We bit more than we could chew (all pun-intended)

Listen. We took a bigger bite than we could chew. Literally. All pun-intended.

I can be honest about that. But, before I get into the specifics, I have to get this off my chest.

(If I may, this is where my rant begins)

You know, they don't talk much about "food fights" in marriage counseling. They may want to reconsider that. It could probably save a lot of marriages. All jokes aside. 🥴

They talk to you about infidelity, being associated with the wrong friends, and heavily on finances, but nothing about "food fights". And because you don't expect to get into (serious) fights about food, you don't prepare to deal with fights about food.

(Rant ends)

I mean really. Nearly a decade into our marriage (this coming July 🎉🎉) and three children later, do you know what the number one thing Dominique and I used to fight about most?

Food.

Both our minds would be blown after an argument. Now, let me be clear. We're not the one's to disrespect one another in any way. That's not our vibe.

But, I know for me..

...and I will only speak for me; I (was) quick to give the silent treatment after an upset. You know especially after a nice-nasty comment 👀 (The Lord has delivered me from this one. Miracles do happen 🙌🏾). The natural diplomat in me won't curse you out or raise my voice, but I'm good with my words if you get my drift.

I know I can't be the only one 🙋🏾. Don't leave me hanging (you can raise your hand in silence too. It's only me and you here). This is a judgment-free zone. Just transparency.

But, as I digress.

It took years for us to realize that the fight to healthier eating wasn't limited to our household. We realized that there was a larger fight between processed foods and whole foods. Neither of us were food experts, but we both had a yearning desire to be better, do better and eat healthier as a family.

We do everything as a family, including our yearly fast where we remove meat from our diet and only eat fruits and veggies. It's a part of our Daniel's Fast. Fasting has always been a spiritual practice that resets our minds and spirits to focus on God without distraction. It's a time for prayer and to hear Him more clearly.

Our Daniel's Fast that started January 2020 was like every other year until the U.S. declared a global pandemic a few months later. You see, originally the fast was supposed to be 21 days. But after 21 days, Dominique said He heard God say to extend the fast.

Now, between you and I, I thought He heard God wrong. I sure did. Yes I did. And because I was so sure he heard wrong, I had to go check with God myself.

Let's just say, he heard right. 😭 Haha, like seriously. I was very hurt about this initially because he heard God just as I was preparing to leave for my trip to Uganda and Malawi with Naomi Jordan Cook as a part of a grant the VGC Group received through the Alliance of African Partnership at Michigan State University. The grant was awarded to us to help SME owners build online businesses to help export their products and/or services.

I was excited about the trip because I love to try different African dishes, especially the ones that include fish.

But to my surprise, while in Malawi, I was inspired by a chickpea meatball dish. Prior to that moment, I'd never been introduced to meat alternatives made from ingredients such as beans. A whole new world began to open up for me while on the fast because I was determined to eat creative dishes.

I arrived back home excited to recreate the dish for Dominique, but I am no chef. Lord knows, he did not marry a chef. But, like I said, miracles do happen (And this particular miracle Dominique thanks God for everyday 😛 ).

While attempting to recreate the dish, I used mushrooms, an ingredient I actually never liked eating before either. Only the Lord knows why I used mushrooms on that day. I shared the burger patty with Dominique and he loved it.

I remember his response like it was yesterday. He tried it and said: "Babe, this is so good. We should take it to market."

I looked at him and said, "Ok babe." That was the first rendition of what we call today, Cruz Burger. Dominique has since perfected it.

... And this, might I add, was just a few months into the Covid lockdown. Dominique had transitioned from the company he'd been working at for four years. The children were learning virtually and our television screens were plastered with all the havoc concerning the meat market and compromised immune systems.

Oh, and how can I forget. We learned that we were expecting our third child. Talk about timing, right? 😅

I told you: we bit more than we could chew.

But thankfully, we've met destiny helpers along the way. From the Michigan State University Product Center to Fair Food Network to JPG Resources to Eastern Market to Ann Arbor Farmer's Market to all our local format Meijer partnerships to the Marygrove Conservancy to the Naturally Network Fellowship to Included to Ali Ball's mentorship to Carmela Foods to the Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development to the U.S. Commercial Service office to all of our customers, friends and family, we've learned to keep on chewing.

Less than two full years in the market and 30 plus locations (including restaurants and grocery stores) later...

I don't think it's by happenstance that Dominique and I met some 14 years ago at a business conference in Los Angeles. Dominique, 23 at the time, from Washington, DC and I, just 19 years young, from Princeton, New Jersey meeting in Los Angeles, courting for four years and then getting married was the true start of this food company journey.

I guess we knew back then what we are manifesting today: You can't chew unless you take a bite. We took a bite at getting married young, starting a family young, and now starting a food business with no food experience. I think it's safe to say, we're made to conquer the unknown. We make the best team and we invite you to be a part.

If you're attending Expo West 2023 in Anaheim, California March 6-11, we'd love for you to stop by our table to try samples of our products at The Mushroom Angel Company.

We're headed back to where it all started.

The last two years were a test run. The gear is on takeoff.

Let me know if you can relate to this or have a similar (crazy) journey in business. I'd love to hear it. I know we're not alone. Let's keep impacting locally and building globally.

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