Katherin Witbreuk’s love affair with food began as a student working at a sandwich shop in her native Sydney. Through the combination of preparing meals and interacting with customers, she knew this was what she wanted to do long-term. A stint at a Lebanese restaurant expanded her culinary repertoire. Over the years, she kept busy in the kitchen baking bread and desserts, all the while seeking opportunities to learn about different types of cuisine.
When she moved to China, Witbreuk discovered black chickens whose health benefits are widely touted by locals. She decided to name her catering business “The Black Chook” – “chook” being Australian slang for chicken. So far, referrals have largely been through word-of-mouth. The company caters to groups both big and small; services include menu planning, clean-up, and extras like flowers, wine, or tableware. Customers can opt for a la carte or buffet setups and parties can be suited to any budget.
The Black Chook also sells Witbreuk’s baked goods and will eventually offer Meals On Wheels, a private service for people who are too busy or unwilling to cook. The aim is to help customers avoid “flavor fatigue” by providing a variety of tastes and taking the guesswork out of what to make for lunch or dinner. Meals On Wheels aims to provide healthy food that is easy to reheat.
Doing business in China has not come without its share of frustrations, however. Sourcing good ingredients is one of Witbreuk’s biggest concerns; to ensure the quality of the ingredients, she has taken to growing her own produce. Want to see if you can taste the difference? Give her a call.
The Black Chook
Contact: 139 1167 3177, info@theblackchook.com,
www.theblackchook.com
Photos: Courtesy of The Black Chook
This article originally appeared on p20 of the beijingkids March 2014 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com
