Cooking has always been a passion of Christie Leatherman’s ever since she was a child, and now she has taken it a step further with the creation of her new business Christie’s Country Cuisine.
She runs the business out of her home in Nocatee, with her kitchen being the headquarters where all her dishes are made.
The idea behind starting Christie’s Country Cuisine and exploring entrepreneurship came about after she got laid off from her corporate mortgage job in September 2022.
“I had been in mortgage for 20 years, but the rates are still rising, which is crazy, and it was pretty hard to find a job,” Leatherman said. “I love to cook and host and throw parties, so it was scary, but I just figured let’s take this adventure and see where it rides.”
Although she enjoys and can make all kinds of cuisines, she chose to specialize in homemade country cooking or “comfort food” as it is also known.
“I just love Southern food and always have. As a kid people would ask ‘what’s your favorite food?,’ and I’d always just say Southern,” Leatherman chuckled. “It’s all about just trying to do something different.”
One of the things she offers is not only making the food but also delivering it to people’s houses, which she understands can be just as valuable to people today as getting a home cooked meal. That combination is something she takes pride in.
“I know people are busy and I know what’s it’s like to be a working mom and having to come home after you’ve been in meetings all day and heels for 12 hours and then you’ve got to go make dinner,” Leatherman said. “Maybe I can help.”
Leatherman prepares all her meals the day of, and no leftovers are used. Instead, everything is made fresh and cooked to order.
She is always looking for new dishes to try to mix with the certain dishes that she has already spent years tweaking and has got the recipe down perfectly at this point.
“I try to always send thank you emails and ask for any feedback customers may have about the dishes,” Leatherman said.
It helps that she has taste testers at home that she relies heavily on for honest feedback.
“I have four teenagers, two of which are teenage boys, so they’ll eat,” Leatherman chuckled.
She also understands how important it can be, especially as a home-grown small business to create regular customers.
“When I go to make the deliveries, I’ve actually had some where it has been the start of an actual relationship and friendship,” Leatherman said. “I try not to just drop off the food, but instead introduce myself and start a conversation. That has been the most rewarding part of it all so far.”
That personal touch is something that sets Christie’s Country Cuisine apart from others and it is an aspect that she hopes people associate with her business just as much as they do the food she makes.
Being so new she has not yet found certain dishes that she would classify as favorites among the community, but she has received several orders of her chicken and dumplings.
She is aware that some may be looking for vegetarian options, so offering a vegetarian option is something she wants to be able to implement each week.
Not only will Leatherman deliver to the neighborhoods within Nocatee, but also to the businesses as well.
“I want to also be able to get to the point where I can start really catering bigger events,” Leatherman said.
For anyone interested in the latest menu items, go to the Christie’s Country Cuisine page on Facebook.
