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

Hi Mark, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It’s pretty simple. I lost my job as the Chef de Cuisine of a restaurant during the pandemic. I needed a job, but being a chef during this time was extremely challenging. The next best thing was to start a small business. My wife said, this is the time to give it a shot. I always keep a work file of all my recipes I have developed over the past 25 years of being a professional chef. It was time to put those recipes to work. I love all things in the culinary world. I wanted to have a restaurant, but with the pandemic restrictions that did not seem possible. I decide to do the next best thing in my mind, which was start a culinary business called Black Belly Foods that gave me options.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Black Belly Foods is small independent family-owned company creating artisanal seasonings, infused California sea salts, and artisanal pizzas. What sets us apart is that there are very few independent culinary companies like ours. It’s creative and unique. What we are most proud of is making the impossible, possible. The road to this point was not easy. Starting a business with no experience starting a business is extremely hard. Also being culinary business has a lot of roadblocks with licensing, permits, and health department restrictions. It’s full of setbacks. A food business is very regulated. Overcoming these things is what we are most proud of. The biggest lesson we have learned is to trust yourself, be more confident, believe in yourself, and trust your skills that I developed over my career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Point Dume in Malibu, Hermosa Beach, Grand Central Market, Leimert Park Juneteenth Street festival, Tony’s Darts Away for a beer, Providence for a Michelin starred meal, Guelaguetza restaurant, Truly pizza in Dana Point for a pizza, Ramen at Tsujita LA Annex, tacos at Guerrilla Tacos, and the farmer’s market on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s easy… My wife and daughters, without them none of this would have happened or have been possible.

Website: https://www.blackbellyfoods.com

Instagram: @blackbellyfoods @squarepiecepizza

Twitter: @Foodsbelly

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA 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.