We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristi Capone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kristi, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
By devouring everything I can get my hands on – books, magazines, even some videos. I read and study voraciously, because creativity stems from my influences. Even chatting with like-minded people spurs a creative idea.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a plant-based personal chef, and my business, called Avocado., has been around since 2016. I create meals for folks – from singles, couples, and whole families – who aspire to have or already enjoy a healthy, plant-based lifestyle. Many of these folks are professionals who are time-crunched or don’t enjoy cooking, so I am hired to solve those issues. I take immense pleasure in preparing healthful, beautifully-crafted meals, whether it’s a formal dinner for four, or fridge-to-oven ready meals.
In 2023 I expanded Avocado.’s reach by offering vegan and vegetarian cooking classes. I hold one or two classes per month, in an intimate setting of no more than 5 students at a time, so we can better focus on what’s being taught. So far, my students have learned to craft vegan dairy, cheese, and ‘sausage’. I’m always happy to share a few tricks of the trade and help folks become more confident in the kitchen. I’m working up a plan to teach kids in the kitchen, as well.
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?
Being positively obsessed with food since I was young has been a huge help, obviously! As I said previously, studying and learning more and more about what obsesses you can only project you into the role of a master…eventually.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents almost never left me at home with a sitter when they went out to eat. I always joined them on culinary adventures. We ate in some of the finest restaurants in the country, and also in some of the simplest. We enjoyed French cuisine in Cincinnati, Szechuan in San Francisco, steaks and seafood in San Diego; but also ate the humble array of food in down-home cafeterias in Mississippi, and and simple Cuban food in Miami. My mom and dad had adventurous palates and they ensured that I did, as well, which still holds true today!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.avocadostpete.com
- Instagram: avocadostpete
- Facebook: avocadostpete
