Today we’d like to introduce you to Silvia Guerra.
Hi Silvia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a proud Santa Barbara local and hospitality professional and I am endlessly inspired by the coastal lifestyle that Santa Barbara has to offer.
I began my professional career in hospitality in 2010 at Blush Restaurant and Lounge where I wore many hats for over three years contributing to the success of the restaurant. Following my time at Blush, I was a part of the successful opening of Acme Hospitality’s The Lark restaurant in 2013 working with high-profile chefs, top servers and management to ensure an exceptional dining experience for every guest. Acme Hospitality is an award-winning, regionally and nationally recognized hospitality group where I was determined and focused on mastering my food and beverage knowledge, team management, and event management skills. My passion for hospitality and events was recognized by Acme Hospitality’s Executives and the local community with a nomination at the Santa Barbara Hospitality Awards Ceremony for Hospitality Employee of the Year in 2016. Early in 2018, I was promoted to Special Event Manager at Acme Hospitality where I managed sales, catering, and events for the eight boutique food and beverage concepts and worked closely with top chefs to provide a unique dining experience for up to 400 guests with menus focused on seasonal ingredients, intriguing wines, and handcrafted cocktails.
In 2019 I started my small business— Goodland Graze. Goodland Graze crafts unique, abundant, and beautiful grazing spreads perfect for any event— large or small. I strive to use the best seasonal ingredients found locally at the farmer’s market. My passion for entertaining, hospitality, food, and events is what brought the idea of Goodland Graze to full fruition. Today, I am excited to continue the growth of my small business!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had so much fun planning and manifesting what I wanted my business to be. It was a lot of hard work and a lot of time spent teaching myself about the basics of owning and operating a small catering business. I created my logo, spent hours teaching myself how to create my website, and tried to network as much as possible to fully launch my business. I started my business in 2019, about seven months prior to the global pandemic that changed everything in early 2020. That was definitely a bump in the road but I learned so much during that time. Any struggle that has come my way, I am grateful for as I have been able to learn so much from that obstacle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Food is my love language and I love that food brings people together! Goodland Graze is a catering company specializing in grazing spreads. Creating styled and stunning spreads and bringing people together through my creativity and expression through food has always brought me joy and that is something I am very proud of. We craft grazing boxes, platters, and bountiful grazing tables for many different types of events. The produce I see at our local farmer’s market in Santa Barbara and Goleta is what inspires me to create beautiful cheese and charcuterie displays for others to enjoy while they celebrate a special occasion. While there are many catering companies, we are set apart by focusing specifically on grazing spreads, we love to add an artistic flare to a classic cheese and charcuterie platter. In addition to our spreads, we also offer carefully curated gift baskets which are perfect for any occassion!
Pricing:
- Boxes range from $18-125 depending on the size
- Platters range from $95-$400 depending on the size
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.goodlandgraze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodlandgraze/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Goodland-Graze-111374190429564
Image Credits
Ali Beck Photography Amber Lynn Photography
