Our Story
Built on Good Food, Hard Work, and Hospitality
Chef Zachary and Lydia came together through a shared love of food, hospitality, and creating experiences that make people feel taken care of. With Chef Zachary’s culinary background and Lydia’s years in hospitality and operations, Zalt & Co. was built from the ground up with a simple goal: serve great food, take care of people, and bring a little heart to every plate. What started as a shared vision has grown into a business rooted in hard work, community, and the belief that good food has a way of bringing people together.
Chef Zachary Ahrenholtz
Chef Zach, born and raised in the great state of Iowa, and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. He has proudly called California home for nearly 20 years. His culinary journey has taken him from the Napa Valley to Nevada County, where he played a pivotal role in the reopening of the historic Holbrooke Hotel. A true craftsman and innovator, Chef Zach and his father spent six days building his own smoker, a labor of love that has become a cornerstone of his culinary legacy. Driven by passion, creativity, and a deep-rooted connection to his community, local farms, and artisans, Chef’s grit, hard work, and undeniable talent is the core of Zalt & Co.
Lydia Thomas
Meet the heartbeat of our operation. Lydia, a hospitality powerhouse with a passion for operations, development, and training. With a career spanning over two decades, she has managed, consulted, and opened a diverse range of restaurants, hotels, and resorts, building a reputation for excellence in service and leadership. Born and raised in California, Lydia spent 20 years navigating the twists and turns of military family life across the globe. Now settled in Northern California, she is dedicated to her community, her love for local independent radio, and embracing the joy of having a place to finally call home.
Some things are bought, and some things are built.
Six days. That’s how long it took Chef Zach and his dad to bring it to life. Six days of cutting steel, welding seams, and grinding down rough edges. Six days of measuring, adjusting, stepping back, and making sure every inch was just right.
it was more than building a smoker. It was early mornings with coffee in hand, quiet nods of approval, and the kind of unspoken understanding that happens when a father and son work side by side. It was laughter, problem-solving in real time, laughing at the setbacks, pushing through the long hours, and standing back at the end of it all,
knowing they had created something that would last.
This smoker isn’t just metal and fire. It’s a reminder of those six days ,the work, the bond, the legacy built into every weld.
And every time it’s fired up, that legacy continues.