We had the good fortune of connecting with Kendra & Zach Baroudi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kendra & Zach, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The idea of balance is a nice thought. When I used to think about balance it was spending an equal amount of time on all of the things and being able to stop one task, pick up a totally different one right away and giving each thing 100% all the time until it’s time to go to bed. That’s the fastest way to burn out. Balance for me now is prioritizing what’s important in the moment; figuring out what needs done right now and giving that all that I can. That may mean something falls to the back burner for a day or a week but if it isn’t priority, then I don’t stress about it. It will still be there tomorrow, or in a week and then I can give that project 100%.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Kabob It At Home is an extension of our restaurant, Kabob It. After years of family, friends, and customers asking for the recipes to our most popular menu items, we decided to bottle them so people everywhere can make Kabob It in the comfort of their home. We sell two Mediterranean Salad Dressings and two Mediterranean Marinades. What sets us apart from other companies is that we have authentic Mediterranean recipes that are sugar free and gluten free. Since launching our brand last year in 2022, we are in grocery stores in 3 states, on major websites, and sell in person at local markets. We are so excited to learn and grow in the consumer packaged goods industry.

Growing a business never comes easy. We need to continuously remind ourselves that where we are right now is a place that we’ve dreamed about being before. As business grows, our dreams grow and it’s easy to get caught up in the next goal or achievement but we need to celebrate the wins because at one point they seemed far fetched, but here we are; persevering and dreaming again.

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?
We love Toledo!

If you’re a coffee lover, start your day at one of the 5 star coffee places downtown – Rustbelt, Brew, Maddie & Bella are just a few popular options. Take your coffee to go and hit the Art Museum then grab lunch at Tony Packos or Magic Wok. Toledo’s sports scene is top notch with the best fans while we cheer on our Toledo Mudhens baseball or Toledo Walleye hockey teams. If you’re looking for the perfect family day stop by the award winning Toledo Zoo or Imagination Station. Stock up on local vendor goodies at the Farmers Market that takes place every Saturday, year round. All of these are close to downtown Toledo and doesn’t even touch on our suburban gems!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the mentorship and support of our loved ones. One specific person we’d like to shoutout is Zach’s Dad, Nabil. He is the OG Kabob It king! Kabob It started back in 2009 in our local mall where Zach and I both worked for Nabil. Before that, he owned another local restaurant where Zach worked for his Dad since he was 14. Besides the knowledge of running a restaurant he has taught us what hard work looks like. He’s persevered through all of the ebs and flows of owning a business and continues to show up everyday, takes care of his employees, and sets an example of what a business owner and leader should be. Without him, there would be no Kabob It Bowling Green or Kabob It At Home. We’re grateful for his knowledge, hard work, and support!

Website: kabobitathome.com

Instagram: @kabobitathome

Facebook: @kabobitathome

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