Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Crabtree and Chad Harlan. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Wendy Crabtree and Chad Harlan have been together since 1998 where they met on a friend’s sailboat in Seattle, WA. They worked on yachts as a chef and captain team for over 20 years around the US East Coast, Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. They love travel, and their food choices are influenced by the beautiful and exotic places they have been as well as the areas in which they grew up.
Chad is from the Charlotte area which helped them to decide to make their move back to land to the scenic Blowing Rock area. His passion for riding adventure motorcycles also enticed him to this area of the US with many trails to provide him with challenging rides.
Wendy grew up on a family farm in south-central Kentucky. She studied culinary arts in New York at the ICE program. She has had the opportunity to take fun cooking classes in Grenada, Morocco, Japan, Italy, and New Zealand. She has traveled to over 60 different countries and still has many countries she would like to add to the list.
Wendy and Chad bought their house in Blowing Rock in December 2019 and started searching for a seasonal business that they would like to start and still have some time to work as freelance crew on yachts when they wanted. Say Cheese, a small outdoor gourmet sandwich cafe, seemed like the perfect fit.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Changing careers can always be a bit scary, but we were ready to take the plunge and move to land jobs. Running a yacht is like running your own business. So, starting from nothing and starting new was not a struggle. Organization has always been our strong point, so researching location, permits, codes, and suppliers wasn’t a terrible task. So, for us, it seemed like a smooth road to travel. We truly enjoy exploring North Carolina and meeting locals and visitors to the state.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Having been a yacht chef for 20 years, Wendy had a strong idea of what people liked to eat and how to prepare all types of foods. When she signed the lease on the 10 by 10 food kiosk at SouthMarke Shoppes in Blowing Rock, she knew the space demanded a concise menu due to lack of storage. She had 6 months to create her unique grilled cheese sandwich menu and a creamy homemade soup. She also had friends and family that she could use as her food testers.
Chad, in his yachting career as a Captain, was used to project management, so he was focused on the logistics of opening a new business. He excelled at procuring every item needed for the business and working with vendors.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
People are always amazed that we didn’t have a physical address for 15 years. That we worked on yachts like the show Below Deck and that we might not be up to date with the latest news or trends. We enjoyed sailing and touring different places and meeting so many different people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: saycheeseblowingrock
- Facebook: Say Cheese
- Yelp: Say Cheese
Image Credits
Wendy Crabtree
