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SALT LAKE CITY — It was five years ago when Susie Bulloch wrote some goals down, one of them quite lofty. She, a wife and mother of three from Utah, wanted to be on the Food Network, cooking in front of millions of viewers. That goal — which was not only written, but painstakingly striven for — is becoming a reality.
On Saturday, the Food Network will air a special titled "Grill Power" featuring Bulloch and her family as she prepares a grill-powered meal for her daughter’s birthday.
Being featured on the Food Network, however, was not Bulloch’s primary goal, nor her secondary. According to Bulloch, creating a way to help provide for her family that would also empower women was her driving force.
"I started a website five years ago with the goal of representing women in the barbecue space," she said. "I wanted to help encourage women to be more comfortable and confident in the backyard. I also wanted to be able to retire my husband, Todd, from his job so that we could live this entrepreneurial lifestyle."
Since beginning her "Hey Grill, Hey" blog, which focuses on her unique grill recipes and techniques, Bulloch has accomplished many things to land her where she is today. She has been featured on several TV cooking segments including KSL’s "Studio 5" and Food Network’s "Beat Bobby Flay." Her recipes have won awards and led her to create her own line of rubs and spices.
The best part of the success, Bulloch says, has been what it has done for her family.
"We are a family business," she said. "My husband and kids taste test everything, and my recipes always have to pass the family taste test. Working together with my husband to build our business has been great, and having him home with the kids has brought our family together. Our youngest child is 6 years old, and he doesn’t remember a time when Todd wasn’t home with us."
Todd Bulloch said he embraces the role of taste tester and that he is proud of his wife for all she has accomplished.
"I am lovingly nicknamed Taste Test Todd because I have to pass off on any recipe that Susie shares," he said. "I also help manage and run our rub and sauce company, Patio Provisions. It has been awesome to see Susie put something out into the universe that seemed so crazy impossible and have it actually happen. It has been a roller coaster and a super fun ride."
The ride that the Bulloch family has been on the past five years, Susie Bulloch says, is coming full circle with the upcoming Food Network special.
"When I began this journey, my goal was to show women and mothers that they can be comfortable behind the grill, and I wanted to create an income for my family that would bring us closer together," she said. "The Food Network special shows me with my family, doing what we love, which is being together and eating great food."
"Grill Power" will air Saturday at 11:30 a.m. MDT.
