Moonlight Kitchens offers series of food classes

By Moonlight Kitchens

It’s spring. The farmers markets, weddings and summer events are just around the corner and inspiring cooks, caterers, small manufacturers and food truck vendors are all dreaming of making bank on their hot new food items.

But what’s the best way to get started? Or expand?

Moonlight Kitchens is serving up a series of six classes on How to Start a Small Food Business in Missoula later this month. MK has the work space but there’s more to it than that.

This is where our “Food Biz Boot Camp” comes in. The series is designed to go beyond the business plan and provide on-the-ground information to help save cooks time, money and energy.

The series includes a dozen expert presenters who know food. Suzanne Phillips, from the Missoula College culinary program, will talk about the school's new facility and what it has to offer, while Jeff McLain, from Rocky Mountain School of Photography, will talk about photographing food.

Andy Shirtliff, from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, will talk about financial assistance through the state. Other topics include web development, equipment suppliers, city and county regulatory agencies, and a panel of successful food business people with tips on how they got there.

Moonlight Kitchens (MK) is Missoula’s premier privately-owned, commercial kitchen facility for rent by the hour. With the mission of connecting local farmers with Missoula neighbors through local cooks by running a triple bottom line business, MK has a vested interest in the success of their clients.

The series will be held at the kitchens at 1951 Kensington Ave. in the south Franklin-to-Fort neighborhood.

The classes are held Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m., starting on April 18 and running through May 23. The series costs $100 per student and is limited to 12 attendees. Pre-registration is required and information is available online  at  or by calling (406) 926-2720.