Meet Michaelia Parker | Cheeseboard enthusiast & experience creator

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

Hi Michaelia, what do you attribute your success to?
Honey Brie Mine has been able to attribute its success to a combination of key factors. Patiences has been a cornerstone of our journey allowing us to build a brand that resonates with clients and the cheeseboard community.

Being a small business has been a deliberate choice, not only am I able to demonstrate business ownership as a parent to my young children, I am able to focus on curating unique cheeseboard and grazing experiences that go beyond the one-size-fits all approach of larger companies.

Gatekeeping is not in our vocabulary. We thrive on collaborating and sharing knowledge with fellow small business owners. Networking and learning from others has been a pivotal role in our success.

Finally, the power of social media cannot be overstated. Honey Brie Mine has grown almost exclusively off of word-of-mouth and our Instagram and TikTok pages. Social Media has allowed ups to tell our brand story, share behind-the-scene content, and create a community of cheese enthusiast.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While Honey Brie Mine is a business, at it’s core it is an art form. Honey Brie Mine was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a therapeutic escape from what was going on in the world in 2020, quickly grew in what seemed to be a blink of an eye. Honey Brie Mine was intended to be a small cheeseboard venture, that allowed me to create unique pieces for friends and family who I hadn’t seen due to lockdown restrictions. After a few boards for family, one of my first non-family client was MAC cosmetics. I curated about 20 mini cheeseboards and delivered them to their employees who were working from home. Within four 4 months, I was asked about doing grazing tables. At this point, I knew I needed help. I needed guidance, so I reached out to fellow charcuterists and found that the community was so supportive and very willing to share the do’s and don’ts that they had experienced.

I have learned to never underestimate your talent. If you have talent, the rest will follow if you are persistent and dedicated. Honey Brie Mine is not just a business, it is an art form. And our art form comes in artisanal cheeses and premium meats.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a foodie, so if you’re coming to visit, most of our activities will revolve around food and drinks. Night one we will keep it low key, yet classy. We are going 39 floors up for drinks, nibbles, and a sunset at The View lounge in San Francisco. For day two and three, we are heading up to Napa Valley to stay at the Archer Hotel for a mini getaway. While in the area, we will visit a few of my favorite creameries – Cowgirl Creamery, Laura Chenel’s Chevre, Marin French Cheese, or Achadinha Cheese Company. We can’t forget the wine pairings! Day four, we are taking some time to ground ourselves by exploring the winding trails and redwoods at Joaquin Miller Park, followed up by a stop to Fenton’s Creamery for an ice cream sundae that 5-year-old you would be jealous of. Because, well, you earned it. On day five, we are heading to Oeste’s, a black-owned rooftop bar, for to enjoy a brunch party with one of their featured DJs.

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?
I’d like to give a shoutout to the pillars who have helped propel Honey Brie Mine forward — My supportive husband, kids, parents, and to the other small cheeseboard board business owners who have been a beacon of light on this journey.

Website: Honeybriemine.com

Instagram: instagram.com/honeybriemine

Other: TikTok: @HoneyBrieMine

Image Credits
Honey Brie Mine