Bowl & Kettle: Home-Cooking Backpacking Meals Made with Heart

 

Austin, Texas based Bowl & Kettle is a small-batch freeze-dried food brand rooted in a passion for outdoor exploration, home-cooking, and a deep desire to provide high-quality handcrafted meals to outdoor adventurers of all kinds. 

After spending years exploring trails all over North America while simultaneously seeking the best backcountry meals, co-founders Brett and Sarah Bowlin knew that they weren’t the only ones out there who were left feeling disappointed by the lack of delicious, nutritious, and satiating meals available on the market. 

So – they took matters into their own kitchen.

A Dream Born on the Pacific Crest Trail

“When we decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022, we knew that was our shot to spend concentrated time learning how to freeze dry food, and testing out some meal options along the way,” says Sarah, “We bought a freeze dryer and got to work freeze drying 200 of our own meals to eat ourselves during our five-month trek through California, Oregon, and Washington.”

 

 

The couple designed, developed, and dehydrated eleven different meals to test along the way – including what would become their favorite trail meal and their first product to hit the market, Crawfish Étouffée – a freeze-dried spin on a family favorite, Cajun-inspired dish that Sarah’s mom would make for them growing up.

“My dad spent some of his childhood in Louisiana, and I grew up in Dallas-Ft. Worth, so we were accustomed to great cajun flavors,” says Sarah, “but the magic of a creamy roux with crawfish was new to Brett, so I would make it for him on occasion when we started dating. It was fun to get to show him a piece of my childhood and have him love it so much.”

During their hike, the dish was such a hit that they would literally toss a coin to decide who got the one serving they had packed in their food shipments. Crawfish Étouffée was the only meal they never grew tired of on the trail, solidifying its place as the brand’s flagship product.

Spending months together on the trip also provided them with plenty of time to talk about how they could take this food-loving, passion project to the next level and make their shared dreams and aspirations a reality.

 

From Concept to Launch

Following their return from the trail in the fall of 2022, Brett and Sarah went “heads down,” spending the next 18 months organizing, building, and preparing for the launch of Bowl & Kettle while both continuing to work their full-time jobs — Brett as a product manager at Charles Schwab and Sarah as a freelance User Experience Researcher.

The couple focused on perfecting their freeze-drying process, building a brand, and curating a lineup of meals that met their high standards for flavor, nutrition, and satisfaction. They also zeroed in on offering up options that were important to their own dietary needs.

“Brett has a gluten sensitivity, so we try to keep gluten to a minimum in our product line-up, which is not common on the market these days,” Sarah explains, “So many meals rely heavily on pasta.” 

 

 

“We were also disappointed with the tiny servings found in most meals — even the quoted '2 servings' is sometimes not enough!” explained Brett, “Our meals are packed with protein and healthy fats so they are as nutritious and filling as they are delicious. After a long day, it feels good to finish with a full stomach after a great meal.” 

Super Charged Growth

Since launching in March 2024, Bowl & Kettle has exceeded their expectations of slowly and steadily increasing sales and has instead blasted past their initial projections, gained global traction, and begun to build a loyal consumer base and foodie fan following.

“When we first launched, almost all of our orders were from people we knew personally,” says Sarah, “We wondered when, if, or how we would attract new customers to our brand. But sure enough, that mix shifted in a big way starting in the early summer after we got a few unexpected meaningful mentions on YouTube. It’s been really fun to see the reception to our brand and our food, even as we’ve expanded beyond a circle of people we already know (and love!).”

 

 

Bowl & Kettle – whose name is a play on words of Brett’s last name – Bowlin, and Sarah’s maiden name – Kettles – has already added two additional freeze dryers, upgraded from an hourly kitchen rental to a dedicated production space, and hired their first part-time employee to keep up with demand. This has allowed them to grow faster than anticipated while still keeping the quality of their meals a top priority.

Lessons in the Madness

While all this growth has been welcomed with open arms, it’s also come with its fair share of entrepreneurial challenges.

“One of the hardest parts of starting up has been making decisions fast enough,” says Sarah. “I think we assumed we would start out very modestly, and that we would control our own growth, but that hasn’t been the case.”

“We’re grateful! And we’re learning to spot opportunities to get more efficient, grow our production volume, or expand our marketing efforts so that we can get ahead of them and match the demand we’re seeing.” 

 

 

The couple also credits this exponential growth in the business with aiding in their own personal growth as well and speaks to some of the ways they’ve been able to navigate these challenges by facing them head-on.

“Riding the wave, being open to learning, and nimble on our feet when things shift faster than we expected has been key to our success so far,” explains Sarah, “Continuing to have a growth mindset that isn’t fixed and is humble enough to shift when necessary is one of the most important learnings we hope to keep close as we continue to grow from here.” 

 

Looking Ahead

While Bowl & Kettle is still in its early stages, Brett and Sarah have big plans for the future. As they continue to scale production in their Austin facility, they are also planning a yet-to-be-disclosed move in the near future that will find them closer to the mountain and the outdoor activities they love. 

"Being closer to our target market and the kind of lifestyle we enjoy is important for our mental health and the growth of the business," says Sarah. The move will allow them to expand into a dedicated kitchen of their own and start laying deeper roots in a region that aligns with their brand’s outdoor ethos.

Beyond the move, Bowl & Kettle is working on expanding their product offerings with more meals that cater to various dietary preferences, price points, and outdoor activities. They’re particularly excited about future products designed for adventurers with specific nutritional needs, ensuring that everyone can find a meal that works for them, no matter where their journeys take them.

 

 

Their long-term dreams are even more ambitious. “Our moonshot goal is to one day be a meal partner for those venturing into outer space,” Brett explains. With the tagline “Elevated Food for the Outer Spaces”, they’re already thinking big about what it means to feed explorers of all kinds — whether here on Earth or beyond.

A Brand with Heart

At its core, Bowl & Kettle is a business built on shared passions, and Brett and Sarah are committed to growing it responsibly. 

As members of 1% for the Planet, they donate a portion of their sales to environmental causes, recognizing the importance of preserving the wild spaces that inspire their products. For the couple, building Bowl & Kettle isn’t just about business success; it’s about creating something meaningful that gives back to both the outdoor community and the planet.

As they continue to grow, Brett and Sarah are focused on staying true to their values of creating high-quality meals made from locally sourced ingredients, giving back to the outdoor community and enhancing the lives of fellow adventures through their delicious, nourishing meals. 

Whether you’re a weekend warrior, or a seasoned thru-hiker – Bowl & Kettle has something to offer that will keep you fueled and satisfied while helping you push your limits and enjoy the journey ahead.

 

 

Ali Becker is a freelance writer and adventure storyteller who spends half the year backpacking and bikepacking and the other half sleeping in strangers' beds as a professional house sitter. She and her partner, Mathieu, share their ups and downs on their IG channel at @trip.longer and hope to inspire others to get outside, adventure in nature and find their own freedom. You can learn more about them here: triplonger.ca.