Our mission is simple:
Cook boldly, forage mindfully, support locally!
Deja Hart
Co-Founder, Culinary Harts & Owner, Rhed’s Hot Sauce
Deja Hart, co-founder of Culinary Harts and the creative force behind Rhed’s Hot Sauce, is driven by a passion for bold flavors and locally sourced ingredients. She honed her skills as a chef at Chakra, a Thai and Indonesian fusion restaurant in Manhattan Beach, and at the award-winning Relais & Châteaux property, Erna’s Elderberry House in California. Combining her culinary expertise with a love of all things spicy, Deja has built the Rhed’s brand into a nationally recognized name. Inspired by sustainable practices and New England’s bounty, she crafts Rhed’s Hot Sauces, BBQ sauces, and salsas that celebrate local flavor and her culinary background. Deja has received over 30 national awards for Rhed’s and continues to innovate and create exceptional culinary products.
Karsten Hart
Co-Founder, Culinary Harts & Rhed’s Hot Sauce
Chef Karsten Hart, co-founder of Culinary Harts, brings a lifetime of culinary passion shaped by his Louisiana roots and refined in celebrated kitchens across the country. Classically trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, he continued his education under Master Chef Rene Bajeux at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans. After his time in NOLA, Karsten returned to California to lead the kitchen at Erna’s Elderberry House, where he earned the prestigious Grand Chef designation—one of only twenty chefs nationwide to hold the title. His career highlights include serving as Executive Chef at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI, Director of Restaurants for Newport Restaurant Group, and Director of Business Development at Matunuck Oyster Bar recognized as one of the most reputable seafood restaurants in the USA.
Karsten and Deja spend their time
foraging, cooking, and celebrating the rich flavors and natural beauty of New England.
Watch Videos
Watch how we bring wild foods, farm-raised products, and locally crafted goods to life through approachable cooking techniques and creative recipes that celebrate flavor, seasonality, and place.
Local Food
Karsten & Deja curate a collection of locally crafted foods, each made with care, passion, and pride.
Foraging Tools
Gear we trust for exploring nature and harvesting healthier, tastier ingredients found throughout New England.
Culinary Tools
Kitchen tools we love and use every day in our own home kitchen.
Recipes
Discover recipes that celebrate the best of our region — from foraged wild foods and responsibly farmed meats to locally crafted artisan goods. Each dish highlights the ingredients and stories that make New England’s food culture so unique.
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