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

Hi Joanna, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’d say risk is your biggest ally. Taking a risk is scary because it’s outside your comfort zone, but that’s where all the magic happens…. If you don’t allow yourself to take risks and to dream, you are not giving yourself the chance to succeed.

I owe everything to taking risks; if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The fear never really goes away; it just gets easier and easier to push through it and tolerate the discomfort. I truly believe that behind every risk there is success; whether it’s better than you imagined, it’s terrible, or it’s somewhere in between, there’s always a lesson that leads to growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I make immersive, otherworldly edible installations that are fully plant-based and zero-waste. I believe that our food sources and eating habits are highly processed and negatively impacting our bodies and our planet, so I started exploring what food would look like in other galaxies, at distant edges of our universe…

I focus on whole foods and creating everything as natural and organic as possible. I don’t use any artificial dyes, preservatives, or refined ingredients. I want to help people eat healthier and show them how you can actually do some really cool and fun stuff and it can still be good for you and the environment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmmm LA has so many little hidden gems that it’s hard to pick, but I’d definitely would :

– Stroll through the little Ferndell trail at Griffith Park; it’s a secret oasis in the middle of the city

– Go to the Museum of Jurassic Technology, and don’t forget to visit the tea patio upstairs! It’s an interesting one…

– Get a Matcha Latte @Picnic Coffee and watch the sunset over the city from Barsndall park

– Get my absolute favorite pizza @Pizzeria Sei

– Finish the night with a classic visit to The Comedy Store

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to Chef Minh (Phenakite). She has been able to see through me and give me the opportunity and space to explore my creativity without limitations. Thank you for believing in me Chef!

And also, of course, to all the mentors and peers that have supported me so far, and finally, a very, very special thank you to my fiancé Steve; I couldn’t have done any of this without you – Thank you for letting me be crazy !!!

Website: https://www.kometa.la

Instagram: @kometa.la

Image Credits
Cory Popp

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.