Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Levey.
Hi Natalia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Russia. After some time in Asia and finally moving to the USA a little over two decades ago, I enrolled in a culinary school in New York. I wasn’t born with the culture of eating out (my first time at a proper restaurant was when I turned 18), so cooking was second nature. Culinary school, internships and a brief corporate cook job were all incredible experiences, but I kept getting sick and decided to take time off. I spent a decade focusing on family, raising my daughter and healing my body and mind. “Food as medicine” became my motto.
Having traveled the world quite extensively (40 countries and counting), I’ve learned how various cultures approach the processes of preparing, serving and eating food. Ten years ago, I returned to cooking and started teaching, focusing on helping others reach their health goals through culinary nutrition and holistic health coaching.
But the Universe had other plans, pulling me back to the restaurant industry. In the last 3.5 years, I joined our family restaurant, and since joining have formed the Hi Hospitality Group a multi-concept restaurant company in Florida, which counts two award-winning Speaks Clam Bar locations, Kojo and the upcoming Central Park St Pete Food Hall in its portfolio. This year I was honored as a Top entrepreneur for 2021 by Business Observer.
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?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but every crossroad offered its lesson.
From dealing with health issues while working and developing chronic pain (crying out every time I had to lift giant soup pots), to spending years researching various healing modalities, to being able to share my knowledge with others looking for answers to their own health struggles, and finally stepping into the biggest leadership role of my life as the founder of our Hospitality company, – each part of this track had its share of sleepless nights, hours spent in tears and doubt, thoughts of giving up, feeling insignificant and irrelevant.
Constant and deep self-work, support of family and coaches is why I am stronger today than I’ve ever been.
Each breakdown became a fresh start, and I’ve learned to apply the Japanese art of Kintsugi to life, patching up all the emotional bumps and bruises.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Having such an extensive background of wellness, with general curiosity mixed in (I’ve taken over 70 online courses in the last decade) I arrived to the role of the leader of our hospitality group equipped with compassion, positivity and out-of-the-box approach to marketing. We have been able to attract talented industry professionals to join our growing company, create a culture with core values being: Respect, Communication, Efficiency, Empathy, Excellence, Teamwork and family, Social and ecological responsibility, and Mindfulness.
My days are spent overseeing current operations, new concept development, branding, developing menu, marketing plans, going over numbers, developing educational programs, and sometimes jumping to help in the kitchens or on the floor talking to guests or scrubbing kitchen equipment till 2am. I’m able to effortlessly navigate between the back of the house and the front of the house and beyond.
What’s next?
We are currently working on a very exciting new project – Central Park St. Pete Food Hall… stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.natalialevey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalialevey/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnxPzlTbBVQKLf-rhTjmrFg
Image Credits
Some of the images are by Heidi Hapanowicz Photography.
