Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Aurora Hunt
Hi Dawn Aurora, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in a traditional Italian family, food was everywhere. Dinners were served for weddings or funerals, sandwich platters spanning six feet were the back drop of parties and gatherings, and the rituals of how and why we were cooking or eating certain foods. So it’s no wonder that food, and the magic surrounding it, has always been important to me.
As an adult I had been weaving more ritual mindfulness around cooking and the preparation of food. This was not just for special occasions but for everyday purposes. Things like eating seasonally to stay connected to Mother Earth, or creating gratitude practices around food became very important to my life.
When I was in my late twenties I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, the inability for the body to breakdown gluten proteins found in wheat and other grains. As someone who always loved food and the magic of cooking, it was a shock to my heart and soul to have to re-learn how to eat. This affected my spiritual practices as well as the foods that I could enjoy. This lead to stocking my home pantry full of hand made things like infused olive oils, spice mixes and so on. After all, it was becoming increasingly important to ensure that the food we were eating was as clean, chemical free and natural as possible. After a particularly delicious meal made with fresh ingredients and some of my hand blended infused olive oil (Roasted Garlic I believe) my husband turned to me and said “You know, these are pretty good. You could sell them!” And the rest, as they say, is history!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Have you ever been driving at night when there is a low hanging dense fog? You can not see where you are going except for just a few feet in front of you, and there are potholes, animals that dart out in front of your car, a crazy driver that is going way too fast and almost runs you off the road, then you get a flat tire but you can’t call for a tow-truck because you have no cell signal? This is what being an entrepreneur is like. You never really know what’s ahead of you, but you know the destination and so you figure it out, and keep going.
Personally, every obstacle I’ve had, and there have been many, has lead me to the next step in my journey. One such situation was in early 2023 when our office and warehouse flooded. We were on the road getting back to business still recovering from the Pandemic and a pipe was hit in our wall during a routine sprinkler check. This caused our entire office to flood, all of our computers we damaged. Though operations had to be shut down for almost two months, Our small team banded together to support each other and we were able to keep up a positive energy as we sat in wait for our building to be repaired and operations to get back up and running. The bright light was our fan base. So many people reached out with words of encouragement and made purchases even knowing their orders would not ship for weeks. It was an incredibly humbling moment to see that so many people care about the work we do, the products we make and the message of connection through the magic of food.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery?
Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery was founded on my own personal beliefs and spiritual practices around food, combined with a love for cooking and an Italian heritage, It began with herbily infused olive oils and now we have grown to also produce marinara sauce, risotto mixes, dips and even coffee. Additionally, I teach classes on food magic, spiritual nutrition and gluten free cooking, as well as write books on these subjects. Really, I’m just out there as an entrepreneur making the things I love, with positive intentions, talking about food and how it connects us as people, and sharing ideas and inspirations for easy meals, mindful cooking, and the joy of bringing people together around a good meal.
It would be easy to say that I’m most proud of Cucina Aurora’ brand reach, or that we are able to speak to so many different people from different background and belief systems through the love of good food. Brand wise, I think the thing that I’m most proud of is the inclusivity of our products. What I mean is, there is something or everything for any one in our product line. I, myself, have a pile of food allergies and stomach/auto immune issues. Everything that we make at Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery is safe for someone like me, but also delicious enough that people want to eat it even if they don’t have any issues. Also, the fact that our brand encourages people to cook or prepare food for themselves and others; food is easy with just a little thought and effort, you can start with one of our products and have a home made meal or get inspired to create something new.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
No one has done anything on their own. I know people are going to be upset at that statement, but hear me out. In everyone’s jouney there are other people to cheer you on, or tear you down. There are people who you rent space from, or someone who delivers the ink for your printer, or the a customer service person on the other side of the phone who helps you place an order for bottles or herbs in my case. All of these people help you get where you are going. Your ideas are yours, your intention and decisive action is yours, but we all need help. In my case I’m grateful to be surrounded by amazing humans who believe in my dreams and also, believe in my abilities.
My biggest supporter is my partner and husband, Justin. In 2012 when I wanted to take Cucina Aurora from a small side hustle to make it my full time job, his exact words were “Go Baby, Go. I got you” He told me he believed in my and my dreams and would do whatever needed to be done to support me. And he has been true to his word and more. I would not be here (business or otherwise) without his encouragement, love, support, humor and patience.
The team at Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery is also a huge source of strength and purpose for me. Though we have had many people come and go throughout the years, The core team we have now have been together for about the last 10 years. We are tighter then most companies, we are a tribe, a group of people coming together for a common goal. We have each other’s backs. We’ve survived more then most, individually and as a team. They never give up on me, and I’m never giving up on them. They give me a sense of purpose, drive and determination to work harder, be better and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.CucinaAurora.com
- Instagram: @CucinaAurora
- Facebook: @CucinaAurora/Food
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_ZxSnKkyDP33u9eNLAE2w
