Interview with the Owner

1. Have you always dreamt about opening up your own restaurant?

Yes, ever since I was young. My mum used to always cook at home and she taught me so much as I was a kid. Cooking and food in general have always been a passion of mine. At the same time, it's also important to me to know what is in the food I eat. I had just graduatated from the Chulalongkorn university two years ago with a bachelor's degree in interior design. That’s how I got the chance to buy this store. I knew the architect who owned this building, so I asked him if I could rent it. I am more than happy with the way it turned out. I've always wanted to create something like Tasty Healthy, so it really is a dream come true.

2. When did you open up the restaurant?

Only around seven months ago. There is still so much I want to do with this place. This is just the beginning.

3. What are your goals for the future?

I want my restaurant to become very well-known in Bangkok, especially in this area. Not only that, but I also really want to write a book about healthy food and my brand. I'm not sure yet, if I want to open another store in Bangkok. We'll see how it goes in the future.

4. Are you thinking about creating new recipes?

Yes, definitely! Actually, I create new recipes every morning, because I like to cook something different everyday. It is my way of being creative in addition to my job as an interior designer.

5. How is the meal prep business going?

It's going very well. A lot of my customers use that service. You can have a look at my instagram, where I post pictures of all the food I make. I am always very busy preparing all the food boxes.

6. What is the mission of your restaurant?

Even though I offer healthy meals, it wasn't just about the food. My goal was to make my customers feel at home. On top of that I offer microgreen workshops for families and friends.

7. How often do you do these workshops?

Unfortunately not very often. My store isn't that well-known yet and it's always very spontaneous. I just post it on facebook the day before, so not that many people tend to show up.

8. Are you still an interior designer?

Yes, but only as a freelancer. Sometimes customers ask me who I hired to design Tasty Healthy. One time I even got a job offered in my store, because someone had asked me. Tasty Healthy is a good way for me to pursue my passion, but also as way to promote myself as an interior designer.

9. How were you able to afford your own business?

My parents are entrepeneurs, too. Especially my mum is very supportive of me and loves the concept of Tasty Healthy.

10. How do you market your restaurant?

I mostly use facebook and Instagram, because it's for free. Oh and recently, a famous magazine called Garden & Farm published a review about my restaurant and my microgreen workshops, which was great advertising. But also delivery services, such as foodpanda and ubereats are great ways in attracting new customers.

11. Who is your typical customer?

My typical customers are students from the Chulalongkorn university, people who are signed to the gym above my store and basically people who live close by. The area is perfect, because the Chulalongkorn sport complex is so close by, so customers come here very often. The nap lab above is very convenient, too. Oh and I am hoping that the new park that just opened recently will bring me more customers, too, because a lot of people go jogging there, so they might just stop afterwards for something to eat.

12. How many employees do you have?

At the moment I have two employees, but at the beginning I had to do everything by myself. First I had to learn how to do everything and then I was able to teach other people.

13. Have you always been into health and fitness?

No lol. I think it was about two years ago that I started to go to the gym and eat healthy.

14. Was it very hard at the beginning?

Yes, it was very hard. Actually, it still is, but I already have a lot more customers compared to a few months ago.

15. Where do you buy your ingredients?

I tend to buy all of my food at local markets, but I also have suppliers located in Chiang Mai. It is very important to me that the food I buy stems from Thai farmers and Thai people in general.

Thx so much for the interview and for always creating such amazing food and being such a kind person! XX

Sincerely,

Rebecca & Laura