Meet the Owners of Hook to Cook Gourmet Foods, Inc.

Mark and Debbie Hagendorff have been married and successful business partners for over 27 years.  They have resided on the water in Harrison Township Michigan for the past 15 years and are avid boaters.  Mark earned a Bachelors Degree in Biology and minor in Art from the University of Detroit and Debbie earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Management with a minor in Economics from Oakland University. They have  owned and operated a commercial Dental Laboratory for 27 years, giving them a strong background in the every day operations of running a business. 

 Mark and Debbie have been featured in Crains Business Newspaper and USA Today.  They have also been guests on the Geraldo Show, The Today Show and The Health Show.

Mark has a Private Pilots License and they both enjoy flying and golfing but their true passions are boating, cooking and entertaining.  Combining their business skills with their passion for boating, cooking and entertaining, it made a perfect match for a charter business on Lake St. Clair.  Mark obtained his 50 ton captains license and with Debbie as his first mate Hook to Cook became their new charter business.  All types of charters were available, from fishing to dinner cruises.  Combining their flair for entertaining and their talent for cooking gourmet foods, Mark and Debbie would include some excellent food with the charters, often serving pan fried fish that was freshly caught that morning.  These fish were prepared with the Hagendorff’s special fry mix recipe and they ranged from Pistachio Encrusted Walleye to Coconut Perch.  The customers were so elated with the flavor and light & crispy texture of the fish that many of them asked that the Hagendorffs bring these coatings to market.  After 3 years of research and a lot of hard work Hook to Cook Gourmet Foods, Inc. was formed, and is solely owned, by Mark and Debbie.  The Hook to Cook Gourmet Foods product line has grown to 7 different products and available in finer markets in the Metro Detroit area where you can often see Mark and Debbie doing cooking demonstrations to promote the products. 

Mark developed the recipes, created the logo, bag and label design along with the building of the Hook to Cook Gourmet Foods website.  Debbie will always comment on how diversely talented Mark is.  She will be the first to say “in the 27 years we have been married there are only 2 things that Mark has not been able to do:  physically have a baby or fix a lava lamp”! 

 Mark and Debbie have 2 children, Erica and Eric.  Erica is a graduate of The University of Michigan with a Bachelors Degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing and Advertising.  Eric is currently studying for his Bachelors Degree in Computer Technology, specializing in Security.