The Courage to Start

Welcome to Episode 31.Toby is joined today by Chef Petrina Peart owner of Gaiya’s Harvest. A contestant on Yes, Chef, former Air Force and a creator of intimate gatherings around food. Chef Petrina has quite the story full of calculated risk and pleasant surprises. Listen in to how she describes the power of food and gathering people around a table. “And it’s funny how food can evoke that kind of emotion from people. I one time made someone cry with a pesto.”“...Food is the only art that incorporates all five senses. And I always tell people that because you can literally transform someone’s mood and their entire being with a meal.”“So we would have different chefs that would host different pop-ups in different venues, not always a restaurant. Sometimes someone’s home, someone’s backyard, anywhere from three to seven courses. And just like, you could collab with different chefs to do it, or you could just, you know, invite people to your home to do it. And so I fell in love with that scene and I started doing that same thing at my house.”Episode 031Release Date: November 11, 2025Host: Toby LylesGuest: Chef Petrina PeartGet in touch with Chef PetrinaWebsite: https://gaiyasharvest.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054232747402Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaiyasharvest This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit votw.substack.com