Hodgepodge Coffee

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Our network of pick up locations, lovingly known as our Mealtime Partners, is full of awesome local spots like Hodgepodge Coffee - a coffee shop/gallery/bakery/music venue/all around awesome place to hang out! Get to know them in this interview with Lynne, one of the owners.

G&G: How and why did you decide to open a coffee shop?

Lynne: Hodgepodge was the product of me and my business partner Krystle. We were sitting in Piedmont Park discussing what our dream jobs were and we realized that her love of baking ridiculously yummy deserts and my passion for coffee and art fit really well together. We decided to do “research” about opening up a coffee house to find out “hypothetically” what it would entail and before we knew it we were talking to architects, buying commercial grade kitchen equipment, signing our lease with our fantastic landlord and sprouting a bunch of grey hairs!

G&G: Where did y'all get the name 'Hodgepodge'?

Lynne: The name came about because we were trying to think of a name that would encompass all the things that we do at the shop. The words "we need something to explain this hodgepodge of ideas" came out of someones mouth and we stopped brainstorming then and there.

G&G: What does a coffee shop owner drink?

Lynne: My favorite coffee drink is an extra extra extra dry hazelnut cappuccino. Forever and always!

Sidenote from Danielle: Wondering what the heck a 'dry' cappuccino is? So was I, so I asked Lynne! It's when the foam is more like 'shaving cream' or a stiff bubble bath texture. Always learning in this job

G&G: Why do you like to support local businesses, like G&G?

Lynne: We support local businesses like Garnish & Gather because we believe in the idea that your local economy is the most important one. When you shop at a local business your money stays in the community. You are conserving your tax dollars. It also creates local jobs and allows better customer service because people are invested in the livelihood of the businesses staff and owners.

G&G: What's your favorite thing to cook at home?

Lynne: My mams lasagna recipe, it's easy, takes almost no dishes and has a lot of variables, so I'm never bored cooking it over and over again. I add vegetables, use only vegetables, make a bechamel instead of using ricotta, change the top layer of cheese from mozzarella to cheddar sometimes. It's my go to any time I have to bring a dish to any party.

Sidenote #2 from Danielle: If this got you craving lasagna, check our our Caponata Lasagna from Storico Fresco!

G&G: Your shop is covered in beautiful local art, inside & outside. Tell us about it.

Lynne: The amount of talented artists in Atlanta is amazing. I am inspired every day walking through our streets. Between the murals on every corner, free art community, plethora of galleries and independent shops selling local goods there is surely no shortage of places to find art, but I think Hodgepodge’s heartbeat is the fact that you can walk in this place and see someone sketching, someone grabbing our community guitar, a group of folks discussing a book they read, a writing group trading papers to give their thoughts. There is literally art on every wall. It inspires conversations and makes art accessible to those who maybe wouldn’t go to an art gallery on their own. It was imperative that Hodgepodge’s name was “coffeehouse and gallery”. We wanted to let potential customers know that they were going to a creative space from the second they learned our name.

G&G: Tell me more about it being a 'creative space.' Do you host events?

Lynne: We have had fashion shows, vintage markets, plant sales, Girl Scout father/daughter dances, a lesbian wedding, tarot readings, fire dancers, yoga, a tantric sex workshop, kids birthday parties, supper clubs and a bunch of other random, wild and wonderful events. We also have open mic on the first and 3rd Thursday of the month, story time for the kids every Friday at 11am, a comedy hour on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and kids art classes hosted by Susie Antell on Mondays at 11am.