Meet Andrea Reina | Dietitian, Chef, Yoga Instructor and Wine Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Reina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Happiness could be something so small as well as defining bigger things in our life. What makes me happy is to be a source of positivity in other people’s lives. I love what I do because it makes me so happy to see people enjoying themselves, having a good time, being present and enjoying nourishing meals. Outside of my work, being out in nature, trying new foods/ wines, traveling and spending time with loved ones truly makes me happy.
I try my best to find the positive and good in most situations so we can continue to be present, feel joy and enjoy the ride the universe provides for us . Life is full different experiences and just like we might go through hard times, we have to come out the other side and enjoy the beauty in life, in the small things that can bring us happiness , something as small as breathing fresh air , or giving a hug to someone in need.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been studying for many years, it started by being a Dietitian but then I wanted more and to continue learning. I attended culinary school, got my yoga certification and then decided to obtain WSET certificates of wine. I wasn’t quite sure where I was going or what I really wanted to do. Once COVID started, I lost my job as Dietitian and I was left with many questions about my path. I started selling meals from my home to-go with wine pairing cards so people can enjoy the experience at home since everything was closed. It went really well for the few months I did it, but once everything started to open up I had to figure out what else to do.

After traveling for some time, the idea came about to offer private dinners with wine pairings as an experience, where you learn about the food that you are having, why does it pair well with the wine and I start the experience with a meditation. The meditation allows people to be more grounded, be present and to fully taste the food and wine as they enjoy the whole experience. How many times has life or our thoughts from something that happen in the day ruin our dinner or our night out? It probably has happened to all of us, so my idea was to create a space where you can leave everything behind, feel like you are somewhere far away and you can truly enjoy your experience and be present.

I’m very happy and grateful for the first year of work, I have received an incredible amount of support and positive feedback but no one tells you about the struggles that come with having your own business, monetary and also mentally. Specially when you have to start giving up a lot of time spent with friends and family because you are working 24/7 , it is very rewarding but once I exhausted myself I realized I needed to create a balance and allocate time for myself.

Time for selfceare and time to share with others and that is what I did after 1 year. I blocked weekends where I don’t have customers so I can also do things for myself, we have to take care of ourselves so we can be of better service to others.

I would like people to know that I am beyond happy to be of service for everyone, it brings me so much joy to provide a service like this, where I can integrate all my passions into one. I have worked extremely hard to accomplish this , I was born in Colombia and moved here when I was 14. It has been a long journey, but no dream is too big or too small, it requires effort and work but it is worth every step of the way. I would like to encourage people to go out there and believe on themselves and do or try whatever dreams they have, it is never too late.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to do and see here in the tristate area, that it is hard to narrow it down to a “favorite” location. There is a plethora of things to do and see based on your current mood and the season we are in. We are close to the city (NYC), the “Jersey Shore”, Philadelphia.. our country sides that have some of the most beautiful rivers and blue holes, vineyards, skiing as well as any type of food your heart craves. The options are endless! To start the best time ever, we would start and end at “The Oasis”. It is important to center and ground yourself prior to embarking on any journey.

I am located in Elizabeth, NJ. As the fourth largest town in the state, we have a diverse community, filled with great schools, businesses, and nightlife. As I was raised in my town, I prefer to take day trips to change my routine.

There’s is something near by to please all kind of adventures, I rather spend my days outdoors when I can and also love trying new foods, restaurants and food festivals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had many mentors and read many books that have helped me along the way in my journey and where I am today. Above all, I’m beyond grateful for the support my friends and family have given me through the years and for always believing in me.

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