kin & kitchen

Learn more about your co-workers, their passions, their family, and their favorite family recipe!

Jan Vanderhorst

Name: Janice Vanderhorst
Position: Software Developer
Location: Support Center (Dublin, OH)
Date of Hire: 09/24/2018 

Are you originally from the Columbus area?  If not, how did you come to live in Columbus? 

No, I’m not from Columbus. My family is from Australia.  We moved to USA when I was young to be close to my mom’s family.  I lived most of my life in Dayton, Ohio. I came to Columbus for this job. The only jobs in Engineering in Dayton are Military jobs which never interested me.  

How did you get into the IT field? 

I got into the IT field in Middle school when I got accepted to a summer camp for Girls interested in Engineering. I really took a liking to Scratch. Which is a graphic programming app for kids where you animate a cat using puzzle pieces.  

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? 

I like getting to work with other departments. When programming a process, I have to learn exactly how the old process worked as well as the end goal. This has allowed me to get into the nuts of bolts of Payroll, Accounting, HR and IT. This helps me solve problems faster. Nothing feels better than fixing an issue quickly. 

What three words would you use to describe City Barbeque? 

Community, Resilient, Focused.

What three words would you use to describe yourself? 

Driven, Detail-Oriented, Listener.

If you could switch jobs with anyone else in the company, whose job would you want and why? 

I would switch jobs with a GM. I think the GM has the hardest job in the company. They have the most responsibility to the guest, but they also have to provide insight to the Support center. As someone from the support center, I’d love an inside view on what is required by the GM on a day to day bases in order to better provide support for them.  Specifically, I’d like to switch with a GM from a new market and old market in order to see the differences between the two. 

Do you have any hobbies or belong to any groups outside of work? 

My main hobby is animation. I’ve been learning about animation techniques for a year, but I just started actually animating this year. I love how art makes technology advance and visE versa. For instance, almost every new Pixar Movie has required new technology to be developed to solve new problems. 

Rumor has it, you’re getting married.  How did you meet your fiancé? 

We’D meet in College in the Weekly LGBTQIA Meetings. She was a Senior in Anthropology which is the study of Cultures. Our first date was at a Hockey Rink, where she didn’t know we were on a date. Not the most successful first date, but I think she figured it out eventually. 

Do you have a favorite family tradition or one that you want to start? 

I have a really small family so tradition is not something we really do. But Heather’s family has weekly Dinner at Grampa’s house which I’d like to with my Friends in Columbus after Covid. I think having a weekly dinner or board game night is a great way to feel connected with people.   

What is the most important thing you have learned in life? 

Trust is the most important thing and follow through is how you gain trust. 

Do you have any tips for others on how to deal with the stressful situations facing the world right now, including COVID-19? 

Go to the Grocery store right when it opens – We go the grocery store a 7AM on Sunday (Not during Senior Citizen hours). This means the store has just been cleaned and restocked and no one else has been there. We are taking COVID very seriously and the grocery store has the greatest chance for infection for Heather and I. This helps us have peace of mind.

Chicken Noodle Casserole with Cheese & Dill

This recipe belongs to the mother of Heather (my fiancé).

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.     In a medial-size saucepan melt 3 Tablespoons butter. 

3.     When hot, add 1 ½ cups milk.  Stir with a wire whisk until mixture comes to a boil. 

4.     Stir in 1 ¼ cups Ricotta Cheese (or cottage cheese) until it melts. 

5.     Add 2 Tablespoons Parmesan.

6.     Mix 2 ½ cups pasta shells, cooked, with cheese sauce.

7.     Stir in ½ cup fresh Dill (2 teaspoons dried).

8.     Mix in 1 ½ cups cubed, cooked chicken and season with lots of pepper.

9.     Pour into oven-safe baking dish.

10.  Sprinkle ½ cup slivered almonds and 2 Tablespoons Parmesan over top.  Dot with 1 Tablespoon butter.

11.  Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until hot.

Christin Tardy

Name: Christin Tardy
Position: Assistant General Manager
Location: IUPUI (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Date of Hire: 03/13/2012 

Are you originally from the Indianapolis area?  If not, how did you come to live in Indianapolis? 

I am technically from Indianapolis yes, but I grew up in the Speedway area (approx 5 minutes from The Indianapolis Motor Speedway)  

You’ve recently been promoted to the Assistant General Manager of our IUPUI joint. Can you tell us a little about your growth with City Barbeque and the various positions you’ve had? 

I started with the company 8 years ago as a Freshman in college. I came on as a FOH employee and progressed to work every position in the joint. I then became a shift manager. I also joined the training team and opened 11 new joints between 6 different states. I’ve worked at 3 different locations including my current location, IUPUI! 

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? 

I enjoy the new challenges and responsibilities that my new role brings. When you are challenged/challenge yourself, it really shows you what you are capable of. 

What three words would you use to describe City Barbeque? 

I would describe the company as Delicious, Family, & Frank!  

What three words would you use to describe yourself? 

I would describe myself as Chill, Funny, and Kind. 

Do you have a favorite family tradition or one that you want to start? 

Not technically a family tradition, but a group of my friends, their family, and I go to the Indy 500 every year. It’s an entire weekend event (truthfully, it’s a month-long preparation in May). We just go and enjoy the various festivities that take place. 

What is the most important thing you have learned in life? 

It’s a motto I live by, “Everything Happens For a Reason”. Whether it’s Good or Bad, there’s a purpose behind things that happen in our lives. Sometimes it’s clear and sometimes not but things happen in order for us to grow or to show us something. 

Do you have any tips for others on how to deal with the stressful situations facing the world right now, including COVID-19? 

I would say people need to educate themselves on topics to gain understanding and to be in the know. Instead of listening to what Elizabeth has to say on Facebook. Second, people need to learn how to listen! Not listen to respond or rebuttal but listen to learn. Regardless of race, religion, sex, or tax bracket, we’re all in this together. And we alone are responsible for solving the issues that go on in our world.

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

I don’t have a family recipe or anything but a recipe that I do love is Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon! I just really love Salmon and I had a honey glazed salmon dish at a restaurant once and found a recipe that was similar to it. I watch a lot of cooking shows, particularly any involving Gordon Ramsey! He’s the Goat, #ChannelYourInnerGordonRamsey. Here is the link to the recipe: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a55762/honey-garlic-glazed-salmon-recipe/

INGREDIENTS

1/3 c. honey

1/4 c. soy sauce

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

4 6-oz. salmon fillets, patted dry with a paper towel

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 lemon, sliced into rounds 

DIRECTIONS

1.     In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, lemon juice and red pepper flakes.

2.     In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat two tablespoons oil. When oil is hot but not smoking, add salmon skin-side up and season with salt and pepper. Cook salmon until deeply golden, about 6 minutes, then flip over and add remaining tablespoon of oil.

3.     Add garlic to the skillet and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the honey mixture and sliced lemons and cook until sauce is reduced by about 1/3. Baste salmon with the sauce.

4.     Garnish with sliced lemon and serve.