KGNU Radio : Eat, Drink, Shine
INTERVIEW by KGNU Radio
“The food we talk about, the food we serve, the food we eat, that’s all part of our lives, and so I think the biggest piece of that is being authentic.”
Triplets Jennifer, Jessica, and Jill Emich first made a mark on the Boulder restaurant scene at an early age with the opening of their first restaurant, Trilogy Winebar and Lounge. Jill Emich says she and Jennifer followed Jessica out to Boulder and ended up going into business together at the age of 24 with the opening of the restaurant “which ended up being a Boulder icon for live music and dancing, and for organic food. We were working with the local co-op to get organic food way back then before anyone was doing it here in Boulder.”
The tradition of committing to local food continued with their second restaurant, Shine. Jennifer attributes the longevity of their careers in the restaurant business to incorporating their values into their work.
“I think everything my sisters and I do, we believe in what we’re doing, it’s very authentic. It’s very real as to who we are, and what we do, and what we believe, and I feel that it comes through so much cleaner and clearer when you’re actually doing your job and living the life you do that compliments it. So with Shine, the food we talk about, the food we serve, the food we eat, that’s all part of our lives and so I think the biggest piece of that is being authentic-being authentic to our community, being authentic to ourselves and being authentic to each other.”
Jessica, who has a masters in nutrition, says that Shine offers gluten-free, paleo-inspired whole food because those food options are needed by many members of the community. “It’s a tough business. There is a lot easier ways to make money. We said we really wanted this to be our service in the world, and so part of that was really serving food that is healing from the inside out.”
Jennifer, Jessica, and Jill Emich have just written their debut cookbook, Eat, Drink, Shine, which offers recipes from their restaurant and more. The book is available to purchase at most booksellers and the Shine restaurant in Boulder. Part of the proceeds go to benefit the Dance 2B Free organization that works with women in prison.
