Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Caudle.
Amber, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a chef for 20 years. My training and background is in Southern Italian cuisine. I was the executive chef at Mediterraneo in Hermosa Beach for 10 years. Towards the end of my career at The Med, I started to realize how tired and inflamed my body was. I was addicted to sugar and caffeine, abusing my body with over exercise and extreme diets, my adrenals were blown, I was exhausted and unhappy. I had already had 1 hipscope surgery and was on my way to another one when I had a wakeup call. I wanted to heal my body with food. I did not want to take any more meds or do another surgery. I was ready to make a change in my life. I became inspired to make a change towards health, food freedom and body acceptance.
Because of this motivation and inspiration to feel, live and eat better, The Source Cafe was born. I am going into year 5 this December. I opened up The Source because I wanted a place where my friends and family could eat. I wanted to share my passion and knowledge that food is fuel and is here to nourish our bodies. Thru my health challenges and struggles I started to create chef driven, super food dishes. I wanted to show people how healthy food can be delicious and that we can heal ourselves with food! I am very passionate about sharing my story, struggles and journey hoping to help and inspire one person to make a change.
Today I have freedom from food and sugar and I love myself and have body acceptance. It is possible!
I am currently in the works of publishing a cookbook, teach cooking classes, speak about my journey to empower others to make a change and have a blog-chefamber.com where I share recipes and health tips. Also, to come: Source Cafe in Redondo Beach!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I mentioned before, there were many struggles and challenges before I opened the Source. I had to hit a rock bottom with my health to have a wakeup call to make a change. And this change inspired me to open the Source-but yes there were many business challenges. And yes, I had to learn some hard business lessons. I am still constantly learning as a grow!
Please tell us about The Source Cafe.
The Source Cafe is a chef inspired, health driven cafe that specializes in nourishing food for the mind, body and soul. The Source is known for organic, gmo free, local food. The Source is known for catering to a variety of diets…paleo, keto, gluten free, vegan. We are set apart from others because every drink and dish are created with intention and health benefits. It’s also a great place to come if you want a vegan/raw meal or meat dish. We are proud of our ingredients we use, and we are proud of the difference we make in our community and in our customers, lives. We are passionate about inspiring others on health and that what we put in our bodies matters. And as the chef, I am so passionate showing how healthy food doesn’t have to be boring-but delicious and beautiful! My staff is so knowledgeable and passionate and they are a huge part of why the Source is so successful today. We all put our heart and soul into all we do. And it brings me so much joy to see what a difference we make in other people’s lives
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is cooking at a very young age in the kitchen with my grandma. We would pick cherries from her trees and make pies and jellies. Also, her famous pumpkin bread was something I started baking with her at a very young age. Her bread is now at The Source but a healthier, gf version.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Source Cafe
509 Pier Ave.,
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 - Website: thesourcecafehb.com
- Phone: 310-318-1600
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: thesourcecafehb; chefamberla
- Facebook: Chef Amber; The source cafe
- Other: chefamber.com
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