Today we’d like to introduce you to Rolan Pongpuntara.
Rolan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
At the age of seven, I learned the in’s and out’s of my father’s business, his technique, customer service, and most importantly the hard work he puts in day and night. After high school, I worked as a pharmacy tech, which grew my interest in holistic health and healthy lifestyle planning and ultimately led me to exploring alternative medicine through food.
Later down the year, I founded Chomp Eatery & Juice Station, a small restaurant in Santa Monica with a business partner. In this phase, I discovered I enjoyed promoting a healthy lifestyle through food and helping clients detox and cleanse with cold-pressed juices.
As years went by 2017, I was guided through meditation and founded Side Kitch, a healthy catering business. Aligning with my experience, I found purpose in healing people through food. When I’m in the kitchen, I focus on developing recipes by putting mindful ingredients together to create healthy, easy-to-eat and tasty dishes.
This month, I’m finally opening a storefront bringing a variety of healthy meals to the city of Los Angeles.
Alright, 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?
Having a business is like a road, it has bumps, cracks and obstacles, but it takes you where you are meant to be.
During Covid, it was a very tough year for me. My bread and butter was cooperate catering but I shifted my business to meal delivery for individuals, families and smaller parties. The challenges that I encountered took me to a place where I get to heal people through food, from individuals to vending machines to catering health facilities.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Side Kitch, I offer a wide variety of menus that focus on diverse dietary needs customized to fit every client, whether I’m providing nourishing meals to an individual, an entire company or to a special event! My vision is to serve the community meals that are not only healthy and delicious but make people feel good afterward. I believe in healing the body with love and nourishment but without any restricting diets.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When you start a business, do not be discouraged! Just keep on going and work very, very hard.
Life and business are full of challenges and struggles.
Those that succeed at life and business have learned how to keep going even when things are not going well.
Contact Info:
- Website: sidekitch.com
- Instagram: sidekitch
- Yelp: sidekitch
Image Credits
Petra Persaud Junior Ayala Rey Trajano
