On a chilly July evening in 2014, single mother, Natasha Kendrew took her two daughters to the grocery store to get something for dinner.
Since they all had colds, the family was looking for something quick, easy but nutritious without “nasties”—something Mrs. Kendrew said they couldn’t find.
“I just remember thinking, ‘there’s nothing here to feed my family,'” Ms. Kendrew said.
DISCOVER THE LATEST NEWS NEAR YOU WITH PERTHNOW DIGITAL EDITIONS
“So instead, we went home, and I made some bolognese and lasagna, but we had so much left.
“I posted a little message on Facebook asking if anyone wanted anything, and I think I sold 50 meals in that first week.
“C Si Bon just skyrocketed from there.”
Located on Station Street in Cottesloe, C Si Bon, which is French for ‘it’s that good’, sells and supplies both frozen meals that Mrs. Kendrew said were additive, preservative, and gluten-free, sourced and made locally, easy to use and convenient.
Servings range from two to four people, with family packs available in meat and vegetarian options.
Camera icon Natasha Hendrew in C Si Bon. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
Ms. Kendrew said she saw “a real gap” in the high-end frozen food market as she worked in sales and marketing at a wine company before founding C Si Bon.
“We were always a bit of a dud when it came to frozen meals, with some brands full of preservatives, a two-year shelf life, and made from the food you don’t know where it comes from,” she said.
“I just couldn’t agree – we all cook and freeze, so it was a good idea: why not have beautiful, home-cooked meals made daily, quickly frozen and fresh?”
After eight years in business, Ms. Kendrew said it was “more than anything” she could have dreamed of.
“Not only that, these two girls look at me as a single mom who gets up every day and works like crazy to run my business, so they see how important it is, especially as a woman, to have your career and own path in life “, she said.
“I owe this to them and my mother, who herself is integral to starting C Si Bon as a chef.
“I remember standing in the kitchen with her all the time, wanting to follow what she was doing and how she was doing it.”
Camera icon Natasha Hendrew with her daughters Astrid Winburn-Clarke, nine, and Manu Winburn-Clarke, 13. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
In addition to her storefront in Cottesloe and commercial kitchen in Osborne Park, Mrs. Kendrew is now looking to expand C Si Bon by purchasing a kitchen storefront.
The store has also just signed up to the Australian business website Cookaborough, which Ms. Kendrew said could reach a wider audience across Australia.
“My dream is to see four or five satellite stores in Perth, a beautiful kitchen, and a thriving online business,” she said.
“I’m just really excited to be in this position where my business is growing, and I can hire more and more people.
“Every day, I am very proud to be part of this wonderful community and to be able to support the local people.”
