Meet Krishna Chetti
Krishna Chetti, founder of Petite Île
Where are you from originally and for how many years have you been living in NJ?
I was born and raised in the paradise island of Mauritius, a tiny & most beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. I left Mauritius in 2000 for an international career in Europe and Asia. I came to the US in August 2023, and have lived in the Garden State since then.
What inspired you to pursue a career in cooking, and how did you get started?
Moving to the US was an important life choice. I figured it was time to do what I had always dreamt of: cooking and becoming an entrepreneur. I had a three-decades long dream of taking my mum’s recipes to the market and in 2023, I felt that it was the right idea, at the right time, in the right place.
Starting a business can be overwhelming. I have been fortunate to meet people and organizations who are keen to provide guidance and support. To keep moving forward is an everyday choice, based on a re-assessment of challenges and realities, and having this supportive eco-system is very important.
What is your favorite ingredient to work with and why is it special to you?
Our inhouse spice blend. We roast and blend a mix of mild spices using our family recipe and this adds a unique flavour to our dishes without overpowering them. We are also proud of the ingredients that we are using as we spend a lot of time looking for the best available ingredients.
What are your hopes for your new business?
Our ambition is to help put Mauritian cuisine on the map of ethnic food in New Jersey, in the tri-state area and ultimately in the US. We want to keep expanding our offering and our client reach. After a successful start, the next few years is about expanding our consumer reach directly with new farmers markets and food festivals and indirectly via caterers, bars and restaurants, and having an in-store presence.
Describe your ideal customer or setting to serve your food
The food we serve our customers is exactly how we would do it at home: fresh, nutritious and flavourful. Our ideal customer is anyone who derives happiness in eating tasty, nutritious food and who is willing to try a new sunny island food! We firmly believe food should bring joy!
What is your favorite quote?
“I’ve been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” This humorous, yet profound quote attributed to Mark Twain, highlights how often our worries are about things that never come to pass, encouraging us to focus on reality rather than fears.
