Meet Christine Rose: Culinary Creatrix + Magic Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
My hope is that folks will remember me as someone who brought sprinkles of joy and magic into their life! In everything that I do, I always want to bring a smile to peoples face. Whether that’s through biting into a delicious culinary creation I made and having that moment of pure bliss when all the flavors hit just right, or finding a moment of magic and wonder at one of my gatherings, my hope is that people walk away from their experiences with me with a beautiful memory and the spark to continue to seek out as much joy as they can even after our paths have crossed.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Everything for me is about creating experiences. Whether folks are just eating my food or they are attending one of my gatherings, I want them to leave feeling like they had a delightful and magical experience. When I’m cooking, I infuse my sense of playfulness and joy into everything I make with the intention of this coming through for folks when they eat my food. I’m always coming up with wild or unexpected flavor combos and I’m so grateful to have that part of my creativity be received well by my clients. I’m constantly breaking any and all traditional culinary “rules” and truly think of myself as a kitchen witch more than a chef. As far as my gatherings, they are truly the perfect space for me to let my creativity flow and really elevate this idea of curating an experience for folks. Not only do I get to play when coming up with the menu, I get to express my creativity through the tablescapes, the music, and everything in between. I want folks to walk away feeling like they just stepped out of a dream!

My journey to the place I’m at now professionally has been an interesting one for sure. It hasn’t been easy but it’s been so worth it. I feel like I’m doing what I love and that’s the driving force behind me sticking to this path at all costs. The financial aspect has been what feels the most dicey at times and especially when the pandemic hit last year, I felt so unsure of my choice to be self employed. To be completely honest, the only way I feel I’ve made it through is by continuing to trust in God, the universe, whatever you want to call it. I have just kept telling myself that if I stay true to what’s in my heart, the rest will fall into place. I know that this work brings me more joy than anything else I could ever possibly do and that’s why I’ll never stop.

I’ve learned so many lessons along the way but I think the most important one is to just keep showing up for myself in whatever capacity I can. Sometimes that means buckling down and really grinding when I feel I need to. Other times that means stepping away from my work completely for weeks at a time when I’m feeling burnt out and in a creative rut. I’ve really had to learn to trust my own ebbs and flows and trust that I will always come back to my groove right when I’m supposed to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite part about living in Ojai is the natural beauty that surrounds us here. Anytime I have friends come to visit, I’m always thinking of great little spots in nature that we can wander around in. Whether that’s getting our toes wet in the Ventura River Preserve or going for a drive up Highway 33, I always think that our natural world is the most entertaining thing of all. And of course, of course, of course, I’ll always have some food for us to snack on! Heading to the beach with a grazing board of cheeses, nuts, fruits and veggies sounds like the perfect day to me. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I absolutely want to shoutout my mom for her endless and unwavering support in all of my ventures. My mom, Pauline Mercado, has been my number one cheerleader my entire life. Without her love and encouragement I would absolutely not be where I am today. Even when she didn’t understand my choice to start my own business rather than continuing on a more traditional career path, she still stood by my side and showed up for me no matter what. From attending all of my gatherings to stepping in as sous chef in the kitchen, her love and support truly knows no bounds. I love her more than anything in this whole wide universe and I am so so grateful to have her in my life! Love you mom!

Website: www.christinerosecreates.com

Instagram: @christinerosecreates

Youtube: @christinerosecreates