We were lucky to catch up with Devin Keopraphay recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Devin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Like many chefs, I’ve always been addicted to work. The constant pursuit of perfection, endless hours of research & development, living the chef motto of “first one in, last one to leave”. After becoming a father, I realized how much more precious my time became. I was no longer on a pursuit of perfection but in pursuit of happiness. Something I couldn’t achieve behind a stove, stuck behind kitchen doors. Becoming the best parent possible was my only concern. Hence why I chose to leave nights and move to focusing my business on brunch.
Devin , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Rising Tiger is a fast casual Asian American Cafe, specializing in brunch, a unique coffee bar and workspace. From our regular brunch schedule, we also host a plethora of cooking classes! Being flexible, listening to what the community needed and wanted but never straying far from our core values or beliefs. I think anyone who has made the daring jump of working for themselves can say “it’s never easy!”. Working for yourself is the hardest I’ve worked in my life! Being persistent and dedicated has landed us where we are today. I want people to know that we our invested in our community and work hard every day to become that community cornerstone. To further establish a bridge to expand food boundaries and culture.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I once heard “Build the life you want, instead of trying to escape the life you have.” I took that advice to heart, creating a new menu weekly, preparing and hand delivering each order. From a rinky dinky delivery service to three years later with our sights on our first brick and mortar, while working on private caterings, connecting with local distilleries, a series of pop-ups and now looking to join the Boulder County (Longmont) Farmers Market Season 2023.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Consistency, loyalty to our customer base, community outreach and persistence. We pride ourselves in our work and that in itself hospitality, which we personally think is a lost art. Too often restaurants are gear business centric, losing sight and the intimate bond between guest and owner relationship. Everyone loves their neighborhood restaurant, where they know it’s safe, reliable, they feel at home, everyone knows their name and last but not least they can always count on a great meal.
Contact Info:
- Website: risingtigerco.com
- Instagram: risingtigerco