The Hasty Chef is a spin off of The Accidental Chef, as my friends used to call me!

I grew up in a household that had a spotless kitchen. Not because my parents were diligent at cleaning, but because neither of them cooked. The only piece of equipment used would be the microwave on occasion to reheat restaurant leftovers. I love my parents dearly but that meant that I definitely did not learn how to cook whilst growing up.

After University, my cooking abilities did not get a chance to improve as my first jobs involved traveling frequently – which meant eating at restaurants 3 meals/day! From greasy fast food as I rushed from one meeting to another to the most extravagant seven-course meals of foie gras, Wagyu steaks and Baked Alaskas.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed dining at 3-star Michelin restaurants, dining out DOES get tedious.

I traveled over 40 weeks a year, so on the rare weeks that I was home, I yearned to eat fresh and simple meals. There was only one problem. I couldn’t even microwave popcorn without burning it! If you think I’m joking, think again. I was a constant source of amusement to my friends.

Luckily, I’m not the type to give up easily.  So, after many trials and tribulations, I finally mastered cooking simple yet delicious meals. I enjoyed it so much that I left corporate life and started my own business. My first food enterprise was a catering business that developed into a restaurant. Before I knew it, I had expanded my business into a  multi-unit company – restaurants, cafes, catering and wholesale sauce distribution. I did TV spots on national TV shows, restaurant reviews on radio shows and cooked for a wide range of people – from weekly volunteer work with the Ronald McDonald House to catering for the Prime Minister to doing fund raisers with Larry King and the list goes on….I loved every second of it.

I am now starting a new chapter in my life. In 2016, I was diagnosed with diabetes 2. As a foodie, I was devastated when I researched how limited I would be in my culinary lifestyle. Everything I bought at nutrition stores, on-line or restaurants that were created for diabetics were simply inedible. I whined for a few months to everyone who would listen and then finally decided that there must be other foodies out there who feel the same. So voila, here I am, starting a blog and a new business. I am dedicating my passion to a new line of food products that will give diabetics (or anyone who want to eat healthier) something that is both healthy and hasty yet tasty.

I am excited to share my new adventure with you and hope that you will also take a moment out to share your journey with others.

I look forward to getting to know you……

Christina

The Hasty Chef