Meet Christina Ng of Chinita’s Pies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Ng.

Christina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to San Diego 7 years ago from San Francisco, never intending to stay long. However, it was easy to fall in love with 75 degree days and the wonderful community working in food and hospitality, so here I am, still residing here.

After working in a variety of establishments ranging from the organic grocery store to the farm to table food truck, I found my calling in preparing nutritious, thoughtfully sourced meals for occasions as big as weddings to a simple dinner at home. It is truly an honor to represent so many hard-working farmers who are the faces behind our food and I feel like the luckiest cook on Earth to be in such close proximity to them.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not. My initial move to San Diego was spurred by a terrible relationship gone sour, but without it, I would’ve never moved out of my comfort zone and into a totally new environment. Finding my own purpose and self-confidence along the way through food has been one of the most rewarding journeys yet.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chinita’s Pies – what should we know?
Chinita’s Pies began as a small collaboration with a local coffee cart simply for the fact that I liked pie. Most of my kitchen experience was on the savory side, so I stuck with pies as a side project, usually during Thanksgiving. Friends and peers encouraged me to expand for one-off events and fundraisers, applying the same great ideas of sourcing responsibly grown local produce and meat.

As the power and range of social media grew, so did my network and afforded me the pleasure of collaborating with some awesome small businesses, cooking with them at some great events. I’m most proud of the fact that I get to work alongside some of San Diego’s best and brightest, bringing awareness of the CA food system and its delicious possibilities.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Shopping the farmer’s markets bestowed upon me the best support I could’ve asked for. I met my boyfriend 5 years ago in Little Italy and the rest is catered history. He introduced me to the possibility of wide open spaces and along with his family taught me a new perspective of food from the grower’s point of view. With his knowledge, grace, passion and work ethic, he’s motivated me to do my utmost to show each ingredient the respect it deserves.

Pricing:

• Dickinson Farm Farmacy Meal Plan $85/Week

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4157945459
• Email: chinitas.pies@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/chinitaspies

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