Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessi Moreno
Hi Jessi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began the earlier part of my career in the restaurant industry after culinary school 11 years ago. Throughout these years I really wanted to go after all the experiences that came my way. I wanted to have fun with my career so I traveled. I was hungry for new experiences and new cultures. Through these moments I’ve met so many inspiring recognized seasoned chefs in the industry.
When I had the opportunity to run my own kitchen I learned a lot about myself and my role as a leader. My focus revolved around the creating my own voice and individualism through my work. While this was a valuable time for my career as an executive chef, I felt a push to break away from my environment I was in and instead connect with my roots, back to the source of food, back to my family traditions, and embrace uncertainty. My AH-HA moment came from being reminded of my earliest moments with food, sourcing, and cooking began in Mexico and with my grandparents. Since childhood and into my adulthood, cooking with my maternal grandmother was my one of the most comforting times. And my grandparents from my dad’s side played a huge role in my career too. They owned a dairy farm in my Mexico and as a young girl I would beg my grandpa to let me go with him at sunrise to see how the cows were milked and see how my grandma made cheeses that would feed their community and families. This had been right in front of me my entire life and I love these moments, I feel like these ah-ha moments make life worth savoring!
During 2020 I felt so much uncertainty, grief, loss, and anxiety, it was not an easy time for myself, I can’t imagine it being easy for many people given the pandemic. After a lockdown, I came to a crossroad in my life between choosing to continue the comfortable thing by staying where I was in my career and continuing my position or veering off into my own path. In many ways I was scared to follow this path. But I had been making platters of cheese and charcuterie years before it became my primary business, I reconnected with my love and appreciation for cheese. This time really reminded me of my childhood, my grandparent’s cheese making business was also not their primary source of income, milk and agriculture were. I really believe cheese was my grandma’s labor of love too. It was a door-to-door operation, knowing my dad would help deliver her orders in his truck as a teenager, came to mind as I delivered my own platters when I first began serving the community of Pavi’s I had been building. This was comforting. I think my motivation during this time was seeing how people and my clients were receptive to my work as an individual, my style inspired by tradition and the craft but more so I saw how I was able to aid connection and become a bridge for connection for people’s loved ones during the earlier years of the pandemic when at the time, it was very isolating and a challenging time for so many people. I think I realized I became familiar of food as an ancient language, one of the oldest ways to communicate connection. My business has stayed consistent in building this mission, growing connection, sourcing locally, and supporting farmers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The universe shows you lessons and if you don’t listen you are doing a disservice to yourself. As I am coming close to opening a Pavi’s home, I’ve been reflecting on the journey and its continued progress. It has not been a smooth road there have been many struggles but I think this has shown me how to come out of the low points and strengthened my vision for Pavi’s. I’ve learned how to stand firm in my voice. This has become what drives me. Especially during these past few years, I have not had financial backing for my business and I’ve had to navigate the slow periods that come with owning a business. Having to get creative to grow my brand and services has helped me get through these hurdles. I have self funded so it’s been a priority to keep flowing with the changes financially. Up till recently, I have been my own financial source, but recently I brought someone in who I have a personal friendship with. This is someone who believes in my business but I also have needed to overcome my fears of handing some of the load of building out my space, of my baby (Pavi’s) to someone else because I have been nurturing and building this for years.
Even more, its been challenging dealing with personal and professional struggles. The two often overlap. As a creative I pour my heart into my business and at times throughout this journey it has been broken. A year ago, I lost someone so special to me. My grandma’s death filled me with grief and broke my heart. It was a shock and no one saw it coming, but even though I felt lost I had to keep going and I channeled my pain into the source for my big Why (reason for why I am doing this).
Creative blocks are also obstacles so I try to remedy burn-out, but it does happen. Since this is such a fast paced industry, burn-out is one of my struggles, especially if I am dealing with physical challenges or illness. I think it is easy to gloss over burn-out, it’s difficult to admit since most people express to me they think I make my work look effortless or easy and I don’t like to disappoint anyone. But as I’ve gone through these challenges I am learning to shut out how others perceive me and hold on to my own perspective of my journey. This whole ongoing process has been an incredibly spiritual one because I have to let go and trust in the process, even when I truly feel I have an empty cup in terms of my emotional, mind, body, and spirituality. Despite these moments, I’ve managed to fill my cup over and over again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own a cheese and charcuterie catering business that focuses on working with local artisan and supporting local farmers and showcase the best of the seasons. We style grazing table service which includes set up, light florals, table décor and food styling or a delightful grazing boards, where you simply unwrap the box and serve. We are known for our attention to details and the abundance and beautiful displays and always providing fresh local ingredients that compliment each other in different ways. (Texture, flavor profile, etc.)
I am most proud of being able to connect people and showcasing food in a beautiful way. Some of the most profound experiences I’ve shared with clients is being a part of their special moments. These experiences have moved me and some of my clients to tears and I thank them for sharing a part of their lives with me. I believe this connection sets me apart, it is difficult to pin point what sets my business apart however, I am shown through these experiences how being part of community building and helping create connection has given us a distinct role. This has been a pleasant surprise. Pavi’s also maintains the importance of high quality ingredients, upholding the highest standards, and highlighting the art of food.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I don’t have a mentor that I work with, however, I do have an amazing community of friends who are both fellow business owners or creatives that I can rely on for support, brainstorming, and relate to. I am so incredibly grateful for my loyal clients who have been the ones that have connected me to opportunities. I cherish these relationships and each one has impacted me. As I reflect I believe once you learn how to step into your power you are aligned with people that will guide you in the right direction. And you will never stop learning and going into conversations with an open mind is my best advice for networking when owning a business. There is always something to learn from people who enter your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paviscreations.com
- Instagram: pavis_creations
Image Credits
Stacey Dolye
https://gallery.staceydoyle.com
staceydolyephotography