Krisi Boneva: Life Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone

Krisi Boneva is an HRC graduate and the proud founder of La Crusteria, a concept for gourmet vegan pizzas. She shares with us why she chose this career path, how her internships changed her life and what it is like to be a young business owner.

How did you decide to study at HRC? Why did you choose to become a chef?

I’ve loved cooking since I was young. I actually studied Business in Barcelona but then I returned to Bulgaria and decided to apply here. I wanted to see where things could go with HRC. Well, let’s just say things went very well for me!

How did you feel when you came to HRC and started studying Culinary Arts?

I was still lost, I hadn’t found my signature style, my path in cooking. But that was until later, until my internship in Miami, USA. That’s where my life started, in Miami.

What can you tell us about your first internship?

My first internship was in a French-cuisine-inspired fine dining restaurant in Maastricht, the Netherlands. I learned a lot of techniques that I didn’t know before. However, it took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, so there wasn’t the usual high pressure kitchen environment. Nonetheless, it was a great experience, I learned so much and I met a lot of people that are still in my life right now. That’s the best thing.

How about your second internship in the USA?

I have a lot to say about it. This is literally the best part of my life. I went to America very afraid because it’s so far away from home. But I needed to step out of my comfort zone.

Because life happens out of the comfort zone which I became a true believer of once I had this experience.

I didn’t know anybody and I just constructed a new life. During that one year, I learned so many things that I’m applying daily in my life right now. My heart is so full of love for that year I spend in Miami. The kitchen did a lot for me, the team was amazing, my closest friends I met there and they’re still in my life. The restaurant was a place like nothing I’ve worked at before. It was powered by real fire, a big pizza oven and a very high pressure kitchen environment. Obviously, I fell in love with the pizza oven station and that’s where I found my passion for pizza making.

Tell us more about your current business. How did you come up with the idea?

La Crusteria is a concept of gourmet pizza. I created it because

I wanted to show that pizza can be fine dine as well.

It combined my love for gourmet food and fine ditning with my passion for pizza and the artistry of pizza dough. And just like that – La Crusteria was born. It’s something different, it’s something that nobody does here. I just saw an opportunity, created an Instagram page and started doing pop-up events.

What is it like to have a business at 27 years old?

It’s very stressful but I was ready for the stress. I’ve always wanted to do something on my own and I was prepared for it. I won’t lie, it’s a lot of pressure, a lot of sleepless nights, the phone is always buzzing, you don’t have a lot of free time, especially in the beginning. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tell us more about your pizzas?

My pizzas are very untraditional. They’re all plant based and vegan. I prepare everything on my own, there are no fake meats or fake cheese that I buy from the store. I make them by myself. I make a lot of homemade cheeses and people actually adore them.

How do people react towards an entirely vegan product, especially in Bulgaria?

I was worried about this at the beginning. But the truth is that clients never say my pizzas need meat. People are very impressed by the flavors.  Plus, I don’t market or promote it as vegan, it’s just gourmet pizza.

What advice would you give to people who are starting their business now?

My business is about being authentic to myself – preparing things that I eat, that I find flavorful and that is what I give to my clients.

So, my advice is: Just be yourself and the world is yours.

Do you have any plans for the future of your business?

I do, stay tuned. That’s all I can say!

If you had the chance to speak to your younger self, what would you say?

Keep calm, everything is going to work out.

If you’re ready to turn your culinary dreams into reality – whether it’s opening your own business or working in some of the world’s finest restaurants – apply to our Culinary Arts program and take the next step toward your future.