Dinner Conversation with Rikki Folger

What or who inspired you to pursue your current career? We’d love to hear the story.

It was a desire to be more independent. I enjoyed working in the restaurant industry, but I felt like I was always working for someone else’s dream. I had been interested in hunting for a few years, but that world was tough to jump into, especially with my schedule and lack of experience. The pandemic offered me the opportunity to take a break (in the form of losing my job) and think about what I truly wanted my career, and my future, to look like. I wanted to combine my love for nature with my love for cooking. I created an Instagram account to document my journey with hunting for my food and so far it has been great! 

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?

Both my mom and my dad, in different ways. My mom has always supported me and my passions. She was always there to talk me through my crazy ideas and would show me that they were completely obtainable, I just had to believe in myself and work hard.

My dad showed me that it is okay to forge your own path. He is an entrepreneur and very savvy with business. He is always there to answer my questions, as silly as they can be. 

I don’t think either of them realize how big of a role they’ve played in my success, but I am truly thankful. I was a rebellious, angsty teenager (which is putting it very nicely) and I feel very blessed to have them as parents. 

You recently finished school at Johnson and wales, what's in the plans for your future? 

My plans for the future are always changing, which used to scare me a lot, but I’ve realized how much freedom I now have. As long as I am helping people connect with their food, whether it’s through hunting or buying local foods, I will be happy. 

I am also passionate about advocating for the hunting community. Hunters care about nature and they care about the animals they harvest. Wild game is delicious and I think starting that conversation around the food aspect of it will go a long way. 

The road to success is hard and requires tremendous dedication. This question is obviously a big one, but what advice would you give to a young person who aspires to follow in your footsteps and emulate your success?

There is no single path to success. Be prepared to think outside of the box and don’t listen to the people who say you can’t. You’ll make mistakes and sometimes feel lost, but if you are true to yourself, and what you believe in, you will accomplish amazing things. 

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

 The first book that came to mind was My Side of the Mountain. It’s a children’s book about a boy who left everything he knew to live in the wilderness by himself. He learns how to fish, cook and survive in the natural world. The world can be a busy and stressful place and this book is a great reminder that going out into nature can bring you peace and happiness.  

I think about that book a lot as an adult, and I will absolutely read it to my future children. 

Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?

It’s not a quote per se… But basically it is that you don’t have to wait to live your life. You don’t have to wait to finish college to start (or create) your dream job. You don’t have to wait until you retire to take that month long trip. Life is short and if you keep waiting to do the fun things you may never get to do them.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Can you share them with us?

Right now I am working with a company called Hunt to Eat. They recently announced the release of their first magazine issue this September. You can find one of my recipes there as well as stories written by some pretty amazing hunters. I will be cooking at some of their hunting camps in the next few months.

I am also contributing to Hunting Life magazine. You will find an article or two written by me there.  

Let’s talk about food! What is your favourite cuisine and why? Is there a backstory you can share?

My favorite cuisine would have to be Indian food. I spent quite a lot of time in India when I was seventeen and fell in love with the food and culture. To be honest I have never tried cooking it! It is so special to me and I would hate to mess it up. Every Sunday I order food from my local Indian restaurant. It gives me a break from cooking, and I always have some yummy and spicy food to look forward to.

Are you cooking more often at home now? If yes, do you have a ritual that you follow while cooking? And, do you usually follow recipes or just experiment on your own?

I cook most of my meals at home! I find a ton of recipes on Instagram and online that I want to try. I will generally read the recipe through once to get the overall idea, then I’ll experiment from there. Cooking is how I express my creativity, so I almost never follow a recipe exactly. 

 I love your Instagram there's so many adventures. Especially through wild and foraged can you tell me what's that all about? And how did this project come to life. 

I started Wild & Foraged during the pandemic. I had started cooking with wild game and wanted to share my creations with friends and family. It has become so much bigger than just food though and I am so thankful for that. Because of Wild and Foraged I was able to go on my first hunt, I have been able to connect with incredible chefs and get involved in the hunting community. I was very close to getting off social media altogether, so I am happy it has turned out to be so beneficial.

How can our readers further follow you and your work online or reach out to you?

I have a website called WildandForaged.com that will be updated soon with stories from my adventures, recipes and. You can also find me on Instagram @wild_and_foraged_ and @rikki_folger. I am very active on Instagram so people can always reach me there.