Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Kravchenko.
Hi Alex, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My vegan journey started back in 2015 when I was in high school Food Science. One day, we watched a documentary that advocates for plant-based, whole-food diets called Forks Over Knives, and something clicked inside my brain. Diets are nothing new to me and my family. My parents were on every diet growing up. But after watching Forks Over Knives, I realized why none of the diets we were on worked – while traditional diets felt limiting, plant-based diets felt like endless possibilities. Later that day, I told my mom, “We are doing this for a month to see how we feel!” Luckily, my mom loves to cook and was excited to try something new. We kept to the recipes from the Forks Over Knives website and everything was outstanding! We lasted the entire month, but I decided I missed pizza and chicken tenders too much… I know, I know, but I was in high school and just wanted to be “normal”!
Even though I didn’t stick with being fully plant-based right away, the seeds had been planted. Every time I ate meat, dairy, or used any kind of animal products, I would be thinking about veganism more and more. I went vegan on and off again after that but nothing permanent for 2 years. Then, in February of 2017, I had a horrible case of the flu for a week. By the time the week was over, it was almost as if my mind had a complete shift. I jumped straight into veganism and haven’t looked back since! In August 2017, I moved to Los Angeles, California. Luckily, L.A. is home to a HUGE vegan hub and had a lot more exciting options than Texas had to offer.
What L.A. was building me to was turning my passion for food into possible business ideas. Even though COVID threw things off the rails a bit (understatement!), my momentum and my desire to reach my ultimate goal of opening my food business kept going. And fortunately for me, I was in a loving, sweet, caring relationship with my current partner, Elijah. Both Elijah and I decided to move back to Texas together because there were more chances for job opportunities and cheaper, well, everything. Even though the move was extremely difficult mid-pandemic, and several job opportunities didn’t work out like they should have, all of this change led me to start AK’s Plant Pantry in August 2021! And now, when I think back at all of the events that led me here – watching Forks Over Knives, moving to LA, and meeting Elijah – I believe I was always meant to be on this path.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My journey to being a business owner was defiantly not easy. I am a licensed esthetician and the year before the pandemic I had horrible eczema that was covering my hands, arms, chest, neck, and eyes. I had to stop doing esthetic work for about 7 months. Once I finally got back into doing facials about 5 months later the pandemic started and shut down my industry (at least in LA). We decided to move to Texas so I could find work at a spa, but something didn’t feel right about it. I was having severe anxiety and panic attacks before and during all my shifts. One weekend my partner and I went to Broken Bow, Oklahoma for vacation and I had a life changing dream. When I woke up, I knew I had to quit my job. I came back and resigned and started AK’s Plant Pantry. It has been scary and uncertain putting all of my eggs into one basket, but with all the challenges of wearing all the hats as a business owner I wouldn’t trade the independence, flexibly, or the joy I am bringing to others (and myself) for the world!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have always been an artistic creative person. I grew up in theatre and love to paint. Now that I am a chef, I get to pour all my creative energy into creating one of a kind delicious meals. AK’s Plant Pantry specializes in vegan, gluten-free, and organic meals as well as bio-degradable and compostable packaging. Growing up my family predominantly ate at various Asian restaurants. We love all types of Asian flavors especially Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean. I love to pull from the experiences at these restaurants to create my own take. However, I love to cook a variety of foods like Mexican flared dishes, Indian, and a healthier take on some classic American dishes, etc. For example, one of my most popular dishes is Chickpea “Tuna” Salad which is a play on tuna salad but using chickpeas instead! Everyone who tries it, vegan or non, fall in love after the first bite. I also, as my partner likes to say, am “the sauce master”. I can whip up a delicious flavor packed sauce for just about everything. In my opinion a good sauce can elevate the dish dramatically! My limitations do not stop with cooking. I love to bake as well and create amazing veganized versions of classic desserts, like cheesecake! What sets me apart from other is that I feel like I could veganize just about anything and still provide people with healthy and flavor packed meals.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The pandemic really taught me what were my priorities in life. For me that is my partner, family, a few close friends, and good food. It taught me that everything can change in the drop of a hat, and I became even more grateful for the amazing life I get to live. If it weren’t for the pandemic, I am sure I would still be in LA struggling to pay the bills, living in a rough neighborhood, and destroying my skin doing esthetician work with products that clearly weren’t agreeing with my body. In a way I am thankful (trying to look on the bright side of things) for the pandemic because it allowed me to blossom into a successful business owner and I am one step closer to my dream of owning my own restaurant/ market/ community center!
Contact Info:
- Website: aksplantpantry.com
- Instagram: aks_plantpantry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AKsPlantPantry
