Join Anjelli in this cozy conversation with Jasmine – founder of Be Mine Healthy Friends restaurant in Helsinki, Finland. Be Mine Healthy Friends is a tiny restaurant that serves healthy, nourishing vegan food inspired by Asian cuisine with Thai hospitality. In this episode Jasmine shares her story about starting a business without any previous experience in this field and the challenges she encounters running a restaurant on her own.

Check out Be Mine Healthy Friends here – https://beminehf.fi/

0:28 Jasmine’s background and the initial idea of Be Mine Healthy Friends

2:44 Why plant-based?

4:01 On opening a restaurant during the Covid-19 pandemic

5:11 On effects of energy crisis on the restaurant

7:15 General feel of the restaurant

9:38 What is a star menu?

11:03 Be Mine Healthy Friends customers and dealing with food regulation laws

16:43 What is the deciding factor on what goes to the menu?

18:11 On customer demographics

19:22 Benefits of being a cold kitchen

22:37 On working alone and navigating being new in business

23:47 Future plans for Be Mine Healthy Friends

24:56 An importance of having a purpose to keep things going

26:29 What was the biggest lesson?

28:28 Dealing with bad comments from customers

32:32 On managing administration, marketing and restaurant alone

33:15 The importance of word of mouth and smiley hospitality

35:22 Where to find Be Mine Healthy Friends and working hours

36:44 Advice for people who want to open their kitchen

37:44 What keeps you going?

Join Anjelli in this uplifting conversation with Ivars Rutkovskis – founder of Nata Cafe in Riga, Latvia. Nata Cafe is a small vegan cafe and a food brand located in Riga's city center in the same building as a dance school and it is loved by kids and their parents who come to eat before or after the dance classes. Get to know the Ivars and Nata Cafe’s story from professional bartenders career, lifestyle changes after switching to veganism and quitting alcohol, to creating a vegan cafe and turning it into a food brand that provides meat and fish substitutes which taste surprises vegans, non-vegans and professional chefs alike.

Check out Nata Cafe here – https://natacafe.lv/

0:31 Introduction to Nata Cafe and Ivars background

3:20 On perception about veganism in Riga, Latvia and cafe’s growth

5:55 Who are Nata Cafe’s customers?

7:20 How many vegan restaurants are in Riga?

8:13 Who creates the food menu?

9:42 Ivars move to Ibiza and switch to veganism

11:38 How long did it take to fully switch to veganism? And the importance of educating people about it

13:08 On Ivars passion to share his knowledge with people

14:37 Changes in health after switching to veganism

15:28 On Nata Cafe’s customer reaction to their food

17:03 On Ivars catering business

18:50 Ivars family and friends reaction to his lifestyle changes

20:16 Food in Nata Cafe and the idea to start a food brand and its products

24:45 Chia caviar and creativity with a team

26:06 Soyshlyk as meat alternative and how people react to it

32:41 Current challenges in times of energy crisis and plans for the future

36:30 On plans to expand Nata products to the world and criticism to other food brands in supermarkets

40:21 What keeps you going?

Join Anjelli in this uplifting conversation with Ginte Kuraite – founder and owner of RoseHip Vegan Bistro located in the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania. RoseHip is a bright neon pink bistro not afraid of experimenting with food innovations and offering a variety of foods for everyone’s taste – from burgers, sushi to veggie bowls – loved by vegans and non-vegans alike. Get to know the restaurant's story from the initial idea to their expansion plans to other countries and Ginte’s thoughts on the importance of veganism. We are hoping that this episode will inspire you to go after your dreams too!

Check out RoseHip Vegan Bistro here - https://www.rosehip.lt/

0:29 Introduction to RoseHip and Ginte’s background

7:01 What made you decide that RoseHip has to be vegan?

8:18 Vegan scene in Lithuania

9:02 The recipe for success

10:52 What is the main principle of deciding the food on the menu? What are the menu best sellers?

15:07 On RoseHip customers and lunch deals

16:23 On European Energy Crisis, inflation and its effects on business

20:39 What are the future plans for RoseHip?

24:19 Challenges with employees and the importance of good work relationships

31:31 Balancing work and marriage

33:39 What keeps you going?

34:49 When the restaurants are open?

35:21 Tyler the dog – a star of the restaurant

36:13 Social media presence

36:49 Message to the listeners and the importance of veganism

41:01 An advice for those who want to start a plant based kitchen and Ginte’s ideas on how RoseHip could evolve

44:33 If you want to open RoseHip in your country - reach out Ginte!

Join Anjelli in this uplifting conversation with the restaurant's “Vieta” founders — Monika and Romanas. “Vieta” is a cozy charming vegan place, located in Vilnius old town and loved by a diversity of people that come there to eat. Get to know the restaurant’s journey from Island to the website and to today's world, the specifics of the menu and just enjoy the conversation by beautiful people coming together and sharing their challenges, dreams and good moods.   

Check out Vieta out in: https://vieta-restaurant.business.site/

0:43 Shortly about “Vieta”

2:30 A story behind buying business from the website: party, Island, common dreams and love

5:30 The process of taking over a restaurant business in the beginning

7:43 About a funny process of jumping into the kitchen business

11:50 On transition & Monika as an amazing hostess

13:47 The covid and its effect on the restaurant’s and Monika’s and Romanas life

17:08  Post-covid situation, the challenge of finding employees & “you are not alone with this experience”

20:15 The benefits of switching to a day’s menu 

22:42 The vibe of the place, the menu and the best compliment ever

30:04 Monika’s and Romanas outlook into the future 

31:04 On actively supporting Ukraine as a restaurant

35:07 How can people support you at the moment? 

36:10 What keeps you going?

37:14 Where can people find you?

37:47 The special meaning of the name "Sv. Vieta"

Join Anjelli in this conversation with Adomas Dzedulionis — one of the founders of the family run café “Chaika” in Lithuania. Together with his wife Ona, they’ve created “Chaika” — a small chain of cafés, which specializes in vegan desserts, good specialty coffee and teas, has an interesting interior and nice laid back vibe. Get to know the story of the almost 10 year old café in Vilnius, its creation process and franchise plans, Adomas thoughts on the best marketing tool ever and his approach on the local and international collaborations.

Check out “Chaika” out in: https://chaika.lt/lt/

0:41 What “Chaika” is all about

2:30 How did it start and it’s philosophy

5:49 Inspiration behind vegan desserts

7:50 Adomas perspective on plant-based scene in Vilnius, recommendations and vegan restaurant’s friendship

9:26 About the experience when first launching the café, challenges, strengths and marketing

14:31 About franchise and working with the close ones

17:46 Post-covid situation

18:55 Challenges and price increase in regards to the war

21:02 About the space

22:52 Teaser on “Chaika’s” menu

25:37 What keeps you going?

26:20 A piece of advice for someone that is starting up

26:58 Are you interested in the “Chaika” franchise in your city? Contact Adomas!

Join Anjelli in this cozy conversation with Mikk Mägi  — a pioneer of the vegan scene in Estonia and a founder of the greatly known Vegan Restoran V, located in the old town of Tallinn. In this episode Mikk shares the story of the restaurant, his sources of inspiration for the international style menu and thoughts on the importance of the strong team. During this online recording, Mikk is in the middle of the forest, 85 km from Tallinn, where he owns a house and dreams big dreams. Listen and get to know them before they come true!

Check out Vegan Restoran V: https://www.veganrestoran.ee/

1:07 Introduction to “V” and Mikk

1:25 Before the restaurant and 24/7

3:32 Plant based scene in 2014 and animal activism

4:51 Challenges in the beginning of the “V”

5:22 Restaurant type, starting it without experience, professional aims

8:48 Menu in the beginning and a 9 years old “Star dish”

11:32 “V” restaurant’s vibe and the benefits of being a customer in your own place

13:39 About the international menu and it’s creation

14:38 Strong kitchen team and its relation to the cure for the burn-outs, living in the forest, festival food truck and the future dream

18:23 The main thing about “V” and it’s success

20:33 Thoughts on the “V” future and festival food truck

21:59 What keeps you going? 

24:30 Where to find Vegan Restoran V

Join Anjelli in this engaging conversation with Amy Gardiner — a founder of Humble Coffee — a roastery, café and co-working space in Durban, South Africa, which won the best country's café award in 2021. Amy shares the journey of the Humble Coffee and gives a glimpse into the future vision for it. Listen and get inspired by her passion for empowering local women and community, admiration for the Durban city and excitement for the tasty, plant-based food.

Check out Humble Coffee: https://humblecoffee.co.za/

0:54 About Amy and Humble Coffee 

4:13 Challenges back then

5:44 Strong team as a key and South Africa’s unemployment problem

7:13 Empowering young women to enter a career

8:20 Thoughts on social entrepreneurship & offering Humble as a community space

10:25 About the space

12:50 Creating a sanctuary — plants, tiles and afternoon sun 

14:26 Moving to communal space

15:23 Menu inspiration & the importance of variety 

24:04 Perspective on the price increase

29:56 “Putting off fire every 5 minutes” - the nature of running a café business

32:06 “What keeps you going?” & the future dreams

35:33 Where to find Humble Coffee

Join Anjelli in this engaging conversation with Buddha Browett — a founder of Flax Café, Los Perros Urban Farm and breathtaking chili sauce Pepper Pepper Deli in Malmö, Sweden. Buddha shares his thoughts on starting a business without a business plan and his passion for a better world that carries things throughout the times of difficulties up to the unexpected public awards.  

Check out Flax: www.flaxmalmo.com

Check out Los Perros Urban Farming: https://www.losperrosurbanfarming.com/

00:47 Why Sweden?

22:59 Flax — a beautiful mistake of life

04:01 Home made chili sauce dream

06:03 Business without a business plan

07:06 Collaboration with a local coffee roastery

9:16 Menu inspiration and design

10:08 The beauty of growing kids in a farm

11:55 More about the passion for chili sauce

12:52 Direct connection with the garden and customers

15:03 Recurring an online farm

19:51 Advice on how to start an urban farm

23:52 Collaborations with other restaurants

26:52 Biggest challenges so far

31:29 Malmö’s best café award in 2021

32:54 Region Skånes Miljöpris // Environmental Prize in 2020

33:50 It's a labor of love, but it’s a business in the end

36:26 Advice for those on the same journey

37:18 Life's mantra: what's the worst thing that can happen?

38:23 Where can people find you?

Join Anjelli in this engaging conversation with Karina Nayja Bruun, a pioneer of the plant-based scene in Copenhagen. She candidly shares the journey of The Organic Boho from Ibiza, Spain to Copenhagen, Denmark. Hear more about Karina’s bohemian adventures, the first experiences in Roskilde festival, having business in the area next to Christiania, her thoughts on branding and the importance of being consistent in your business.

Check out The Organic Boho: https://theorganicboho.com/

Part 1 

0:47 From a big life moment to having a business in Ibiza, Spain; The bohemian lifestyle & the story behind the name

9:48 Further journey from Ibiza to Denmark, Roskilde festival and Christiania

14:30 From a “small” story to a front page in Børsen

17:00 Calling dishes like mantras

25:30 Concept and branding goals

Duration: 28:39

Part 2

0:10 Flagship Store and The “grown up” Boho 

1:47 Space, atmosphere & vibe

3:33 The Menu

5:30 Thoughts on meat substitutes

8:50 Dealing with the price changes

12:24 Insights from coming back to Roskilde festival after 5 years

15:17 The benefits of starting over and doing it simply

16:20 “What keeps you going”?

18:15 Collaboration with IRONMAN

19:50 Importance of being consistent

Duration: 24:32

Join Anjelli in this engaging conversation with Karina Nayja Bruun, a pioneer of the plant-based scene in Copenhagen. She candidly shares the journey of The Organic Boho from Ibiza, Spain to Copenhagen, Denmark. Hear more about Karina’s bohemian adventures, the first experiences in Roskilde festival, having business in the area next to Christiania, her thoughts on branding and the importance of being consistent in your business.

Check out The Organic Boho: https://theorganicboho.com/

Part 1 

0:47 From a big life moment to having a business in Ibiza, Spain; The bohemian lifestyle & the story behind the name

9:48 Further journey from Ibiza to Denmark, Roskilde festival and Christiania

14:30 From a “small” story to a front page in Børsen

17:00 Calling dishes like mantras

25:30 Concept and branding goals

Duration: 28:39

Part 2

0:10 Flagship Store and The “grown up” Boho 

1:47 Space, atmosphere & vibe

3:33 The Menu

5:30 Thoughts on meat substitutes

8:50 Dealing with the price changes

12:24 Insights from coming back to Roskilde festival after 5 years

15:17 The benefits of starting over and doing it simply

16:20 “What keeps you going”?

18:15 Collaboration with IRONMAN

19:50 Importance of being consistent

Duration: 24:32