The Local Caterer brings a wealth of expertise in diverse cuisines and culinary techniques. Our dream of bringing people together around the dinner table became a reality with the establishment of our company and vision.

Starting any business is difficult, let alone in a pandemic where small businesses were forced to close. We stuck to the idea that “to attract value, you have to create value.” So every catering we serve, we treat them as if they are our best client.

We would like people to know that what our product that we ultimately serve is peace of mind. When people hire our company, we take care of all the pressure of running an event, and allow them to enjoy the event as well.

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.
I would take them to the various mountains we have around us, South Mountain, Superstition Mountain. I would take them to places like Cala in Scottsdale, Fire at Will in Scottsdale, The Peppermill in Tempe, and The Chuckbox in Tempe.

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?
God does everything.  I would like to thank all of our clients so far we have served in this journey. I want to thank my wife Kasandra, for all the love and support she shows to me on a daily basis. I also want to thank Jim Ball and The Paloma Community Church for giving me a chance.

Website: www.thelocalcaterer.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelocalcaterer

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelocalcatereraz

Image Credits
Blake Deinas with Deinasty Studios LLC.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.