We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris Mclaurin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
One of the mantras I have in my head is that there are a set number of meals in your life. Hopefully that number is high but to me it means take every meal and enjoy it. Whether simple or extravagant get the pleasure and joy out of each bite. And to me this isn’t just limited to food – learn lessons from the past and plan for the future but by living in the present it’s easier to stay grounded, thankful, and optimistic.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Lutra is a cafe and bakery coming to Durham and the Triangle. We are currently doing regular weekly pop-ups while we look for a brick and mortar location. We focus on sweet and savory buns and will offer breakfast and lunch once we have a permanent home. At our heart we aim to make craveable food that’ll put a smile on your face. We truly believe our motto, that there’s joy in every bun and bite! Lutra means otter in Latin. Otters are playful, full of joy, and a bit mischievous – all things I like to think could also apply to a bakery.
Lutra is here through the support of so many people. Friends, family, and amazing professional mentors have encouraged us along the way. Starting with pop-ups and a more limited menu has meant getting to test and refine our offerings and really come to find what guests are looking for.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be a sponge and pay attention. There’s something new to learn every day. Work with people that you admire and ask questions. There’s no shame in being new to a skill or task but take notes and learn your trade piece by piece. I also find it really helpful to leave your ego at the door. Coupled with this is finding the level and quality of work that you’re proud of and do that. Is execution and refinement what does it for you or the sense of accomplishment after a high volume service? Matching the role to your aspirations is important!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Some of my favorite pop-ups so far with Lutra have been collaborations. It’s really rewarding working with local chefs to develop specials that speak to each of us. I think the White Miso Gingersnap Bun colab with Rose’s was one of my favorites. We took one of my all time favorite desserts in the Triangle and adapted it to Bun format. As I move to a brick and mortar space I’m excited to continue collaborating. These projects are fun, keep things interesting, and I think are interesting to guests!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lutrabakery.com
- Instagram: lutrabakery
Image Credits
Chris McLaurin
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