Karla's Kreations Personal Chef and Catering
Karla Billdt grew up watching her mother, aunts and grandmother prepare Thanksgiving dinners for their extended family of more than fifty people. Each year the mouth-watering feast included three large turkeys, beautifully browned and glistening; dozens of side dishes prepared by her aunts, each hoping their dishes would be devoured first; and as many as 26 different pies lining the pantry to provide the finishing touch to the traditional holiday meal. Karla saw the satisfaction the women in her family found in preparing and serving their loved ones. Soon her family noticed Karla reading cookbooks rather than children’s books. By the time she was eight years old, she was preparing treats for her brothers and sisters.
The seed that ultimately became Karla’s Kreations, a Personal Chef and Catering Service in Yuma, Arizona, was planted during a conversation with her sister in 2004. They talked about people’s need to sit together with their families, enjoying a healthy meal while they talk about the events of the day, and how the stresses of both parents working and other time constraints simply did not allow for the preparation of such a meal. Karla had cooked for her own family since childhood; the nurturing spirit that had grown in her over the years sparked an idea: why not prepare meals for other families?
An organized planner at heart, Karla did not simply jump into starting a business. At that time she lacked the self-assurance and poise that she has acquired over the years; she decided to call her business Karla’s Kreations simply because if the catering venture failed, she could open a quilting shop without changing the name. For six months, she worked on menus, testing recipes on her family and friends. Finally she sent out 100 homemade brochures with a cover letter, telling the world about her new business.
The very next day Karla booked her first job, a brunch shower for 50 people. The shower was hosted by an interior designer, who took the dishes Karla prepared and presented them as part of an elegant table decor. This initial experience made Karla aware of the importance of her cuisine not only tasting delicious, but looking elegant and beautiful as well. This led her to take food styling classes from acclaimed author and food stylist Denise Vivaldo. Ultimately Karla traveled to Singapore with Denise to assist her in teaching a food styling class there.
Karla is a former Personal Chef’s Network member. She feels that it was the support from the members of PCN for the growth and success of her business. She asks, “Where else could I find answers to everything I need to know to make my business work, from forming a business plan and buying insurance, to the number of appetizers I need to serve a crowd?” She then became a member of USPCA and now a founding member of Personal Chef Cooperative.
Karla’s Kreations has grown over the years. It started slowly but the jobs kept coming; word of mouth helped the business grow. “I wasn’t serving the usual chicken wings, meatballs and mushrooms,” explained Karla. “People wanted good food, set up in beautiful and elegant style.” Despite the growth in her business, Karla prides herself on catering to the individual needs of her clients. She prepares meals for busy families, and customizes individual needs such as gluten free, diabetic, or weight loss diets. No occasion is too small for Karla; she caters small intimate parties and large corporate affairs. Karla’s Kreations has served parties as small as two and as large as 250. Her day might begin catering a breakfast or brunch, and end with a late-night party.
Confucius said, “Find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If that is the case, Karla is a very happy woman. First cooking for her siblings and later for her own family, Karla now brings all the warmth and love of her home kitchen to her clients. The nurturing she learned from the women in her family lives on in everything she prepares now. Just as an artist takes pleasure in seeing others take pleasure in a painting or a sculpture, Karla gains immense satisfactions seeing others enjoy her food.
While she takes pride in her career, Karla sees her greatest accomplishment as her family. The 20 years she spent as a stay-at-home mother of three produced what she proudly calls “three fantastic adults.” Her children’s friends frequently joined the family for dinner during their growing-up years. Even today, when word gets out that she is testing out new recipes, the table at the Billdt home is filled with family and friends.
In addition to her busy schedule as a personal chef and caterer, Karla prepares healthy lunches three days each week for Southwest Christian School in Yuma; teaches a youth group on healthy cooking and eating; writes for the Yuma Sun “Yuma Foodie” column where she shares recipes and food experiences and styles food for the photographer; presented a series of 24 programs for the Yuma County Library District on international cuisine; was named Yuma’s Best Caterer in 2009, 2010, and is a candidate for 2011; served as a Personal Chef Network mentor; and has been named Personal Chef Network Caterer of the Year for 2008. Karla feels truly blessed to be honored by her peers for doing something she loves.
By the way: it doesn’t look like Karla will open that quilting shop any time soon!
