Every great recipe starts with a pinch of love, a dash of chaos, and—if you’re lucky—a chef who knows his way around a spice cabinet in any kitchen. Enter Chef Rich Tischler, the culinary wizard behind Dicky T’s Spice Blend. Rich graduated culinary school in 1998 and has spent over 25 years running fancy fine-dining kitchens, which is just a creative way of saying he’s been making food taste amazing since before Google existed.

Rich met Kara Rambasek later in life and promptly “spiced up her world.” (She’ll tell you it was love at first bite.) Some couples Netflix and chill—Rich and Kara spice and thrill. Kara is a Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner by day and the official spice hype-woman by night. Basically, she heals guts and fills them—talk about multitasking.

Of course, no family business is complete without siblings and in-laws. Marne and Aaron are the proud parents of six amazing kids (yes, six—so trust us when we say they know their way around a family-sized meal). Marne is the sweet, motherly workhorse behind Dicky T’s, keeping the wheels turning and the spice flowing while still managing to wrangle a small army at home. Aaron, on the other hand, is a witty and wildly successful commercial real estate executive who knows a good deal—and a good product—when he sees one. Together, they’re proof that behind every great spice blend, there’s a mom with endless energy and a dad with a sharp eye.

The whole thing started when Rich began whipping up custom spice blends for Marne and Aaron’s big family of eight—stored in gallon-sized Ziplocs like some kind of delicious contraband. The kids devoured every last bite, and suddenly, Dicky T’s Spice Blend was born.

Now, this family of food lovers is on a mission to make meals everywhere taste like they’ve been blessed by a chef, approved by a nurse, organized by a mom, and marketed by a guy who knows a good deal when he sees one.

Because at the end of the day, life’s too short for bland food—or bland company. Together, they’re on a mission to spice up kitchens everywhere—one shake at a time.

Chef Rich Tischler was born and raised in Strongsville, Ohio—where he learned two important things early on: good friends make life flavorful, and nothing beats a Cleveland meal done right. After graduating from Strongsville High, Rich took his talents (and appetite) to Pennsylvania for culinary school, sharpening his knives and his spice. 

His love for Cleveland eventually brought him home, where he’s been serving up fine dining and bold flavors for over 25 years. Known for his quick wit and fearless approach in the kitchen, Rich believes food should never be boring—and neither should the chef.

When he’s not behind the grill or crafting his next blend for Dicky T’s Spice Co., you’ll find him in Avon Lake with his wife and kids, cooking up laughter, memories, and maybe a little chaos.