A cottage kitchen that grew into a storefront. Benjamin Young — known to everybody as Chef Benny — and Denise Young started Mitts 2 Pits out of their home, and never stopped cooking the long way.
Mitts 2 Pits started at home. A couple of years in a shared kitchen, a business cohort, and a lot of long nights later, Benny and Denise opened the doors downtown at 215 W Michigan Ave.
Benny runs the kitchen. Denise runs the business. Three kids, one recipe box, and a plan for every step. Nothing on the board is a shortcut — the brisket smokes for sixteen hours, the mac is built on a rice-flour roux, and the fries are cut by hand.
It began as home cooking for family and friends — soul food made the long way, no shortcuts.
A couple of years in a shared commercial kitchen, plus a business cohort to learn the numbers.
The red storefront opened at 215 W Michigan Ave in downtown Battle Creek.
Soul Food Sundays, a weekly board, and catering across southwest Michigan.
No bag mixes, no shortcuts. 16-hour brisket, hand-cut fries, roux from scratch.
Every fryer basket is gluten free, gravy included — so the whole table can eat.
Owner-operated by Benny and Denise. You're treated like family the second you walk in.
The board rotates weekly, and Soul Food Sundays is a standing invitation.
215 W Michigan Ave · Downtown Battle Creek · (269) 224-4862
