Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendalyn Simsuangco.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brendalyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Leaf It B. has been a lifetime in the making. I’ve always loved being in the kitchen with my mom since I was little. She taught me the basics of marrying flavors and textures of the Pacific and Asian Islands. As an adult, cooking turned into a hobby, my happy place to relax, create, and an opportunity to gather and serve my family and friends. The smiles and reactions to the meals I provided were all the satisfaction I needed to start planning for the next gathering where I would be able to provide another successful meal.
Fast forward to life after marriage to my husband in the Marine Corp. two children with very busy schedules, and a very demanding full time job, it was difficult to find time for my hobby, but the need to rough it up in the kitchen never dissipated. Being an active duty Marine Corp. spouse meant several months to a year being a single mom, juggling the responsibility of adapting to our new homes throughout the years, and longing for routine and comfort. Holidays without my husband Joel and several meals without my family as a whole made me realize the significance of gathering as a family to enjoy a home cooked meal.
That’s exactly what I want to offer others; a home cooked meal, with Islander/Asian fusion roots that feels like love, comfort, care, joy, and togetherness.
Our menu is inspired by my childhood memories of waking up to the aroma of fried garlic, onions, and tomatoes on a Saturday morning. From the kitchen window, I remember watching my father use a large machete to cut down long banana leaves in our backyard. After the leaves were cleaned and trimmed, he used these leaves to encase a serving of rice and meat. The essence of the banana leaf infused the rice, and it was ready to eat. Like my mother, father, sisters, and I would sit around the table and unwrap our delicate packages, I remember the excitement of our Saturday tradition, and felt thankful for the opportunity to experience my culture at my fingertips through a traditional technique.
As I grew older, I understood that it wasn’t just about the yummy food I enjoyed, but it was also about the method of serving, the tradition of meals together, and the authenticity of my upbringing, and culture that I cherished. This is what Leaf It B. serves. A traditionally prepared mix of Islander/Asian fusion food, wrapped in a eco-friendly, and fully compostable cone, for your modern enjoyment.
We also focus on tradition, authenticity, and community, which is why we use fully compostable materials to wrap, serve, and eat our food with. Each banana leaf cone that encompasses the food comes with a utensil made of birch wood. When done with your meal, these items can simply be disposed of in the compost bin. Our waste takes a mere two to four weeks to decompose in a commercial composting plant. Which is seconds compared to the years it takes for a plastic fork or spoon to decompose. Consumer responsibility and sustainability are at the forefront of Leaf It B’s vision. We believe in the value of our world and the sustainability of our community and our customers, in addition to enjoying cultural diversity in our food. That’s why our mission is: DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE GUILT-FREE CONSUMER, ONE LEAF AT A TIME.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Having no prior experience in starting a catering and events business, it was a struggle just learning what tools and resources to put in your pocket to be able to get the business up and running. And then there was a huge learning curve when deciding how and where to start doing business. Thankfully, San Diego festivals are very welcoming to new food businesses. But then we had to decide what to serve, how much to prepare, what type of signage and marketing to do before, during, and after the event? How important is social media and how do we maximize our marketing efforts? Imagine a huge bus filled with paperwork and check off lists that need to be completed, heading straight at you at 100 miles per hour, and you don’t even know where to start. That’s what it felt like.
Also transitioning from a 9-5 to a job, to what seemed like a 8 am-10 pm shift, because your mind is going in all directions, and it seems like you’re working for pennies… I guess that’s what having a start-up business is like, in all its glory. Of course, there were some events that we did not do so well, but being optimistic is key to having a business. So in 2020, we will be more prepared and knowledgeable about how to tackle the downfalls of 2019. Another big struggle that I had to get past is juggling time with my two kids at home and having to conduct business every waking moment. I remember having to ask my 14 year old to find ways to help me with the business, and home responsibilities, begging my seven year old to “please behave”, and apologizing every day for forgetting to attend a game, an awards ceremony, be the snack mom for the day, or just not having enough time to sit and eat with the kids. I remember promising them that everything would calm down after a couple of months. Of course, it took more than a couple of months, but I had to learn to prioritize and delegate, and we got through it as a family. 2019 was a year of struggles, but also a year of celebration.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Leaf It B. is a catering and events company that specializes in Islander/Asian Fusion eats. We have a vast menu to choose from and offer vegetarian options as well. We understand how demanding it can be to plan ANY gathering, so we offer a fully customizable menu to help with the planning and execution. Our food is the healthier, heartier option when it comes to indulging in traditional flavors of the Pacific and Asian Islands. All our menu items are twice cooked, enabling us to drain natural fats away, concentrate the flavors of the proteins, and then marinated and stewed in their finishing sauces. Our method of cooking ensures the natural flavors are locked in while accenting the rich tastes of traditional herbs and sauces. Apart from our flavors, we aim to eliminate one time to use waste with our completely compostable serving style. We ONLY serve our food in 100% compostable material, from our banana leaf cones to kraft paper materials, birch wood forks, and plant fiber cups. We are an eco-friendly company that aims to spread knowledge to our community about ways to preserve our Mother Earth. We don’t “just sell food”. We take every opportunity to talk to our customers about the significance of serving our food in banana leaf cones, and other ways to eliminate waste. We believe that raising awareness is a crucial step to environmental responsibility. Leaf It B. is proud to offer amazing cultural meals and a traditional experience as a platform to promote eco-friendly living.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure there was any luck involved in where Leaf It B. is today, because I feel like it was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears the entire way. What I can say is that I am extremely lucky to have met several other San Diego small business owners. It’s like we’re our little community of hard working people who are so driven, and willing to share our experiences, advice, and ideas. One thing is for sure, in any situation, surrounding yourself with like-minded, supportive individuals has proven to be so rewarding. We are lucky though, to live in San Diego, where the markets are plentiful, and the festivals are never ending. The people of San Diego are so supportive of trying new food and sharing their experiences through social media. I can say we are lucky to have such supportive followers and clients. We can contribute to the majority of our success to our new and returning customers.
Pricing:
- Our catering prices are extremely affordable and customizable. We allow our clients to choose from our banana leaf cone meal service, drop off service; which allows you to order party trays to fit your needs, or our full service buffet with servers; for the ultimate show stopping party experience. Banana leaf cone service for 75 or more people: • 11.00/per person. o Banana leaf cone serving with choice of 2 proteins, rice, veggie toppings, and topped with an over easy egg, crushed garlic chicharon, and sauce station. Includes all utensils, delivery, set up, and clean up fee.
- Drop off party tray service, available in ½ tray or full try sizes • Vegetable entrées- $40.00-$90.00 • Chicken and pork entrées- $45.00-$100.00 • Beef entrées- $55.00-$115.00 • Salmon and shrimp entrées- $60.00-$130.00
- In general the prices for full service buffet catering are as follows: • 25-50 guests 15.00 per person o Choice of 2 proteins or veggie dishes, noodle dish, 3 gallons of a specialty drink, rice, veggie toppings, and crushed garlic chicharon. • 55+ guests 14.00 per person o Choice of 3 proteins/veggie dishes, noodle or specialty fried rice dish, 3 gallons of a specialty drink, rice, veggie toppings, and crushed garlic chicharon.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://leafitb.org
- Phone: 619.494.1263
- Email: leafitb18@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leaf.it.b
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaf.itb
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leaf-it-b-san-diego
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