Hidden Gems: Meet Sherille Lemus of Craez.Cravingz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherille Lemus.

Hi Sherille, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my business selling churro cheesecake in November 2022. I love to try out recipes and tweaking them to my liking. My sister Janice who lived here at that time loves to cook! With her passion in cooking and my love for baking, we thought of putting together our talents and started Craez.Cravingz in July 2023.
We joined pop up events mainly here in The Valley. Our menu consists of Authentic Filipino Food; kind of like how you go to a small Filipino spot and you can point and pick what you want on your plate!
Sadly, my sister had to move and I was left with all the equipment I needed to keep going. So I did!
I had all the encouragement I needed and as well as a whole army to support me.
During that time my kids were 2 and 1 years old.
It was almost impossible to find time to go set up. Having my babies that young was also not ideal for me to be doing all the prep work. They wanted so much of my attention but so did the business.
For a few months, the business was barely out and alive.
When my husband and I finally had a decent schedule, we decided to change up the menu.
June 2024, we curated a menu that I felt reflected the food I grew up eating.
Our menu consisted of our Belly Box, Adobo Box, and our Ilocos Special. It included desserts such as Tapioca Fruit Salad, Cassava Cake, and other cheesecake desserts.
Unfortunately, the menu we spent time on putting together didn’t do so well and ended up costing us more than before.
Fast forward to March 2025, we came out with our very first fusion menu!
This menu has been a big hit since and is something my husband and I are really proud of.
It now consists of our best selling Belly Box, Pulled Pork Adobo Sliderz, and our Deep Fried Adobo Wingz!
We also added our thirst quenching drinks such as Calamansi Iced Tea and Pina Mansi Juice.
We’ve come a long way from where we started and would love to continue with God’s blessings. We do our best to spread our monthly schedule between places.
Please follow us on IG @craez.cravingz where you will find our daily or weekly schedule.

We love to pop up at a bar in Camarillo called The LOCAL, a woman-owned brewery in Thousand Oaks called Naughty Pine Brewing Co. and we also join pop up such as 818Nightmarket and planning on joining couple more farmer’s markets.

I like to say my sister and I started it but my husband and I are keeping it alive and thriving!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road at all. If anything it has been a bumpy ride with crazy turns!
When my sister and I first started, we shared the prep work for each event.
However, after she left, I needed to do all of the prep work as my husband isn’t Filipino.
As I mentioned previously, the menu was a big struggle for us.
Catering to our customers have been and is always challenging.
We love to make everyone happy through the food we serve.
I’m an over achiever and it can be a good and bad thing. I personally love to have options and that’s something I wanna offer to others as well. Definitely more prep time and work.

Another challenge we had was finding a more consistent schedule.
My husband works full time and so we have to work around his schedule.
I always say without him, it’s like me loosing my other set of hands.
I for sure wouldn’t be able to do this without him.

Another struggle we have is a high cost of goods. As we know, prices has gone over the roof here in LA.
We haven’t been able to find a place where we can buy bulk of our high quality ingredients.
As of right now, we buy off the Asian markets we have near by and it really reflects on our prices.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We at Craez.Cravingz offer fusions of food but with classic filipino flavors we’re so proud of!
My husband and I are the BEST team! We ourselves are FOODIES!
We love to taste and experiment with many flavors.
When we have a good experience from another business, we take that along with us and offer the same courtesy to our customers.
We do our best to provide an amazing experience from the time you order to the time you sit and enjoy your food.
Our customers might forget how we look and our names but they will not forget the flavor they tasted.
Our best seller is our marinated and grilled pork belly box served over a bed of garlic rice and pancit (rice noodles tossed with veggies). Paired with our homemade lumpias or cheesy pork empanaditas.
What sets us apart from others is the fusions of food we have curated. I personally have not seen Pulled Pork Adobo Sliderz anywhere here in LA. This is braised pork shoulder for about 5-6 hours served in brioche sliders buns. Homemade coleslaw for a sweet and crunchy element, pickled red onions and serrano for a sour and spicy, and a very flavorful pulled pork adobo flavor in between all that.
All made from our love of food!
We are based out of the San Fernando Valley and we offer party trays and cater parties as well.
You can reach us through our Instagram page @craez.cravingz and or our phone number is (818)900-4571.
We hope to serve you soon and as I always say; see you when we see you!

How do you define success?
Success to me in business is being able to provide for the ones you love, by doing something you enjoy and love.
Having a business is difficult to say the least but seeing my husband and I work at our events in our kids perspective is something I call success.
Not only are we doing something for ourselves but we’re showing our children that success can come when you have the will to push through.

Pricing:

• Box Menu $20-18
• Appetizers $5-8
• Drinks $6-8

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craez.cravingz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/CraeZCravingz/100087315646986/