Introducing The Pearl Plate: A Shop and So Much More
Welcome to my very first blog post! I’m Tyler, the owner of The Pearl Plate, and I’m excited to share this journey with you. In this post, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my dream come true—opening my kitchen shop and creating a space that’s all about cooking, hosting, and living a sustainable life. From clinging to the last days of my 20s to making big plans for the future, I’m thrilled to bring you along as I dive into all the things I’m passionate about. Let’s get started!
Hello and welcome to my little corner of the internet, where passion for cooking and hosting, natural living, and thoughtful gifting meets the joy of running a small shop.
I’m so excited to begin this blogging journey with you! Together, we’ll explore everything from hosting tips and wellness-inspired recipes to kitchen product spotlights, behind-the-scenes stories of being a small business owner, and all the little things in between.
About My Small Shop
I started The Pearl Plate to bring something new to my small hometown: a place where you can find quality cookware and tools for the kitchen. In small towns like mine, we don’t have Williams Sonomas or malls to shop at. What we do have, though, is a gorgeous historic downtown filled with small shops and locally-owned restaurants. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of opening my own shop here, and now that dream is a reality.
Pictured is the shop at our grand opening day at 214 E Main St—the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
When I decided to open a kitchen shop, I knew it would be more than just a place to find kitchen tools. I wanted it to be an opportunity to deepen my passion for cooking—a love I’ve had since childhood—while learning how to nourish my body with wholesome, whole-food recipes. This journey also became about finding products that support my goal of creating an all-natural, eco-friendly home, blending sustainability with the joy of cooking and hosting.
I also envisioned my shop as a space for bringing people together. I dreamed of hosting cooking classes and themed dinner parties, where people could connect over food and learn new skills. Starting a cookbook club was another idea close to my heart—creating a community where we could explore different cuisines and inspire each other in the kitchen.
So it’s safe to say the ideas were pouring out of me. I may not have accomplished all of this yet, but I know this is just the beginning. There’s so much more I hope to create and share with you as this journey unfolds.
Here is a photo taken at our 2024 Fall Community Dinner held outside in the alley next to our shop. We partnered with local restaurant Off Broadway Taproom to offer this beautiful farm-to-table event.
About Me
Now that you’ve read about my shop, I think it’s only fair to share a little about myself—the person behind the keyboard as we embark on this journey together.
As I write this, I’m clinging to the final days of my 20s—36 days left, but who’s counting? I always thought turning 30 would be no big deal, but wow, does it make you ponder life, societal expectations, and whether or not you’re supposed to suddenly have it all figured out (spoiler alert: I don’t).
Hi! It’s me, Tyler, owner of The Pearl Plate.
My lovely friend Ashley with AEJ Photography took these photos of me in my first shop, and I’m so glad I have these to look back on years from now when I’m super rich and famous. Okay maybe scratch the famous part—that sounds exhausting.
Moving on: I’m married to the cute boy I met when I was 17 years old, which still feels surreal sometimes. I’m a die-hard dog person (sorry, cat lovers) and the proud dog mom of Milo, my 13-year-old Newfkom, and Tugg, my 3-year-old Australian Shepherd. For now, we’re a two-pup household, but my husband and I have big plans for a retirement farm where we’ll rescue as many dogs as possible and spoil them rotten.
No kids yet, but I’ve always dreamed of being a mom, so I know that chapter will come when the time is right. As I mentioned earlier, I love cooking and hosting—it’s my happy place. That said, event planning is both my favorite hobby and the reason I occasionally need to scream into a pillow (hello, perfectionism). For me, the perfect date involves coffee and a trip to a bookstore, as long as there’s no time limit on how long I can wander the aisles.
So that’s me in a nutshell: a perfectionist with a love for dogs, books, and a perfectly set dinner table. Stick around—this is going to be fun (and possibly a little chaotic)!