allium’s story
Hi Friends,
I’m Carlos, founder of Allium Hospitality & The Okanagan Herb Patch!
In the summer of 2008, I came to Kelowna to work as an intern for part of my Culinary Arts Diploma. While at my internship, I vividly remember when we received the season’s first carrots from a local farm. The chef was so excited! “Who the hell gets so excited about carrots,” I thought naively. As it turns out, I’m now one of those people who gets excited, not just over carrots but for all the crops that come out of our bountiful region. It’s this excitement that drives my appetite for farm-fresh produce for my kitchen and my products.
Long after my first time here, I was drawn back to work at the same winery, this time under a very different role. I built relationships with farmers that grow those ingredients I get so enthusiastic over. During this process, I began to refine what matters to me in regards to food. Slowly, I moved away from fine dining and towards comfort-driven seasonal fare.
The pendulum eventually swung all the way over to the farm end of the ‘farm to table’ spectrum. In my second season on an Organic Farm, I’ve honed in on the notion that Allium is, first, a hospitality business, guided by collaborative and sustainable principles. Within that 'hospitality’ umbrella, I’ve created The Okanagan Herb Patch as the foundation for the produce and products.
I hope you enjoy allium’s products as much as I love making them!
