I was looking forward to meeting sustainable chef, Amy Klitscher, to discuss her new business, but I was quickly blown away by her business concept, the values and environmental beliefs that informed her start-up, and the professionalism with which she is going about her new venture.
Amy’s company motto is “Plant-Based/ Zero-Waste”, and she has from day one stuck to her original plan, serving only plant based food, and often accompanying the food with kombucha. Amy uses Kokako coffee and loose leaf tea. Her goal was to make the food so delicious, no one missed meat.
An Aucklander born and bred, Amy went to school at St Kentigern College. She went off to Otago University after leaving school and studied environmental management as she always had that environmental bent. Next she joined Sustainable Coastlines for several years, before heading to Tahiti. On her Pacific sojourne she cooked for families in return for free accommodation, and loved it. I suggested she was ‘coofing’ instead of ‘woofing’.
Amy is a very interesting young woman, fully focussed on her new business and with a keen sense of humour and a sparkling personality.
The business caters for private functions, anniversaries, retreats, corporate functions, and she is proud to have catered for the Labour Party’s election-night party, and also for Chlöe Swarbrick’s Auckland Central launch party. There are glowing references on the web page from satisfied clients.
The Sustainable Food Company is immensely proud to offer a 100 percent plant-based menu and to be the first catering company in New Zealand to contribute absolutely zero waste to landfill throughout their entire process from sourcing to service.
Amy Klitscher has dispelled the idea that ‘plant-based’ is just about a few lettuce leaves. Her food is wholesome and satisfying, as well as hugely tasty. Her food is vibrant, colourful and sustainable for clients and the planet. The excellent Sustainable Co. website shows mouthwatering platters of food, from grazing tables, buffet meals to canapés and desserts.
As a private chef (somewhat akin to A Private Dancer - Tina Turner’s famous song), Amy crafts a menu, buys the ingredients, cooks in the comfort of your own home, serves it up, and leaves your kitchen spotlessly clean. Perhaps Amy could write a song like Tina Turner, but about cooking for you, and sing it as she cleans up!
The company also prides itself on using locally sourced food, GMO free, palm oil-free - all with zero waste.
Covid-19 certainly impacted on Amy’s start, but she used her time well, doing a Certificate of Plant Food Nutrition from Cornell University. She had already completed a vegan chef certificate in Bali. Amy has promised Ponsonby News readers a couple of recipes - they sound stunning.
We at Ponsonby News wish The Sustainable Food Co and Amy Klitscher all the best as she works away at her ‘sunrise’ venture, which has quickly become a success. (John Elliott)
The Sustainable Food Co, 37D Crummer Road, T: 09 218 3242, www.thesustainablefoodco.co.nz
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