Life & Work with Bethany Suarez of Downtown Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Suarez

Hi Bethany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved cooking and preparing food for others. I feel like sharing food with people is how I tend to show them love. My dad taught me how to make preserves and jams when I was younger, and I really enjoyed being able to take produce at its peak of flavor and save it in a way that is shelf stable and could be enjoyed all throughout the year. I started Barn Cat Jam Co. with my husband David earlier this year. I was desperately looking for a way to find more fulfillment in my everyday life and to do more things that bring me joy. The kitchen allows me to be creative, scientific, and innovative all while doing something that I love – making food for others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been some struggles. Neither of us had ever started a business before, and we really didn’t know where to start. It was difficult to take that initial leap of faith because we didn’t feel quite ready. We weren’t sure if it was the right time. But in hindsight, I guess it never really does feel like the right time to jump into a completely new field. I had been exclusively a home cook and had never worked in the culinary world before. It was daunting, but we knew that I had something that people would want to try, and we hoped that the joy it brought me to make these products would translate to those who bought them. Of course, I couldn’t do any of this without the support of David. He’s such a people person. I think people definitely come up to our table to try some jam, but also because he has such an inviting presence.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my professional life, I am a scientist. I worked in plant research for a few years and more recently moved into cancer research. Being in a laboratory is a lot like being in the kitchen, and I think my professional experiences have helped me to become more confident as a home cook and home baker. Recipe development oftentimes utilizes the scientific method, and coming up with new recipes and methods can often feel like conducting an experiment.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I was born in Raleigh, so this is home for me. It’s been wonderful to see it grow so much over the years and meet new people that have moved here. To me, Raleigh is filled with opportunities. I love that there are elements of a big city, and yet we are also close to several wonderful smaller cities and towns. The thing I like LEAST about our city is definitely the traffic, but I still love it here.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @barncatjamco