BOSS WOMAN 136 | BOWER AND WILDE

A BATCHY WITH LAUREN FROM BOWER AND WILDE

What is your drink of choice? (doesn’t have to be alcoholic)A batchy from barrio or a fun Pet Nat from Rochford or Blackhearts & Sparrows.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?I’m a Canberra local and have grown up in a family of 9 – yep I have 6 siblings (still unsure how my parents did it).

I’ve been working in the hospo scene for about 10 years, and have just recently finished up with Ona Coffee, where I had been managing their flagship store- Highroad since opening back in 2017. I have had the opportunity to host a whole bunch of really cool events, where I discovered my love for food and bringing people together.

My dream is to one day sell my baby golf, deck out a van or an old Land Rover Defender, and take Bower + Wilde on the road with me..

Tell us about Bower and Wilde and how it came to be

Bower + Wilde is a small Canberra based catering project that launched August 2020. We work closely with local, and interstate artisans who create the most beautiful cheeses, cured meats, baked goods, wine, ceramics, florals & photographs. We have a huge focus on community, sustainability and wholesome, high quality produce.

I’ve always seemed to squeeze a little too much on my plate.. Whilst running Highroad, I thought it would be a good idea to start my own side hustle. I froth food and all things handmade or upcycled- hence choosing to incorporate the bower bird into my name. I brainstormed and dreamt of the concept for about 12 months, but lacked confidence and time. With a lot of encouragement and help from my good mates, chef Nicky Kim and Ricky from Benchmarc Financial Group, I decided to go for it.

I was inspired to bring a new style of “grazing” to Canberra that not only looks beautiful, but would leave you feeling good as well. I wanted to showcase the products that small-scale producers throughout Australia are working on- especially those things that you can’t just pick up at our local stores and markets. I stay clear of “filler foods” and definitely see the worth in quality over quantity. This concept will naturally have limits on who it attracts, but I sense a lot Canberran’s are aching to support as local and as sustainable as possible.

How can we support Bower and Wilde? Give us a follow on the gram and tell your mates about us.

Any advice for those who are thinking about turning their dreams into a reality?Take advantage of the huge amounts of connections and support that Canberrans have to offer. Honestly, I think that’s one of the greatest things about Canberra- everyone backs everyone, regardless of who their competition is. You just need to get out there and meet the people in your industry. Also, something that I’m learning myself- stop over working yourself! Working 50+ hours ain’t provin’ a thing!