Originally from South Korea, Michiana chef Sunny Kaminski settled in Mishawaka in 1992 when she was just 22 years old after briefly living in North Liberty. She operated Sunny’s Korean Restaurant for just over 30 years before beginning Sunny’s Gourmet Products.
When she first came to the United States, Kaminski fell in love with the country. She arrived empty-handed, but she quickly discovered ways to flourish both personally and professionally. The nation’s landscapes weren’t the only things she came to adore – she also found love itself, marrying her husband a few years after her arrival.
This passion Kaminski has for cooking was born in her homeland – she’s loved to cook since an early age. Between the ages of 4 and 5, she used to spend time watching the adults around her make various dishes in the kitchen. It didn’t matter whether they involved meat or vegetables, she quickly caught on while watching her family cook. Once she turned 12, she finally began preparing her own entrées.
Korean radish became Kaminski’s best friend early on, and she learned to create seven dishes using it when she was younger. Her aunt played a crucial role in showing her how to prepare foods properly – Kaminski possesses fond memories of watching her elegantly grate garlic and ginger. The process of coming to operate her own business wasn’t much of an elegant one, however.
“Cooking was the only thing I could work with in a place where I didn’t speak the language at first. I hadn’t thought about the restaurant business much, but I sought to learn about it, so I started waitressing,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe how much I was shaking my first day. I went through with it, and I eventually told myself, ‘If I can work for somebody else, I can do it on my own.’”
The drive Kaminski utilized decades ago lives on today. While she closed her restaurant in 2023, she continued on as a distributor, switching over to selling sauces. She calls her newest culinary venture Sunny’s Gourmet Products. Bottles of hers have even wound up on shelves in European countries such as Poland and Germany.
Being a manufacturer brings its challenges, but Kaminski manages. Her grit and enthusiasm for sharing good tastes with others helps her carry on, and her national distribution network enables her to accomplish just that. The mere act of fixing toothsome recipes provides her with a sense of fulfillment.
“What I do now is fulfilling because, with the flavors of the sauces, I can share them all with the community,” she said. “I really honor that, and some seem to love it, so that always gives me a better feeling about the importance of my job. I’ve gone to the top of the world with it.”
Another matter related to her work that Kaminski finds challenging is connecting. She sometimes struggles to connect with other businesses while looking for and checking out stores where her products could possibly be sold. However, she constantly continues to persist and recently went out to Dallas, Texas to market. The huge grocery stores over there keep her excited for the future of her business’ potential reach.
The efforts Kaminski puts toward her vocation don’t go unnoticed. The Mishawaka Business Association (MBA) awarded her its Business of the Year distinction earlier this year. She remains humble about her many accomplishments.
“A lady from the MBA tried to get a hold of me. I didn’t answer, but she left a message. I heard back later on, and I talked with someone who answered to say, ‘I wanted to give you good news.’ I asked, ‘What’s the good news?’ Then she said, ‘Your business got nominated,’ and I was soon honored to receive an award from the organization she was part of,” she said.
Whenever there’s room to breathe away from the busyness of her life, Kaminski spreads herself between a handful of hobbies. She enjoys any time out on the green she might get playing golf. Dancing is perpetually fun for her. Additionally she relishes the great outdoors, as she likes gardening and raising flowers.
“I love being outside; I can be there all day long. I never get tired of it. If I get tired, I sit down on the grass,” she said. “It’s a wonderful feeling, and every day I thank God for that, as well as this amazing world we’re living in.”
Kaminski’s first home in Mishawaka holds the most fond memories for her. She managed a business in the city, and she was able to raise children in it, too. There isn’t another place that compares.
“I raised all my kids in Michiana, and I can’t complain. I love working around here. You form friendships fast, and it’s a really nice community,” she said.
One can find Kaminski’s product by following this link: sunnysgourmetproducts.com. They’re also available on Amazon.