Stroll down the quaint streets of Main Street in Seal Beach, Calif. and you’ll find Crema Cafe & Artisan Bakery. Sit down and stay a while to enjoy their European-inspired menu comprised of delicious dishes like crepes, quiche and sandwiches, or stop in for a quick coffee and a freshly baked pastry. As they celebrate 15 years in business, owner and Chef Tarit Tanjasiri reflects on Crema’s history.

What inspired you to get into foodservice?

“I have always loved good food. I found ways to cook my own food even in boarding school as a kid. Once I had a taste of the corporate world, I knew I didn’t want to do that. Having many chef friends who inspired me through their passion for food, they gave me the push I needed to get into it myself. I have been stuck in it ever since.”

What do you love about your business?

“I love feeding people. I love providing a great place where locals can come each day as a part of their daily routine. I love our place being a gathering place where friends meet, where business gets done and mostly, where families come to spend time together.”

What’s the most interesting thing to happen to your business?

“We have so many things that happen in our cafe. One that sticks out is a blind date at our cafe that turned into a proposal a couple of years later. Then came an engagement party, followed by a wedding reception right on our patio.”

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

“I think the biggest challenge for me would have to be the early years. Our business was built one customer at a time. There were no shortcuts; social media didn’t start until four to five years into our business. Each year is built on our ability to be good the year before and so on. Fifteen years in, we had continuously grown in customer counts and sales until the pandemic hit us hard last year.”

What Cambro products help make your business work?

“We use Cambro products everywhere. All the hotel pans, storage bins, ingredient bins, racks, dough boxes, insulated transport units…I couldn’t run our business without our Cambro products.”

Links for Crema Cafe

Website | Facebook | Instagram

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ADRIANA DESIDERIO IS THE DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER AT CAMBRO.