Meet Naomi Crawford | chef / activist

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

Hi Naomi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to create a space where people could connect with each other, and where their food came from, while eating delicious healthy food. I knew it had to be quick serve so that we could eliminate the need for sit down service, and people could easily grab food to take back to their homes / offices. Despite being served in to-go containers, it was important to me that everything be compostable or served in our customers own containers.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was drawn to cooking while in college. It was the first time learning came easy for me, so it felt natural to want to become a chef after graduating. I’ve never shied away from hard work, and restaurant work is hard! But my inclination to social, economic, and environmental justice has led me to create a space built on equity, compassion, and community. We don’t do anything that is not a win for all involved. Our goal is to build a community where everyone thrives, and our commitment to this sets us apart.

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.
When my friends come for a visit, I take them first to breaky at Stellina where every single thing is delicious. Then we do a walking tour of town, with all the street art, not missing the Phoenix Theater to see what the kids have created there – it’s a punk rock music venue filled with skate ramps, layered in graffiti from the decades of musicians and skaters, and even has a killer skate shop and a teen health clinic. For lunch, we hit up Water Street Bistro where everything is made from scratch. In the afternoon, we hike Helen Putnam to work off the meals! Then we chill in the lobby of the Hotel Petaluma, in front of the huge fireplace. For early dinner, we grab oysters at The Shuckery.

During the week, we head out to the coast to eat at The Marshall Store, walk the property of The Lodge at Marconi, and grab dinner at Nick’s Cove before heading back in. I always insist on taking my friends to Renew Yoga on Wednesday nights for a class with Nicholas Giacomini, who is absolutely gifted as a wordsmith and yoga teacher, bringing in levity at the same time.

We’d spend another day over the hill in Sonoma where we’d meet up with my mushroom growing friend, Leash Deal, and get a day pass to Sonoma Mission Inn to use the spa and hot springs. Then we’d all grab lunch at El Molino Central, do a hike in Sugarloaf Park, and then sit for dinner at the beautiful Valley.

And we’d make sure we hit up two of my favorite spots in Petaluma with my favorite dining pals, Alexandra Fox and Daniel Capra, during the week: Street Social and TC Provisions, both amazing restaurants with food that hits, with the best humans!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve got to give a shoutout to my chef Sharon Ardiana who mentored me in the 90s when I was just starting out. She got me in deep with the beauty of food but also the importance of it’s source; supporting local, organic farmers. I also must mention that I would not be who I am if I had not read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Her prose about reciprocity inspires me everyday to be in a regenerative relationship with my community (which includes the soil, the water, the land, and then people.)

Website: https://www.lunchettepetaluma.com

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Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lunchette-petaluma?osq=lunchette

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