Meet Rachel and Eric Ponce | Owners / Executive Chef / Brewmaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel and Eric Ponce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel and Eric, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Eric and I are so excited about starting our next venture together. We want everyone’s experience eating and enjoying being one of a kind. We want our guests to taste flavors they have never tasted before and for the guests to see how the approach of food and experiences are done in a different way. I want everyone to have an amazing experience, whether it’s a tapas tasting menu, diving into the deli menu, to full on multicourse dinner, to pairing class, to cooking classes, to welcoming their dietary restrictions… it is the most important for our guest to feel how important they are and how much we care about them having the best time. We want this Chicago welcome to come across as you walk through our doors. Eric’s brewery, Cellar Fermentation, approaches beer with a basis of traditional, distinctive and some just downright surprising beers. Every beer brewed will start off with purposeful brewing, starting with recipe formulation, ingredient sourcing, yeast type, water chemistry and fermentation type. Then finish with proper pours/glassware for each style and a personal experience with each guest. We will engage every person that decides to spend their time with us. We will create an inviting, visually exciting space that promotes creativity and positivity. Filled with experiences coming from education opportunities and sensory experiences (visual, sound, taste, aromatic and touch) with every visit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Eric and I met at my Dance Yoga studio in Chicago. He actually took my dance class, yes, he has moves, lol. At the time he was working at Goose Island brewery and honestly once I found out that he was making my favorite beer, he took me for a tour and the rest is history. My studio was all about community, we had this amazing fitness community, and we still keep in touch, in a big city and I brought that together. I made my students feel good, feel part of something.
I have always kept that close, and I feel like community is going to be a huge part of Frunchroom.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When we have a day off, we usually head to Avila, it is our kid’s favorite afternoon thing to do. We stop at the Avila Valley Barn and grab a head of romaine lettuce, walk around and feed the animals, then we head in for an amuse of ice cream before heading to lunch. Sit on the rocking chair as the kids drip ice cream all over their hands. Our lunch we stop is always at Mersea’s. We start with oysters, the kids get fish and chips and I get steamer clams, their broth is indulgent with a bright citrus note, but rich in a butter white wine sauce.

We are love ETTO pasta shop. That is a must visit, their shop carries some of the most creative and fun ingredients. Now having the attached restaurant, that is just an added bonus. Delicious food, fun atmosphere and friendly staff, oh and their creative wine selection. A perfect spot for lunch or dinner.

Paso Robles Wine Merchant, heading in there you are greeted by a smile. The wine selection of local and regional wines is superb. They are always introducing me to a new wine or varietal that I am not familiar with. Their food menu is as farm to table as you can get. Fresh, flavorful and creative!

Thursday Farmers Market in SLO is always a great time, if you love cheese, go find SLO Meltdown and get your cheese on. Then walk around grabbing the amazing produce that the central coast has to offer.

If you are looking for a romantic dinner, Les Petites Canailles. The staff is amazing and attentive, the wine list goes on and on, but Alex will send you in the right direction. I love ordering the tasting menu, I don’t have to think, I can just sit back and always enjoy!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
NOOOO, there is too many that I need to add to the list that supported me, mentored me and I feel the love and support from the wineries I work with, to clients, to friends and family. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support of the community.

Gail Cayetano Classick, Publisher, Edible SLO Magazine / Shop Talk, LA Inc
Her hard work, her ways of balancing home life with work life, Gail has been a mentor to me since the day I met her. She has taken me from being a self-taught chef that loved playing in my kitchen, to becoming Edible SLO Magazine in house chef and recipe developer. She knew what I brought, honestly before I did. She pushed me to share my creativity with others by having the confidence in myself and my cooking ways. She is always there if I need her and always there to support in any way that she can. I couldn’t imagine my life being what it is today without her.

Michelle Barrera , EnjoySLO / At Her Table
You know those people that when you feel like your overwhelmed, burning out on all ends, crying for no reason, well this gem can pull me right out of that and somehow give me superpower strengths that I had no idea I had. Her approach towards community and support is one of the most important skills that Michelle has taught me. She puts things into perspective, she cracks me up, she supports my crazy ideas and is another one that has always been there, no matter what time of day it is. I also love feeding her things that she “doesn’t like” but now loves!

Teresa and Jimmy Leal, Pros Well Testing
Eric and I have always dreamt of opening up our brewery / restaurant / deli. After visiting Parma Italy, we had the most incredible meal. We walked through an Italian deli straight back to a seated Michelin Star dining experience. After that meal both of us had the dream to bring an experience like that to life. We were still living in Chicago, so didn’t know where that would be, we thought that was another good 10 years down the road. Well, Teresa and Jimmy, we met through our friend Susan and Tracy Williams, another huge support couple in our lives. They have had tastings with me, coursed dinners, Eric has shared his beer from Firestone with them, he has given them tours. Well move forward 3 years, we began discussing our end goal dream. Alyssa Du Bois (their daughter) and partner Bud Cole had a similar vision, they own Primal Meat Co. It clicked! This is how we get our butcher / deli into this end goal vision. We all agreed, and I am not even kidding, we found the building that the future Fruchroom will be the following day. Everything fell into place just like that. Teresa and Jimmy carry all badges especially in the love, encouragement and the help and support we have from them to build our dream.

Justin Lewis, Chef, Culinary Crypto Consulting, your support and mentorship. Justin and I met almost 7 years ago. My husband introduced us at an event that he was working at. He was serving an ahi wonton taco; I took a bite and swore because it was so delicious. He has been a part of our life ever since. He is always there to support me with anything I need. From questions to cooking to being right next to me designing my future kitchen.

Website: pairwithchefrachel.com / others coming soon!

Instagram: pair_with_chef_rachel / cellarfermentation

Yelp: Pair With Chef Rachel

Image Credits
Jennifer Olson Images