Ever since she was 12 years old, Janet Dunphy cooked for others, and since then, her cooking has been something everyone looks forward to, to this day, 49 years later. Janet's success started from word of mouth and making meals for family and friends. Once she began sharing her meals on Instagram, is when her business took off.
The Kitchen on County Line LLC was started in August of 2021 by the creator and chef, Janet Dunphy. The idea behind the name? In a smaller section of Philadelphia called Somerton sat a 100+-year-old stone house on the corner of County Line Road. It was a family home, one where Janet raised all of her seven children. The kitchen is where Janet greeted guests, where she held large family dinners and celebrations, and where memories started almost every night.
On December 16, 2007, Janet and her family lost that same home and belongings to a house fire. But, what stayed put were the memories started in that kitchen that her family cherishes to this day. Janet mentions that although it was a devastating time in her family's life, they now celebrate that date together. She says the kitchen that once remained on County Line Road still holds a special place in her family's heart.
"It wasn't just a house to us. That home is where my children grew up, where we held wedding showers, celebrated birthdays, the family parties, it's about where the memories took place. The fire only made us closer as a family because we had that scary awakening thought of what would we do without each other?" says Janet.
At the Kitchen on County Line, you can find varied dishes such as Shrimp Scampi, Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Penne Vodka, Chicken Parm, Sausage Peppers/Onions, Homemade Meatballs, Roasted Vegetables, and Greek Mediterranean Salad.
Janet is in the works of creating a website for The Kitchen on County Line where individuals can submit a catering request, find her menu, read stories, and more. But, for now, Individuals can find the full menu on her Instagram's 'highlight" page named Menu Items. It i also where individuals can message Janet for all of their catering needs.
Aside from posting items from her menu on Instagram, Janet also shares updates on her catering events and even plans on sharing more step-by-steps of her creations. For instance, she shared a step-by-step of ingredients used to make her sauce for one of her Sunday family dinners.
Cooking isn't the only thing that Janet has a passion for. She's also been writing a novel called The Kitchen on County Line that she shares will be a memoir of family, food, and the home that held them all.
"This is something I've been working on for years. I'm excited to share it with others," says Janet.
When asked what inspired her to start writing a book, Janet says she started writing down recipes after the fire because she lost her grandmother's handwritten ones in the fire. She mentions that she has so many recipes to share and stories to tell from the house.
"I wanted to memorialize a home, my very first home I felt safe in, and one I spent all those years building," says Janet.
Here is a sneak peek of her book, The Kitchen on County Line:
For more information and updates on The Kitchen on County Line or if interested in booking Janet to cater an event, visit her page on Instagram. Janet says individuals can also email her for any inquiries at thekitchenoncountyline@gmail.com.
