Family Table Pittsburgh, Mike Harding
Mike Harding had reached the pinnacle of his culinary career as a private chef for a prominent Pittsburgh family, traveling with them and preparing meals full-time. Yet even with all his success, from his days as Executive Chef at Children’s Hospital to his current role, Chef Mike and his wife, Liz, found themselves constantly on the go, struggling to find time for proper family dinners. “We figured if we were having issues that probably other families were having them, too,” Chef Mike explains. “We wanted to recreate what mom did for us when I was a kid, and have nourishing food cooked with love.”
The idea had been loosely in the back of their minds for about 20 years. When the elderly family Chef Mike worked for began needing less of his services, he started planning his next move. Four years ago, he and his wife launched Family Table Pittsburgh, a meal delivery service that provides chef-prepared, oven-ready meals to busy families, busy professionals, and empty nesters throughout the Pittsburgh area.
“We believe it’s important for families to eat consistently around their own dinner table,” Chef Mike says. “A lot of good conversations happen around the table and it’s important connection-time.”
The business operates with a streamlined weekly schedule. Every Monday afternoon, Chef Mike updates the menu with 15 to 20 weeks’ worth of curated Family Favorites alongside a la carte options. “We have healthy stuff, and the stuff that’s going to clog your arteries occasionally,” he says with a laugh. “You can build your own meals from the a la carte menu if you’d like.” Orders placed by noon Monday arrive Thursday, with twice-weekly deliveries available for customers who want the freshest quality possible. Thursday orders must be placed by noon to guarantee delivery.
Currently, Chef Mike is the only full-time employee, though he receives significant help from family members. Their son stays very involved in operations, while Mike’s wife, father-in-law, and daughter assist with meal deliveries. The business also works with approximately 10 independent contractors to fill gaps as needed. “We’re breaking sales records every month,” Chef Mike reports.
SCORE has played a critical role in the business’s success. Chef Mike worked with a SCORE mentor before opening, and after that mentor passed away, he connected with Paul Basil, his current mentor. “The kitchen is my comfort zone, so the business aspect is where I need some help,” Chef Mike admits. For several months, Paul has provided practical business advice, including suggesting targeted marketing strategies like reaching out to churches and using tear-away flyers to connect with older demographics.
“It’s good to have an honest set of eyes, someone who has been there, done that, who isn’t going to sugar-coat things,” Chef Mike says about working with Paul. He highly recommends SCORE to other entrepreneurs who need that no-nonsense guidance. “They have that experience and have probably hit some pitfalls on their own. If they can help you avoid some of those things, it’s worth it.”
