Safe Harbor in Enemy Territory: FTG Feeds the Tigers Well
As a young girl, catering company owner Crysta Brown spent her time in the kitchen with her father. She later found herself pursuing what used to be a family activity as her permanent career when she opened FTG Boutique Catering Co.
Brown was an avid viewer of the Food Network, and would always test recipes with her dad. With both parents being from the South, food is extremely important to their household. Brown gained a particular interest in catering when she watched the show Chef Roble & Co. She was drawn to this show because they were cooking without being on the line, and were organizing events that intrigued her.
Brown is influenced by several famous chefs, including Gordon Ramsey, Chef Roble, Richard Blais, Anthony Bourdain, Stephanie Izard and Julia Child. She grew up “an Air Force brat,” as she says, which contributed to her family’s varied cooking style. The Brown family cooked Asian-inspired, Italian-inspired and Southern-inspired foods, all of which Brown tries to learn more about and fuse together in her own cooking.
Her journey in the culinary field began when she was 15 years old, when she shadowed in a kitchen. Her first catering events started in 2015, but FTG has been in business for just about a year and a half. Brown is grateful that she opened doors right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and was able to stay in business all throughout.
Brown faced some financial struggles as a business owner, as she dropped from a consistent salary to almost nothing at first. It was especially difficult because she and her business partner both love to travel. However, Brown loves the freedom of being a business owner. She is able to make her own decisions for operation, recipes and decorating. She also loves her ability to ensure that she still has a life outside of work.
Her father’s side of the family is from Louisiana, and one of her aunts and cousins went to LSU. Thus, LSU feels like her home away from home.
“I’m always dreaming of boudin and crawfish,” Brown said.
Brown was able to supply the pre-game meal for LSU Women’s Indoor Volleyball when they faced the University of Florida. She also provided dinner for the LSU Men’s Golf team when they played in the Gator Invitational in January.
“FTG catering provided such an amazing meal before our match against Florida. They gave us so many options to help ensure that we were properly fueled for the game,” said freshman Indoor Volleyball player Paige Flickinger.
When Brown reflects on her life and wonders what the younger version of herself would say, she thinks that little girl would be proud that she is still in the food industry, running her own company.
“Cooking was always something that I loved, and I hope she’d say, ‘I want to be her when I grow up!’” Brown said.
Instagram: @ftg_boutiquecatering
Facebook: @ftggainesville
Website: ftggainesville.com
