Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Cuaresma.
Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have had a passion and love for food and cooking since I was young. I always loved to watch cooking shows and try out new recipes with friends and family. I began taking on the challenge of Thanksgiving dinner by myself at the age of 15 and since then I never stopped cooking it!
After high school graduation, I wanted to attend culinary school but decided to pursue nursing. I began taking classes towards my nursing degree, but my parents soon saw that it was not truly my passion and gave me their blessings to give culinary school a chance. I immediately applied to culinary school, got multiple jobs in kitchens around San Diego and was eager to grow my culinary career.
I was living a very busy life, and so I would prepare all my meals in advance for the busy week to avoid spending money eating out and eating unhealthy food. I would post my meals on social media and eventually I had a lot of friends and family asking me to meal prep for them. I worked in several kitchens over the years, constantly learning and perfecting my craft. I eventually landed a job as a sous chef at a fine dining restaurant in downtown San Diego.
With such a hectic schedule and never being home, meal prepping was such a savior for me. While working as a sous chef, I was still creating meals on my days off. The demand grew higher, and I eventually had to make a decision on what path to take. I decided on the ready-to-eat meal prep business, and that is how Good Eats and Sweet Treats was born.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like any small start-up business, it has not been easy. There are always hiccups to overcome, but I just take everything as a learning experience. Some days are busier than others, but there is always something to do. I do all of the marketing, which is primarily done through social media, so I am constantly updating my website, taking pictures, and posting. I am constantly comparing pricing, trying to get the best bang for my buck, which is extremely important in a small business.
When I started Good Eats and Sweet Treats, the first thing I did was purchase my containers and Tupperware. I was so excited to start cooking for people! Then I built the website, which I am actually extremely proud of since I am not computer savvy at all. I’ve welcomed all kinds of feedback, as this is a learning experience for me, and I want to make sure people are satisfied with the final product.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Good Eats and Sweet Treats – what should we know?
Good Eats and Sweet Treats is a nutritious and delicious ready-to-eat meal service based in San Diego, California. We strive to use the freshest products available, offering something for every type of palate and dietary restriction. Our menu changes weekly, which gives the option to try new and exciting meals. We offer lunch, dinner, private dinners, private in-home cooking and catering services.
Good Eats and Sweet Treats cook all different types of food, ranging from Filipino cuisine to Mexican to catering to all different allergies and dietary restrictions. As a company I most proud of 2 things. The first thing that I am most proud of is how far Good Eats and Sweet Treats has come since I have started it. There were so many times where I questioned myself, but I kept believing in it and never gave up. I have a great support system, so I am proud of every bit of success that I have had.
The second thing that I am most proud of, and what I believe sets us apart from other ready-to-eat small businesses, is the amount of give-backs, charities and fundraisers that we take part in. We have partnered with some great people and I am so proud of how much we are able to give back to the community. Good Eats and Sweet Treats has collected numerous toys for Rady’s Children’s Hospital, canned goods for the San Diego Food Bank and has donated in other various ways to non-profits throughout San Diego. We love to give back to the community and host events to help raise money and awareness for good causes.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Throughout my successes, I have had so many supporters throughout the years. Douglas Hasker, Head Brewer at Gordon Biersch Brewery has helped me a lot in my growth. Doug gave me a chance a few years back when he asked me if I would be interested in doing a food and beer pairing with him when I was working at Gordon Biersch.
I created 4 different desserts and paired each of them with a freshly crafted beer. We had a great turn out, which led to more food and beer pairings, which later evolved to charity and fundraiser events and a greater following at other breweries, like Rock Bottom La Jolla. Doug Hasker gave me a great start to my career by working with me and getting my name out there. Doug is not only a great brewer, but he is also a mentor and a good friend of mine.
My fiance, Steve has been my rock through everything. He has been with me from the start of my culinary journey.
Steve has been with me through the transition of nursing school to culinary school, working multiple jobs at the same time, to my crazy 70 hour work weeks. Steve has been so supportive in all aspects of Good Eats and Sweet Treats, whether it be de-shelling 15 lbs of shrimp, to helping me with my accounting.
My friends and family have also been great, spreading the word to their friends and family and helping expand my business. They have also been extremely supportive when it comes to taste-testing. Most importantly, I am thankful to my parents for being so supportive in my culinary career and helping me chase my dreams. Their support means the world to me and I could never thank them enough.
Pricing:
- $10- each meal
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GoodEatsAndSweetTreats.org
- Phone: (858)371-8986
- Email: GoodEatsAndSweetTreatsCo@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.cuaresma.cooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodEatsandSweetTreatsCo/
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
