Name
Kenneth Fraker
Company/Organization
Iron Shoe Distillery
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
At the Iron Shoe we distill a variety of spirits, and serve some of the best food around.
Age
24
Accomplishments
The Iron Shoe is the second restaurant I’ve been head chef at within the last four years. Furthermore, within both establishments I worked up from the lowest kitchen position.
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
By the age of 40 I plan on opening my own restaurant with my fiancé.
Education
I graduated high-school in the National Honor Society. However I only did about a year and a half of college.
Residence
South Bend, IN
Where were you born?
Waterbury, CT
What was your first job?
My first job was landscaping, at 12 years of age I had a student work permit and worked every summer/school year.
Best advice you ever got?
Hard work will always pay off.
Who inspires you most?
My Grandfather, he’s taught me a lot over the years. Things such as how to work with my hands, but also how to be a good person.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
I play 6 musical instruments, and can pick up a few things on most.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
In my downtime I love cooking at home, hanging out with friends, and playing music.
What book are you reading now?
I’m currently not reading anything, my favorite book however is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Anything involving food!
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I just feel that if we all do our part, the community grows stronger. I grew up in a small town in upstate New York where strangers helped one anther a lot. Eventually they weren’t strangers anymore, but had become a well-connected community.
What Superpower would you most love to have? (for example, the ability to fly or to be invisible, or incredible strength, etc)
The super power I’d love the most is a tie between super-speed, and being able to be many places at once.
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
Legacy-wise I would love for those after me to just know that chasing your dreams is worth it.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
This is a great honor to me, I strive to do my best in many aspects of my life. Being on this list means that I’ve come a long way, but also means there’s plenty more to achieve.
