Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Farrah.
Chelsea, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For almost 15 years, I danced professionally as a competitive ballroom dancer. My husband and I traveled the world as dance partners, competing, coaching, and choreographing.
In 2016 we retired from competitive dancing, and looking to enrich my life as well as learn more about the food I had experienced in our travels, I enrolled in a professional plant-based culinary program with Rouxbe Culinary School.
In 2018 I started a vegetarian and vegan cooking blog, “The Dancer’s Pantry”, where I shared recipes and ideas for those looking for meatless meal options. The blog was a success and prompted my first baby-step out of the dance world and into the culinary world.
In 2020, COVID forced an early retirement from professional dancing. Feeling hopeful about my newfound love of all things food, I launched “The Dancer’s Pantry”, a grazing company inspired by the beauty of the nature, seasonal ingredients, quality products, and attention to detail.
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?
Like most small businesses, I have had my growing pains!
As my businesses continue to grow, I find myself faced with new and interesting challenges. Time management, burnout, physical fatigue, and work/life balance have been a few of the main obstacles I have faced. Patience with the process and staying focused on the future gives me confidence and energy when I find myself at my lowest.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Dancer’s Pantry specializes in vegan and vegetarian grazing experiences. I create large custom grazing tables, cheeseboards, and grazing boxes.
My work is most well known for being “almost too beautiful to eat”. I am passionate about weaving in the inspiration I feel from the seasons by using fresh edible flowers and herbs, as well as color theming each order to fit the mood of the event.
I focus solely on custom orders. No two orders are the same because no two customers are the same. I strive to create food that is stunning to see and delicious to eat.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up dancing classical ballet from the age of 4-16, before I left ballet and started my journey into competitive ballroom dancing. I loved being a dancer and considered myself a performer and artist from a young age. Nature, poetry, art, and music were things I found myself drawn to as a teenager.
I was an outgoing kid who loved to perform and create. I strongly credit the lessons I learned as a child dancer (the good ones and the hard ones) to my success as an entrepreneur.
Contact Info:
- Email: dancers.pantry.orders@gmail.com
- Website: www.thedancerspantry.com
- Instagram: @thedancers_pantry
- Other: Tiktok: @thedancers_pantry
Image Credits:
Ashley Linnane Photography
