Janelle Ochs, who hates capital letters, wanted to provide more grab-and-go options for the outdoorsy Durango community, so she developed nosh, a to-go charcuterie, snack board and grazing table business.
Ochs got the idea while enjoying cheese boards at cocktail hour over Christmas with her family.
“I thought it was super fun – pairings cheese with different breads and different types of olives, meat and crackers,” she said.
Since January, Ochs has been working on making her website, developing her recipes and getting the necessary licenses. She launched nosh on opening day of this year’s Durango Farmers Market.
Ochs has always had a passion for food and has worked in kitchens throughout high school, college and beyond. She’s also always wanted to work for herself, and nosh is the first real business she’s started.
Ochs’ grab-and-go boxes feature mostly local ingredients. She uses Bread’s bread, cheese from James Ranch and Breen Mesa Farms, Long Table Farm vegetables, Sunnyside Farms’ beef sticks, chocolate from Animas Chocolate Co. and Durango Artisan Foods’ jams and mustard. Everything she can’t source locally, she buys through Durango Natural Foods.
Ochs said nosh is value-based and community-driven.
“Our values are local ingredients, supporting the local businesses, supporting the local people and working with businesses to bring healthy and delicious food to people of Durango and tourists alike,” she said. “I want to work with as many local businesses and nonprofits as possible.”
nosh boxes are for those heading out on a picnic, hike or mountain bike ride, or even for a nice dinner date at home.
“Instead of grabbing a sandwich or a burrito, they have the option to grab one of the charcuterie boxes to-go,” Ochs said. “They are packed really snugly, can fit into a backpack and when you unpack them they still look really nice.”
The boxes are all natural and made up mostly of fats, carbs and proteins, so they serve as good fuel for Durango adventures, she said.
Beyond the basic to-go box options, customers can make special requests for a picnic service, wedding snack bar and more. Ochs uses a red bicycle to tow her food to special events.
nosh will be at the Durango Farmers Market all summer. People can also find Ochs and her red bike around town partnering with local businesses such as Farm to Summit and Lola’s Place.
For more information, visit noshdurango.com.
