Notes from Chris

Episode 1193

The dual-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago lies at the southeastern edge of the Carribean sea, not far from the coast of Venezuela. The country is famous for pristine beaches, stable economy, and vibrant musical heritage. It’s not known for its burgers.

Burgers on Trinidad are plain, designed to be doused in ketchup or garlic sauce. To Crystal John, a young mother and lifelong home cook, it seemed like a food that was ripe for disruption.

You see, Trinidad loves curry—it’s one of their most beloved things to cook with—and Crystal had an idea for a curry burger. She thought through the flavors, blended the ingredients, and slapped the cooked patty on a bun.

It was exceptional: The iconic flavor of the nation, infused into a mouthwatering burger. Crystal invited friends over for a tasting party, asked for their brutally honest feedback, and they all said the same thing: You should sell this.

Coming from a family of skilled cooks and foodies, Crystal knew a few restaurant owners around the island. She called one of them and asked for a meeting. They cooked up some burgers at the restaurant, did a tasting, and the owner agreed: her recipe was something special.

The two worked out a simple deal—$3 USD per patty, sold in batches of 48—and just like that, in late 2016, Crystal began supplying a respected restaurant with curry burger patties made in her own kitchen.

Crystal spent the next year in “a funk,” wondering what to do next. Through the support of her friends and family, she realized her dream hadn’t died.

So she started again, making a simple flyer on her computer announcing she was taking orders for frozen gourmet burger patties, then sending it out to all of her friends on WhatsApp.

She expected two, maybe three orders—whatever it took to get going again. But her community had missed her exceptional burgers, and Crystal got 26 orders. She rushed to the grocery store, bought $500 in ingredients, and got to work. Burger Babe was back in business!

The curry burger was a hit, but Crystal had a few other creations by now as well. The Total Local infused island spices and pimento cheese into the patty. The Italian patty had fresh basil and mozzarella mixed in. There was a turkey cranberry patty. A veggie patty.

Coming into 2020, Crystal is generating over $1,100 per month in profit, and she’s still looking to grow. Her signature sauces—Papayo Pimento, Oh Honey Mustard, and The Boasty BBQ—have been hits since the beginning, so she’s turning them into shelf-stable products that will launch soon in grocery stores. She’s also considering exporting to other Caribbean islands.

Crystal is thrilled to finally be building her dream into a real business, this time doing it on her terms. The Burger Babe is here to stay!

 

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  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Follow Crystal and her business, Burger Babe at her Instagram account, @BurgerBabett.

SEE ALSO:

• Full-Time Mom Ships $35,000/Month in Frozen Bread on Amazon: The busy mother of a child on a specialized diet decides to take action and ‘liberate’ parents like her with her allergen-free food side hustle.
• Blogger Turns Leftover Cherries Into $5,000/Month Income: After being diagnosed with diabetes, a food blogger creates a sugar-free line of ketchup alternatives.
• Nonprofit Employee Sells 25,000 Gourmet Ice Pops: A Texas couple’s bucket list challenge turns into a full-time hustle making and selling ice pops throughout the state.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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