Meet Chef Crystal Hindman
All about me
A Grey and Bruce girl through and through, I was born in Owen Sound and then moved to Hepworth with my family when I was 5 years old and I attended Hepworth Public School then Wiarton District High School.
At age 13, I got my first job as a dishwasher at a local golf course restaurant, I found myself drawn to the kitchen every chance I got. I was always asking questions and offering to help. My boss at the time saw how eager I was and took a chance on me, moving me up to cooking and the rest is history. Each summer my passion for cooking grew.
At age 16 I moved out for home and found myself dealt a new challenge. I had become a teenage mom at the age of 17. Over the next few years I worked at a few different restaurants under some amazing Chefs taking in all that I could learn from them. I moved from cook to line cook and them my dream came true and I became a head cook.
In 2003 I took some time away from the restaurant scene and became a stay at home mom of 3 boys and opened up my own home daycare allowing me to care for my children and still cook for young people. In 2005 it was time for me to return to the kitchen. I applied for a Head Chef position where within a year I was promoted to Head Chef / Restaurant Manager.
In 2011 I found myself once again pulled away from my career when my youngest son was diagnosed with Mental Health challenges and had to seek treatment in a London Hospital.
When I returned to work in 2012, I started working as a waitress in Chesley at a local bistro making contacts that would change my life. In 2014 I was given the opportunity to be apart of a great new adventure, the Grilled in Action Food Truck was taking to the road, and I would run it. For a year I worked hard everyday to make a name for the company and myself.
Having set a goal for myself early in my career to be my own boss and a business owner before the age of 35, on May 10th, 2015 being quite scared yet very excited at the same time, I leaped in and took over ownership of the food truck. I had accomplished my goal a full 2 years ahead of schedule, only to immediately set another, to become the best locally owned and well-known food truck in Grey and Bruce Counties
The first step was to brand my new truck as my own and changed our name to Fired Up at Grilled in Action, I choose this name to reflect the time and effort spend during my first year as an employee building the business, yet also emphasizing my passion for my new endeavor. I gave the truck a total face lift with a completely brand-new look and full graphic body wrap.
I am so grateful for all the people that have stood by me and have supported the food truck. It is because of all of you that the food truck has become a successful business and continues to grow. This success has been recognized through the Owen Sound Sun Times Readers Choice Awards. In 2017 I was awarded 1st Place as the Best Food Truck in Grey-Bruce County. In 2018, the awards were revamped but that did not affect my success, in fact, it allowed me to better showcase my quality food and service. The readers voted me as the Platinum (#1) award winner for Best Food Truck, Best Poutine, and Best Caterer and as a Gold (#2) award winner for Best Hot Dog.
I could not have achieved this overwhelming support without all of my loyal customers. I am humbled by the outpouring of support through the Reader Choice awards and positive feedback on the Food Truck’s Facebook page. This makes me want to work harder to serve you to always ensure that my food and customer service never fall below your expectations.
In July 2019, I had the opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar building in Wiarton at the Wiarton International Airport, Fired Up at Grilled in Action's Hungry Hangar Restaurant over the last 3 years we have because the place to fly to in Southwestern Ontario, along with this restaurant in the community to go to.
In Sept 2021, we expanded again opening our 2nd Brick-and-mortar restaurant in Hanover/Walkerton area at the Saugeen Municipal Airport.
I look forward to serving everyone for many more years to come.
Chef Crystal