From Loewe to becoming the queen of healthy catering by hobby

• GASTRO Distrito Vegano Invernadero, the 100% 'plant based' restaurant of a fashion expert DJ

• ZEST This restaurant has its own nutritionist and claims to offer dishes with half the calories

Many times the best stories happen by chance.

The enthusiastic María de la Vega (Alcobendas, 1986) turned her life around 180 degrees and

and luxury to start a

of preparing healthier cakes.

"We have always been a family of gluttons and enjoyers," he laughs.

His mother instilled in him that passion for cooking.

"He was a phenomenal cook but he didn't like sweets at all, so to get

but have something homemade I started making cookies and biscuits silly."

BOXES WITH CARE

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However, after graduating in Law and ADE (acronym for Business Administration and Management) from the Autonomous University of Madrid, her soul as a businesswoman led her to

.

"I gave away my very well presented little boxes. I was embarrassed to sell them to anyone. But I left my phone inside and, one day, that person came who called me with a more ambitious order."

A baptism with a lot of snacks.

And from word of mouth, or better, from bite to bite, from those initial nerves so that everything was well calculated to a team of twenty people feeding parties with cuisine "where

explains. .

ENTREPRENEURIAL SOUL

Tables bought in antique shops, paintings of her father and the canoe where she sailed as a child, in her restaurant. Rodrigo Varona

One day his father asked him to ride the

.

"I replied: What is that? And he told me: 'A hell of a bar.'"

The first experiment was in

that they fixed up, with the idea that it would be a

.

"I prepared a surprise menu and went out with my jacket to give service. People repeated because it was like a clandestine restaurant, so they came back again with other friends or different family members to show it to them."

It was like doing a culinary master's degree, he remembers.

"In the beginning, you were mostly hired by acquaintances for weekend events. I had a great time cooking and I also combined it with my daily work. In a law firm and the world of fashion with Loewe. Luckily I didn't have couple!" he jokes.

.

"It was like a hobby, I enjoyed it."

The terrace at Juan Bravo, reminiscent of his gastronomic club of origin. Rodrigo Varona

Little by little it grew until it reached its own coquettish place on Calle Lagasca, which has now moved to Juan Bravo, already converted into a whole

, just as its father aspired.

He has more space, in fact, it is full of

the south of France and on the roof hangs an upside down canoe where he sailed as a child.

Precisely with her father, who has decorated the room with his works of art.

"We were sailing on the Bidasoa, it would fill up with water and we would bail out, it is very special to have it here."

There is also a terrace to recreate that oasis of her first event house.

HEALTHY GOURMET PRODUCTS

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All the legs into which this business with soul is divided bear his hyphenated surname: VE-GA.

"She grew a lot in quarantine, like everyone else

.

Her boxes, prepared with such care, appeared in all the Instagram accounts.

And although she has nothing to do with the vegan world, despite the name, she has also launched

and as a special gift.

"Seeds is aimed at all people who like to take care of themselves, who are more demanding of good nutrition. They do not eat refined flour or sugar... It can be a whim or a solution as a detail for vegetarians, vegans, those who go to the gym ...".

The most beautiful thing about their dedication is that

.

"I'm like a Jiminy Cricket who is always designing. The more difficult they make it for me, the more I like it."

Many times people are not aware of everything that is behind.

"The transfers of all my beach bar to a place, setting everything up and then picking it up can become exhausting and it is not valued as much".

At first she forgot things and that taught her to be resolute.

Her uniforms are trendy.

"

, I buy from entrepreneurs like me and my base is traditional cuisine with a twist".

The 'brunch' that is offered on weekends in VE-GA, with two different options depending on hunger.Roberto Varona

• VE-GA CATERING

  .

  Natural products and homemade recipes for events and in your restaurant.

  C/ Juan Bravo, 29. Madrid l 914 11 99 46 l Workshop and Shop at C/ de la Metalurgia, 10. Alcobendas l 673 94 43 13 l ve-ga.es l Healthy gourmet products at seedsgourmet.com

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