Check Out Vicki Crannell’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Crannell.

Hi Vicki, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My wife, Vicki, and I met 22 years ago at a restaurant in Playa Del Rey, CA. We instantly fell in love, and were married two years later. After a year of training in Paris, I worked in high-end restaurants alongside well-known chefs in Los Angeles. With my extensive culinary experience and Vicki’s background as a front-of-house manager in restaurants in L.A. we began dreaming of opening our own restaurant.

In 2017, after saving diligently and two kids later, our dream became a reality when we opened a very small farm-to-table restaurant in Westlake Village, CA. We quietly launched on August 29, 2017, without any advertisement, and over the years, we grew organically through word of mouth.

In 2022 we relocated to a new space that is 800 square feet larger than our original restaurant still within the same shopping center. We transformed the smaller space into our gourmet deli, now named Moody Market & Provisions. This center aligns perfectly with our farm-to-table theme as there is a farmers’ market in our parking lot every Sunday.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been some road bumps along the way. In the beginning one of our biggest challenges was finding experienced kitchen staff who were willing to work in the suburbs.

And then, of course, came the biggest obstacle of all: COVID. Like so many small businesses, we were faced with circumstances we could never have anticipated. We had to adapt quickly, navigate enormous uncertainty, and do everything we could to keep our business and our employees going. The silver lining of COVID was pivoting to a take out business which eventually prepared us for our new concept which we later opened, the Moody Market & Provisions, which has since become our new gourmet market deli.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
After graduating from high school, I studied graphic design, drawn to the creativity and artistic expression that came with it. while attending school, I had the opportunity to work in a kitchen of a good restaurant. That experience opened my eyes to a new way of expressing my creativity. I realized that I could continue to grow as an artist, but instead of a canvas or computer screen, food could be my medium.

I fell in love with food, the creativity behind it, and the ability to create something that not only looks beautiful, but brings people together and creates an experience. That was when I knew the culinary arts were where my passion truly belonged. In my opinion there is nothing better than the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://moodyroosterwlv.com
• Instagram: moodyroosterwlv
• Facebook: Moody Rooster

Image Credits
all pictures were taken by us except for the first photo in front of the Moody Rooster logo. That was taken by Lisa Mckinnon, who shared the photo with us.