Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina And Iurie Catan
Hi Irina and Iurie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Upon our landing in America, me and my husband always worked together and shared our days and hustles. We have always been together, inseparable.
In the new to us, country and culture, we did what we had never done before; we began working separately. I began my job at a daycare, and my husband started as a truck driver. For the first time, our kiddos started going to school by themselves. No one to walk them down to the bus station, or wish them a good day; and they returned after school to an empty house. I would leave by the time they wake up, and come home when they’re already there. My husband was over the road. That was so unlike our family.
We desperately looked for opportunities to get back to what has always been normal to us, sharing a hustle together. Then our light bulb flashed bright, we wanted to open a creperie! A place where each family feels at home, a place filled with care, a place where you can have a family dinner, meet new friends, or celebrate a birthday. And of course, enjoy the delicious crepes.
We have never been in a restaurant business before, but that didn’t scare us. This isn’t the first time we started from zero. At first, we thought of making them in the traditional French style. We even purchased a crepe-maker to follow that style, and got a hang of it pretty quickly, making big and delicious crepes. But as it appeared, we still didn’t have enough income to afford a building- so we began delivering. We started offering our friends and coworkers crepes for their events. Our first “going away” crepes, we made for our daughter’s team. That is when we delivered the idea of crepes in individual boxes. The results exceeded all of our expectations! The boxes turned out bright and eye-catching with a sweet, yummy, little surprise inside each box. To allow ourselves to fold the crepe into the form we needed, we had to return back to our family recipe: making crepes on a skillet rather than a crepe-maker. Our Slavic crepes, thin, elastic, and delicate, allow us to shape/fold them as our recipes desire and do not change taste or texture even after the 3rd day. That is how “Crepe-sacks”, “Crepe-rolls”, “Crepe-cakes”, “Crepe-empanadas”, “Crepe-bouquet” made an entrance in our menu. The result was INCREDIBLE!
“Best crepes we’ve ever had!” “These are fantastic!” “So beautiful!” “I would eat that every day!” “My wife would love this!” and so many more compliments began engulfing us. That was the beginning of the online “Crepe-n-Joy” family café and creperie. However, we strongly believe that one day, “Crepe-n-Joy” will become a physical place, that brings joy to everyone.
My husband and I still work separate jobs and financially going towards our café. We share our crepes on the weekends, and most importantly, we do it TOGETHER.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The only and biggest obstacle we’ve faced is distraction. The longer we’ve been in the industry, the more opportunities we see, the more we realize we want to try everything. But when we dig deeper, we understand that every different opportunity is a whole new world. If we shift our focus to a new opportunity, we could drift away from our own goal.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We make crepes for events. In our implementation, crepes stop being “street food”, and become creative appetizers or a centerpiece for a festive dinner. We make crepe platters and crepe bars for weddings, baby/bridal -showers, birthdays, team meets, family brunches, and more! Our crepes can be served as a gift, or decorate a festive table for the holidays! And aesthetically satisfy and impress your guests.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 crisis taught us all a lesson to keep our eyes open and be able to shift our business structure to fit in the best way the circumstances require.
Pricing:
- Crepe-sacks filled with grilled Chicken, Mushrooms, and Alfredo sauce. $11.5 per person. 3 crepes per person. It’s a good present for your family members and a centerpiece for a festive dinner. It fits any event
- Crepe-bouquet includes four Crepes, seasonal Berries, edible Flowers, Chocolate, two Sauces of your choice. $52. 1 crepe per person. It’s a perfect gift or an addition to the gift for Mother’s Day, Graduation, Valentine’s Day, Birthday or a Romantic Dinner.
- Crepe Fruit Platter includes Crepes along with the freshest seasonal Fruits and your favorite Sauces. $9.5 per person. 3 crepes per person. It’s a perfect addition to the menu for your Birthday party, friend’s gathering, team meets, or parents visiting.
- Crepes-empanadas filled with sweet Potato with Marshmallow. $10.8 per person. 2 crepes per person. Mouth-watering Crepes-empanadas with a delicious fall smell with notes of Vanilla and Cinnamon is a must-have on the Thanksgiving dinner
- Crepe Treats in an individual box filled with 3 Crepes, 2 Sauces of your choice, Marshmallow, Gummy stripes. $9 each. Perfect to treat your guests at a kids party. It’s an excellent gift for teachers, staff, and colleagues.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://crepenjoy,com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/crepe_n_joy
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/crepenjoyy
Image Credits
All the images belong to Irina and Iurie Catan, owners of Crepe-n-Joy family cafe and creperie
