California Foodversity

Hello,
 
I am looking for funding to expand my once hobby that I turned into my gourmet meal-prep and delivery business, California Foodversity!        ...and it has a purpose.
 

California Foodversity offers 7 different weekly changing gourmet meal plans - breakfast, lunch and dinner: Classic, Low-Carb/Keto-Friendly, Paleo, Pescatarian, Mediterranean-Diet (First in LA for Meal-Prep!), Vegan, Vegetarian. We also tailor the meals to the clients requests due to food dislikes, restrictions and allergies. All the food is made fresh, homemade (only way I know how), much of it is organic. We offer compostable food containers or 100% recyclable food containers. We compost 100% of the scrap produce, recycle 100% of the waste that is recyclable. A very very high percentage of the recipes we make weekly we have never made before, which is what makes it so much fun! And I don't think our clients ever get bored of our menus.

I still have some of my original clients from when I first started in 2018 (shout out to Chuck & Fabio!) after my career at UCLA. Everyone, but one person (who is no longer involved), that has helped me so far has had no prior professional experience in food service, including myself. This gave me an idea of a purpose as to where I would like to take my business forward...

I personally have been in management for many years (and a mentor in the Mentoring Program at UCLA), and it brings me great joy being a mentor and teaching, I always have a desire to help others. In fact, when I was younger, I got my certificate to be a pre-school teacher. This is where I can see naturally putting my personal skills at work with my hobby and business.

So now the question?
Where do many undereducated/underemployed/underprivileged/immigrants/young get their first jobs?       

"Fast Food Restaurants". 

But this isn't where the future is going! The future is going to sustainable healthy eating. The future is going to a lower impact on the world we live on. Even if a fast food restaurant offers a vegan burger now as an option to order, this isn't change.

I want to be able to give the opportunity for many to add to their resumes the following, and so much more! Now imagine this, wish you could smell the food cooking...
They will be prepping fresh herbs and produce, which may be foreign to some. They will learn spices from literally all around the world and how to mix and cook with them, that salt is a flavor enhancer, not a main ingredient. They will learn to make homemade dressings and marinades. And cook and learn the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates. They will literally be in awe when they taste their own food they just made and will be so proud of what they are serving our clients, and so will I. They will taste the 5 flavors: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. Flavors you will never find at a fast food restaurant. For example, they can put on their resume and be proud that they can cook a wide array of the Mediterranean-Diet foods, which is considered the healthiest diet in the world now for many years straight, instead of just flipping the same mundane pre-frozen hamburger with a fake smile. They will learn to plate the food and take Instagram ready photos of food they just made! Talk about an ego boost! The food they will prepare and cook at California Foodversity will prepare them for the foundation of real cuisine and where the future of food, health and the environment is going.

I want those coming to California Foodversity with limited food knowledge, and leaving California Foodversity with enough knowledge to hopefully pursue their own culinary career or at least enough to teach their own families how to eat a healthier lifestyle. This is how I learned and taught those who have helped me so far, and I want to share the experience of love of food with others while growing my business.    ...I know how!

Enjoy,
Melissa Flores
California Foodversity