Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele DeFilippo Farmer.
Hi Michele DeFilippo, having you on the platform is an honor. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It all started with my mom; she was my first teacher and a great cook. After years of being a stay-at-home mom and cooking for my four children, I got a divorce and needed a career, so I turned to what I had always loved and enrolled in culinary school. What an eye-opening experience. After culinary school, I made my way through various kitchens and roles, but around 2016, I had the bright idea to cook meals and deliver them to folks in their homes. A Moveable Feast was born, doing the business part-time while working my Chef job at a local country club. In 2017, life threw me another curve ball, and I was diagnosed with leukemia and faced the challenges of working full time and balancing my health. I took a leap of faith and decided to expand the business and support myself that way. Despite the obstacles, A Moveable Feast flourished; thankfully, I am in remission today. Now, with a fresh start in downtown Eustis, we have our brick-and-mortar, serving fresh signature paninis, salads, and wraps, in addition to weekly meal prep and delivery.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have many struggles, as most small businesses do. The pandemic is one of them. We had just signed our lease for our first brick-and-mortar in January 2020, and we all know what happened the following month and year. Fortunately, our meal prep business took off that year since no one was going out. But after three years at that Mt. Dora location, we had to make the difficult decision to close and search for another space. It took us almost 18 months to find our current location. We have been open for about 6 weeks and love being in our space. We can also sublease to other small businesses that need licensing from the state. We have a charcuterie who shares the space and a lady who comes in and does breakfast in the morning.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I love reading books about health and nutrition, and I am reading 31-day Food Revolution by Ocean Robbins. Recently, I took an online vegan baking class, which I am interested in trying. I also love documentaries on health and food and how food affects our health.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amoveablefeast2u.com
- Instagram: feast_2_u
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Feast2u
