Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyson & Anna Long
Hi Tyson & Anna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are both from Illinois, Me(Tyson) being from the Jacksonville area and Anna being from Okawville, IL. We both attended Sullivan University in Louisville KY, Anna training in Baking and Pastry and myself in Culinary Arts. We began dating, Anna worked at Blue Dog Bakery, one of the area’s most prestigious Artisan Bakeries and I worked for renowned chef John Castro. Several years later we moved to the St. Louis area to be closer to both families and start one of our own. Anna began working at Basso at the Cheshire, being their opening day Pastry Chef. I landed a sous chef position at Winslow’s Home and later became Executive Chef. Anna soon followed and we worked there for several years. I was approached to open a Sugarfire location in O’Fallon, IL and took the offer and eventually became part of the ownership team and we opened a new location in Arnold MO as well. During this time Anna began working at a local O’Fallon Bakery named Sweet Katie Bee’s. After several years in these positions, it lead us to where we currently are……I myself have began operating Long Crafted Catering…..providing catering services for the Stlouis area as well as Chef crafted grab and go items for Gather Coffee in Okawville, IL and Couse Coffee Roasters in St. Charles. Anna works for her family business (Haier Plumbing and Heating) but also owns her own cottage bakery called Anna’s Cakes and Bake’s…..specializing in cakes and pastries. We have two children named Penelope (8) and Matthew (6).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the Culinary Industry it’s always hard to have a healthy work life balance. Lots of long hours working nights and weekends……Anna really was the rock of the family for the past 8 years, working a full time job and doing a large majority of raising our kids. It was hard at times and to be honest the challenges we went through is what lead me to begin my own company to where I can make sure that I’m here for our family and knowing that all the hard work I’m putting in is all for us……not for anyone else.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Both of our businesses provide catering services for the St.Louis area, myself the savory side of things and Anna the sweet side. They are both small family businesses but we both come from going on 18 years of experience and we are able to accommodate anything, from a box lunch for the office or a wedding we can customize anything that our clients are looking for.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’d say our current situation is a big risk, or at least seems like a risk to people on the outside. I quit my very steady job, to start a business and to bet on myself. We know with our work ethics and our unique service we provide that we will be very successful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.threads.net/@longcrafted1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564880033353
