The Courage to Start | How Petrina Peart Turned a Leap of Faith into a Thriving Business

Welcome to Episode 31.

Toby is joined today by Chef Petrina Peart owner of Gaiya’s Harvest. A contestant on Yes, Chef, former Air Force and a creator of intimate gatherings around food. Chef Petrina has quite the story full of calculated risk and pleasant surprises. Listen in to how she describes the power of food and gathering people around a table.

“And it’s funny how food can evoke that kind of emotion from people. I one time made someone cry with a pesto.”

“...Food is the only art that incorporates all five senses. And I always tell people that because you can literally transform someone’s mood and their entire being with a meal.”

“So we would have different chefs that would host different pop-ups in different venues, not always a restaurant. Sometimes someone’s home, someone’s backyard, anywhere from three to seven courses. And just like, you could collab with different chefs to do it, or you could just, you know, invite people to your home to do it. And so I fell in love with that scene and I started doing that same thing at my house.”

Episode 031

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Host: Toby Lyles

Guest: Chef Petrina Peart

Get in touch with Chef Petrina

Website: https://gaiyasharvest.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054232747402

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaiyasharvest