Sunday Profile: Anita Robin

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Sunday Profile: Anita Robin

Fleurieu App

18 September 2021, 8:30 PM

Anita in the kitchen

Anita Robin is the founder and sole-owner/operator of her cooking school business, foodbuilder, which is located in the beautiful township of Goolwa in the Fleurieu region, approximately a one-hour journey from Adelaide, either via the Adelaide Hills or the Southern Expressway. Her business is within a 10 minute walk to the main street of Goolwa and the town’s motel and caravan park. It also is only a 3 km stroll, to the main beach.

Where I am from and what I have done I am a Swiss and Australian National who has trained and worked in both hospitality education and the hospitality business for all of my working life. My earliest memory was of my mother making her favourite dishes including Chrausimausi (a mix of mashed potato and apple) as well as and Spitzbuebe, which translates to “naughty boy” but is in fact a Christmas cookie filled with red currant jam. After twelve years of schooling, I took a gap year and went to live on a local farm, where I learned to prepare dishes with local and fresh foods. This experience tilted me towards my passion for cooking and education in particular. I have lived in Australia, Switzerland and Singapore. I have worked in high-end restaurants in South Australia like Magill Estate and Bridgewater Mill. I used to manage Haigh's Chocolate at Glenelg and the Visitor centre on Greenhill Road.

How my business started Two years ago, when my husband and I started building our house, I finally had the opportunity to create my dream kitchen and from there my business grew. During the first lockdown in March 2020, I thought how I could help people who were stuck at home with not much to do. What could they produce with their leftover food without it going to waste? From there the idea of a small business began to take shape, with an initial concept to provide simple cooking advice. Without any knowledge of sole owner business operations, I began research into an appropriate name, obtaining an ABN, and website design.

Business Development I love cooking and sharing my knowledge with other people. I love working with small groups, and I run different classes like bread making, unique starters, desserts, quick and easy meals, nutrition etc. However, I love to provide unique customised classes to meet peoples’ specific area of interest. Within the last four months I have made contact with some local retreats (OCRE: Old Coach Road Estate in Hindmarsh Valley and Naiko Retreat in Cape Jervis and I now feature on their websites). We have formed collaborations involving me running customised cooking schools for “foodies” staying at their establishments.

What do I do outside of my business? I also have a lot of passions outside of my work. I love music and play the piano and cello. I am now playing in two local orchestras. I love running to the beach, where I always enjoy the fresh air of the sea. We have our own small swimming pool with a jet pump where I love to do my laps. I also love riding my Vespa “primavera picnic”, which I got for my birthday in August.

What is something many locals would not know about you (that you are willing to share!)

I used to teach snow skiing in Switzerland but there is not much call for it in Goolwa!

You have a special class coming up. Can you please tell us a little about this?

My next class will be another bread making class. It seems to be quite popular with my customers.

It is a hands-on 3 ½ hour class, where they will learn how to make different types of bread using various methods with diverse ingredients. They also learn about the different grains.

It will be a group of 6 people and they will get individual tuition.

Included is a light lunch and they are taking home: bread, a sourdough starter and a recipe booklet

Anything else you would like to share?

I will be releasing my first cook book very soon. Keep an eye on my website and on my social media accounts.

YOUR TOP TIPS for the Fleurieu Peninsula / Kangaroo Island:

Come and experience a cooking class with me!

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