Today we’d like to introduce you to Monika.
Monika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I studied neuroscience at Penn then moved to Brooklyn after graduating. Eventually I began bartending and immersed myself in the hospitality scene. Even though I transitioned to a full-time remote position as an editor, I was still enamored with exploring various restaurants, teaching myself how to cook and making the kitchen my science lab. My brother attended Cal Poly and, having made it through the wine & vit program, decided to start a brewery. He gave me a call and asked if I’d like to do food for the brewery- and so in 2019 I packed my bags and moved to the central coast.
I quit my job and started my catering business in 2020 in the peak of the pandemic. It pivoted from tiny pop-up to private events and eventually my primary source of income was making sourdough pizza for a variety of venues. In early 2022, I went through a big transition in my personal life, met my future partner and gave birth to my son in May of 2024. This, of course, changed everything.
After going through my own postpartum experience, I realized how important high-quality nourishment is for new mothers and how underserved the community of new mothers truly is. In our culture, it is not status quo to publicly take the time to rest and heal— bounce back culture is at an all-time high and the pressure to return to “normal life” is strong. This goes against all ancient traditions and wisdom about what new moms should be doing.
Mothership was born from my desire to fill in the gap for much-needed nourishment for new moms as well as my passion for using local produce and making food that heals from the inside out. The meals are organic, made with produce sourced directly from farmers I know and designed specifically to heal the postpartum body and nourish a new mother— or anyone in recovery— exactly the way she needs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been and continue to be many struggles. That’s part of running a business, especially a food business, in this current landscape. While many people are excited about the concept, it has not been easy to reach my target demo or perhaps find people who are willing to make the investment. We have had some hiccups with the website. It’s a constant work in progress and we are always adapting.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work as the owner of Mothership is to make the food that I wish I had when I gave birth to my son. I believe my true purpose in life is to nourish others, and this is part of fulfilling my calling.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Visit my website and place an order! We ship throughout California and we have gift cards. www.eatmothership.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eatmothership.com
- Instagram: eatmothership
