Isabelle Krief shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Isabelle, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
For many years, I was going through life kind of unconsciously and without a real purpose. I did what was expected of me from my family and society. I went to school, then college, got married and on to a teaching job. As I grew older, I started looking for a purpose, something that would make me happy. I knew there was something more for my life, I just could not figure out what yet. But I knew that the first step was to be my own boss and be creative at the same time.
As a kid, when asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would say: “I want to be a teacher in the morning and a baker/cook in the afternoon”. Later, when I decided to stop teaching to become a chef, it hit me that it was exactly what I was doing with my life. The morning, being the first half of my life and the afternoon, the moment when I pivoted to cooking, which made me happy. At that moment, I felt a sense of purpose growing inside of me.
I feel that walking a path means sometimes walking straight where you want to go and sometimes wandering off-course to learn and assimilate insights to get back on the path with more confidence, determination and joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born in Grenoble, located in the French Alps. I began my career by teaching languages while traveling to places such as London, Los Angeles, Wudang (China), Ibiza (Spain) and many more. I loved traveling to different countries, discovering their cultures and their food, which influenced my style of cooking.
Cooking has always been a passion for me. It is like moving meditation: peeling, chopping, baking…
When I created Ratatouille Catering, the idea was to offer different services related to food (catering, private chef) but also to culture and community (cooking classes). What brings me joy, is cooking for people, creating custom-made menus and offering them an experience they’ll remember for a long time. I love watching people’s faces when they eat something delicious; some make ooohs and aaahs noises, others dance or sing. Food unites people and brings joy.
I love cooking but there is still a teacher in me, which is why I started giving cooking classes too. It is very rewarding and fun. Some people think cooking is difficult and after the classes they cannot believe what they cooked tastes so good. I hope to encourage people to cook more rather than eat processed food.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I have always been a strong and determined person but the moment I really felt powerful was when I felt free to do what made me happy and not worry about what others might think or say. Being my authentic self set me free and on to the road to a more profound self-discovery journey.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
While my mother did her best to raise my brother and me as a single mother, she had her own demons to fight. Growing up, I was constantly criticized and shouted at, which might explain why I had difficulties creating meaningful bonds with people.
What really saved me was my love of learning. It might seem strange to a lot of people but I loved school. It was the one place where I felt safe.
Martial arts also played a huge part in me coming out of my shell and making friends. I started judo when I was 8 and studied it for 10 years until my first heartbreak, but that’s another story… I would reconnect with martial arts later on.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
The people I have admired the most throughout my life have been my various teachers ( food, martial arts, spirituality and music). People who dedicate their lives to bringing more humanity and a sense of community to the world. To me, that is more powerful than money or status.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Sorry to burst your bubble but immortality IS real, Not on this planet but in the universe. It’s all a matter of perspective and perception. This life is just a stepping stone to the next, whether it be on this planet or elsewhere. We build on each life to better ourselves. And to me, in this life, I want to build a strong community where everybody is valued and taken care of. I truly believe that if every infant, child or adult felt supported and understood, the world would be a real paradise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ratatouillecatering.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratatouillecatering_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-krief-b02032299/
Image Credits
Isabelle Krief
