Meet Joshua Bishop | Cook and Proprietor

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

Hi Joshua, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, my father instilled the idea in me at an early age. Some time in high school he told me that I should look at being an entrepreneur. I think I liked the idea at that time because I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. He started a restaurant sometime later, and he taught me how to cook. That always stuck with me as well. I love to cook, but even more than cooking, I love when people enjoy the food that I make. I compare it to being an artist. There is an intangible appreciation that goes both ways in that interaction. The cook provides flavor and nourishment to a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger. That person provides instant feedback through wide eyes and a smile…or the opposite. Either way, it’s real, and it’s emotional. I’ve had the opportunity all my life to provide those experiences while under the shelter of other business owners. Eventually, I took the steps, and I made the right connections to allow me to take the risk on myself and with friends and family support. It allows even more freedom and more pride when you see that smile. I guess it was less of a thought process and more the next step in a journey I have been on my whole life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Let’s face it, the restaurant industry tends to chew people up and spit them out. I could lay out the laundry list of things I have pushed through since starting bussing tables at 15 years old; they are not that unique, however. Daily food and beverage professionals worldwide get to deal with the best in people… and the worst. I have been fired, I have walked out of bad jobs, I have had amazing successes and difficult setbacks. I have worked for tough restauranteurs who are no longer in business and multinational corporations that continue to thrive. Each step of the way, I have learned something about the industry and something about myself. I have made amazing friends, I have watched many young people grow into better lives, seen a few do the opposite, and even seen some of the brightest of lights extinguished all too early. My restaurant story is simple. It is a story of perseverance and taking life one step at a time, standing the test of time while still loving to put a delicious meal on the table for my guests. Listening to their stories while I add to mine. Those connections, and that love of flavor, drive my team and me.

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?
Life is a team sport. I couldn’t get through a day of this without my wife, Aleina. She has challenged me and changed my life since we met 20 years ago. Each day she makes me a better person. She is a business owner herself. And through her business, together, we get to deliver smiles. My brother, Jason, has been my best friend my entire life. He has lent his expertise to help me put the pieces together. Also a small business owner, Jason pushes the envelope daily to make it happen. My sister, Ashley, helps keep all of these endeavors going. We all would be worse off without her pushing sales to each of our businesses. My best buddy, Brent Ralston, is the one that cooks for my family and me. He has given me the support, courage, and partnership to put it all together, to take the plunge and go into business. Ultimately, I get to organize this great family, work with all the talent on the team, and help the gears move together. I couldn’t be more grateful for all of these people.

Website: forknfire.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forknfiresmokehouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildfirewings

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fork-and-fire-smokehouse-taproom-oro-valley?osq=fork+and+fire

Other: tucsonballoonlady.com https://www.facebook.com/AZLakesAndRec wildfirewingcompany.com https://www.facebook.com/forknfirefood https://www.facebook.com/forknfiresmokehouse