Taste by Katie, the home-cooked meal shop located in Dominion Hills run by a Yorktown High School graduate, succeeded in crowd-funding for its new freezer, raising $7,800 in donations from customers and family. Most donors gave $50 to $100 to the business, indicating her customers were willing to back — with their wallets — a local chef who caters to their busy lives and the need for something healthy and home-cooked.
Katie Gilman said her business has grown steadily and will benefit from the new rack, work table, and freezer she was able to purchase with the donations. Her ice cream, made in small batches, is back on the menu. She does “special request” ice creams, the latest one being “birthday cake ice cream” made for a local boy for his birthday. It has chunks of birthday cake in it. She also has a Facebook campaign going: if you vote for a flavor and she makes it, you get a free scoop. Some of her current favorites are peanut butter with butterfingers, key lime pie, salted caramel with chocolate cookies, and mint chocolate chip.
Gilman was grateful to local press, which has helped spread the word about her business; to her cousin who surprised her with a donation; to her brother and friends, whose video was a big part of the success of her campaign, and to her customers, whose feedback and appreciation are the most important part of her work. Gilman is offering a 20 percent discount for new business catering in August. She will deliver lunch to any local business as long as it’s within manageable radius. See www.tastebykatie.com.