SchoolHouse Kitchen is a family venture: the company was initially launched by Patsy in 2005 with the cheers support of her family and friends.

In 2007 Patsy’s daughter, Wendy Wheeler Smith, formally joined SchoolHouse Kitchen as president, allowing Patsy to go back to doing what she loves, cooking in the kitchen. Prior to SchoolHouse Kitchen, Wendy has worked as a private investigator for The James Mintz Group, lived and worked in Spain, and spent eight years in the photography industry, working as a magazine editor and a director of a photography studio and production company.

Patsy’s son, Christopher M. Smith, is SchoolHouse Kitchen's design director. Christopher operates EAST MAIN, a design consultancy, is founding partner and design director for the lighting company Blackbird, and teaches at California College of the Arts.

The Smith family has been influenced and helped by wonderful friends over the years, and we believe that our company would be very different if these people had not been present in our lives.

Mildred Hornbeck cared for our family and countless others throughout her life. She taught children and parents alike the meaning of truth, integrity, and love. "Horntoad," as we affectionately called her, had many sayings that we continue to recite today. “I love you with a purple passion” and "you are the sweet essence of squadrilla seed" are two of our family favorites, and the latter was the inspiration for naming our Squadrilla Orange Chili Chutney.

Patsy's longtime friend, Betsy Dingwell, shared her recipe for our SweetSmoothHot Mustard with the caveat that the recipe remain secret and that any profits made be used for the good of the public (or nonprofits). Along with Patsy’s commitment to education, this wish helped inspire the mission of our company.

Mary Jean Jacobi, or "Jellybean" as we called her, was a cooking partner with Patsy for many years. Together they attended cooking schools and later hosted fundraising dinners where they were the star chefs.

Patsy's dear friend, Nan Bardshar Dillon Joyce, was good enough to share her family’s chutney recipe, and it became a part of the Smith family’s treasured recipes, which today you may enjoy as Bardshar Chutney. To all these dear friends—we say thank you.