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Peden, a French Culinary Institute grad, runs the Norwalk-based catering company Simply Delicious with her mother, Tracy, also a Norwalk resident, and said the two enjoy being in the kitchen together.
"Knowing you can absolutely trust and count on your partner is very calming," said Lauren. "We both love making delicious food that families can enjoy together."
Agreed Tracy: "It's rewarding to make something for someone to take home to their family, knowing we came up with the idea as a team."
The tradition of cooking together actually started with Tracy who cooked healthy meals for Lauren and her twin sister and brother growing up. "The party was always at the Peden house," said Lauren. "We love passing that love along to others."
So much so, that you'll often find Tracy's mom, Dolores, in the kitchen beside them. She makes the cheesecake for their restaurant on Water Street in South Norwalk. (Tracy is known for baking all the muffins,breads, and holiday goodies while Lauren does pretty much everything else.)
Simply Delicious traces its roots to Lauren's Culinary Institute graduation when family, friends and neighbors started asking her to cater parties. She opened her first location, a coffee and sandwich kiosk, in 2009, at 148 East Avenue.
There is now a restaurant location at the Ischoda Yacht Club along with the cafe at the Westport YMCA, the New Canaan YMCA and River View East Medical Complex in Norwalk.
Lauren credits her family's support for helping her get her business off the ground. "We're both obsessed with growing this business and I appreciate that my mom is always there for me," she said.
As for Mother's Day, Lauren said she's doing the cooking. "Mom deserves a day off her feet," she said. "Hopefully we'll have great weather and can all enjoy dinner on the patio together."
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