We recently connected with Amber Caudle and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Thirteen years ago, driven by a desperate need to heal my body, I opened The Source Cafe. Overworking and poor eating habits had taken their toll on my health. I was inflamed, fatigued, overweight, sugar-addicted, stressed, and overall unhappy. This was my wake-up call. Determined to feel better, I embarked on a mission to heal my body and my relationship with food.

From the start, my mission for The Source was clear: to transform how people view and consume food, demonstrating its power to heal and nourish. Every day, I am blessed to make a difference in people’s lives, one meal at a time. I believe what we put into our bodies matters – we either pay now or pay later.

My philosophy is simple: food nourishes us from the inside out. Outer beauty, inner peace, and our physical, mental, and emotional health are all fueled by what we eat. I love showing how delicious healthy food can be. Valuing simplicity and integrity, I use organic and locally sourced ingredients both at home and at The Source Cafe. My cooking style blends the beauty and simplicity of the Mediterranean diet with my own creative, health-inspired twist.

As I healed my relationship with food and my body, I witnessed others’ lives and health change too. My mission remains the same today: to uplift and inspire the community by providing food that fuels and nourishes the mind, body, and soul.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I fell in love with cooking at age three, making homemade pies and jams with my grandmother. Even then, I knew I would be a chef; it was in my genes. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I cooked for family and friends and took cooking classes whenever I could. At 16, I began working in various restaurants and food venues, eventually earning a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Auburn University.

The turning point came after graduation when I apprenticed at a southern Italian restaurant. I quickly realized I belonged in the kitchen, not management. This led me to study in Sorrento, Italy, and the Basque region of Spain. Returning home, I opened a Mediterranean restaurant in Hermosa Beach as the executive chef for ten years. During this time, I reached a breaking point with my health and sought healing at a detox spa in the desert. And in that awakening experience, I knew my cooking needed to take an abrupt turn as I heeded the voice within: “You can heal your body with food.” What soon followed was the opening of The Source Café in 2012 – known throughout the South Bay for the restorative and healing properties of its locally-sourced organic foods, elixirs, juices and baked goods that we proudly serve.

What propels me forward is my commitment to health and sharing my journey. My customers are eager to know my story, values, and the integrity behind my mission to enrich lives through healthy eating. To foster this connection, I teach monthly cooking classes, preparing a four-course meal and sharing recipes in an intimate, communal setting. This personal interaction not only grows my business but also inspires me with new creations and strengthens the bond with my community.

Perhaps most importantly, in that process, I came to realize that all the components of ourselves – our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts – are all interconnected; starting off with what we put in our bodies – every day – affects our total well-being. Wellness includes everything. I found myself sharing other wellness and self-care tips on my Instagram page, such as slowing down from the busyness of your day, gratitude sharing – even walking barefoot on the beach! It became obvious to me that my path was expanding; so, in the past few years I have added on to my “chef-ness” with certifications from The Institute for the Psychology of Eating and True Body Intelligence, both modalities that include paying attention to those 4 pillars of our being – our being human. As a result, my coaching business, Nourish Your Power, came into fruition, which is inclusive of all the 4 pathways within us that work together toward body freedom and wholeness. It has catapulted an awareness in all areas of my life, especially in my commitment to serving others; and yes, most assuredly in creating healthy nourishing foods for “ your body, mind and soul”, one delicious bite at a time.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My business partner, Cindy Van Pelt, and I have been friends for over 20 years. A mutual friend introduced us, saying we needed to meet, and from that day, the rest is history. We became roommates and shared the same views on spirituality, life, and values. Our shared passion for creating beautiful food and impacting others’ lives eventually led Cindy to join me at The Source Cafe as COO. Together, we’ve spent the last 12 years co-creating and building this business, proud of the impact we make in people’s lives.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

In my 25 years in the restaurant business, I’ve learned that working as hard as you expect your employees to work is crucial. Co-creating with your staff, giving them a voice, and making them feel part of a team maintains high morale. Leading beside my team, rather than dictating, has fostered loyalty and passion. We hold regular team meetings to share ideas and improve operations, and we close a couple of days a year for team-building parties. Acknowledging daily wins and expressing gratitude for their devotion and hard work is essential.

As a women-owned business, we create an environment where employees feel safe to express their needs and feelings. My mission from the start was to ensure everyone feels respected, seen, and heard, a dynamic I was determined to change from my early experiences in the restaurant industry. We practice gratitude circles and acknowledge our team’s achievements, believing that a small thank you goes a long way.

Contact Info:

• Website: thesourcecafe.com; noursihyourpowers.com
• Instagram: ambercaudlela; the.source.cafe
• Youtube: chefamberla
• Yelp: The Source Cafe

Image Credits

Hailee Repko, CNW