30 U 30: Ethical Kitchen, four sisters, all under 30
Barbara and Fiona Schellenberg opened up the Ethical Kitchen in North Vancouver.
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Updated: October 14, 2009 3:49 PM
For the Schellenberg sisters leaving the family ranch near Williams Lake wasn’t something they took lightly.
They had 4,000 acres of land, 300 head of cattle grazing on the grass at the organic farm. But they needed help getting the meat to market.
“Everybody wants to stay up there in the country,” says Barbara Schellenberg, 27. “Finally I said, ‘there’s no future without a market (in the city) ... I’ll tough it out.’”
That was six years ago, and Barbara says she’s finally adjusting to city life where she’s been joined by younger sister Fiona, 21.
Sisters Dominique, 24, and Melanie, 28, meanwhile remain at the ranch.
Working farmers’ markets when she first arrived, Barbara took a bold step last year opening up the Ethical Kitchen in North Vancouver, her first business.
“I wanted something more stable,” she said.
With no formal business training, Barbara has turned an independent restaurant serving local and organic food into a success.
“I think the value is really good and it’s a full meal and nutrient dense, our soups aren’t water based, they’re stock based, we boil the bones for three days,” she said.
Later in October, she’s opening up a second restaurant, the Controversial Kitchen on Commercial Drive.
The story behind the name? It’s a playful jab at the up-until-now vegetarian dominated organic restaurants in Vancouver.
Organic meats can be healthy too, Barbara notes.
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