Chris is one of those entrepreneurs with seemingly limitless energy and business acumen.
It’s hard to believe Chris started her successful raw food catering in her own home kitchen just four years ago. Harvest Espresso was one of the very first cafes to stock her unique @rawbychris products.
It has been truly heartening to see Chris continue to continue grow and develop her businesses with true personality and creativity.
With her own retail shop @littlerawdeli just a few minutes drive away from our cafe, you have no excuse not to pop in and grab a raw, vegan, gluten free treat for yourself.
Thanks Chris for joining our #welcometoharvestespresso interview series!⠀
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Where did you grow up ~ I was lucky enough to grow up in a small historical town by the Black Sea. My childhood memories consist of long careless summers, family picnics in the forest and running through my grand parents’ little vineyard. I also did grow up in communist times so I remember the rationing of food (bananas were a hot commodity!), restrictions on basic liberties and the fall of the Berlin Wall which led to a lot of uprising in Europe.⠀
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Ultimate comfort food when you were a kid ~ Whole baked potatoes in a wood fired oven. It brings back the dearest memories. Our family would gather around the wood fired oven, my brother and I would draw pictures of cute animals, monsters and princesses, while our parents would tell us stories (often time made up on the spot). We would fall asleep there, next to the warm oven, in our parents arms, feeling safe and loved.⠀
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Not to mention it is by far the most delicious way to cook a potato. You wrap a potato in aluminium foil and place it on hot, red coals after the fire has gone out. The skin turns very very crispy while the center of the potato remains soft and moreish. All you need to do is crack it open, slather a bit of butter (vegan nowadays for me) and a pinch of salt, and you’re in heaven.⠀
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Regular morning drink order ~ Long black please. Hold the sugar and the fancies.
What do you do & how did you get to that role ~ I’ve always been lucky to be able to do what I love. I moved to Australia 5 years ago. Prior to that, I was National Advisor for the United Nations, doing community work in poorer areas, working a lot with disadvantaged groups and minorities. That’s basically my background for which I only prepared for 10 years.
Moving here, I landed in a desk job, which was not very fulfilling. So I decided to pursue another passion – cooking. Cooking, combined with my love for fresh produce and healthy eating, plus a sprinkle of non stop hard work, somehow led to publishing a cookbook last year and running my 2 businesses today,
Raw by Chris (beautiful, healthy raw desserts) and Little Raw Deli (a shoe box of a vegan deli, with gorgeous, homemade type of food and drop dead delicious pancakes).
I’m counting my blessings for what I can do every day and for the wonderful people who work with me.
Best part of living in Perth ~ I know the beaches are great, however what I am most grateful for is the support and advice given by local governments to small business.
Where did you last travel to ~ New Zealand. It was magic. I ‘learned’ to snowboard. Except I didn’t really, I just came back with a ton of bruising, unable to sit down for a week, but with a full heart.
Most delicious dish you’ve eaten this week ~ I made what is probably my best curry to date. I’ve had it for 3 straight days and would have it tonight too if there was any left.
Three of your most frequented Instagram accounts
Definitely my own 3 accounts
@talesofakitchen
@rawbychris
@littlerawdeli
I’m the one managing our business Insta & FB accounts so I’m there A LOT. Every post, message and comment – it’s me!
What do you want to be doing in 12 months time ~ Considering it’s the 1st of Jan, this time next year I hope to be on holiday and spend Christmas and NYE with lots of snow and my family.
Harvest espresso cafe is …. is managed by the kindest and most supportive people. You believed in me and my business since the very beginning 4 years ago!
You’ve taken our products into your gorgeous café, you ran high teas with us when we were nobody, you promoted us without expecting anything in return and often extended kind words and encouragements just because.
I love you guys! Not only are you good people, you make gorgeous food and always happy to accommodate my quirky dietary requirements.
A massive thank you to both Catherine and Chris for allowing me to publish this post.
Please support these fabulously talented and clever, local ladies who work tirelessly and add so much to this fantastic Community of ours.
