Four unique food businesses launched during the pandemic and more

Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read
Michael Oldfield makes homemade cappelletti at his M.O. Pasta in the Hungerford Building in Rochester Friday, May 6, 2022.
Michael Oldfield makes homemade cappelletti at his M.O. Pasta in the Hungerford Building in Rochester Friday, May 6, 2022.

Hi friends,

Over the weekend I read the first novel I've encountered that included the early days of the pandemic in its plot.

It took me back to the time in which we started putting out the D&C from our respective home offices — which was just unfathomable at the time. When I wasn't working, I spent a lot of time doom scrolling on my phone and zoning out on Netflix.

That's why I find it remarkable that anyone accomplished much of anything in that time period. But quite a few people in Rochester's food scene made strides toward fulfilling their dreams t. I've interviewed dozens over the past few months and will be writing some of their stories in the upcoming weeks.

Chef Cordero Rivera loads ground beef onto a New York chopped cheese taco at TacoDero's weekly Taco Tuesday pop-up at Flour City Station in Rochester.
Chef Cordero Rivera loads ground beef onto a New York chopped cheese taco at TacoDero's weekly Taco Tuesday pop-up at Flour City Station in Rochester.

Most recently, I featured four chefs who either lost their jobs or their businesses in 2020 and launched new businesses that continue to enhance Rochester's food scene:

• Michael Oldfield went from working for some of Chicago's best restaurants to starting M.O. Pasta, which focuses on fresh pasta and pasta kits.

• Cordero Rivera went from cooking for hip-hop artists and NBA players in New York City to starting TacoDero, a pop-up operation and food truck that focuses on birria tacos.

• Kim Roth, Rochester's own reality TV chef, went from having lost two jobs to serving her creative sushi in a tiny food trailer called the Back Alley Grill.

• Dave McDonald had to close his dream restaurant, and subsequently launched a business called Dope Munchie Crew, which makes chewy, large, sweet-and-salty cookies.

Read about them here and scroll down for more food news. Wishing you a tasty week!

Tracy Schuhmacher, food, drink and culture reporter

Until next week, keep up with Rochester's food scene in the RocFlavors section of the D&C, or on my Instagram @rahchachow.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Four unique food businesses launched during the pandemic