Our Story
Crafted + Carried isn’t just a business — it’s a journey. Born in the Ozarks and carried west to Portland, our story reflects miles traveled, meals shared, and memories gathered. The path here has been one of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovery, shaped by westward drives through Yellowstone and adventures from San Francisco to Europe and Central America. These travels sparked a love for new cultures and flavors, but our deepest influences came from family.
Justin’s grandma taught him that cooking was about care — slow hands, good ingredients, and the simple joy of feeding people. His mom taught him that choices carry consequences and that integrity matters as much in the kitchen as anywhere else. These lessons formed our guiding philosophy: food is about the soul. You pour yourself into every dish, feeding people with more than ingredients—you feed them with memory, honesty, and heart.
Justin's experiences, including the immigration journey with, spouse, Christian, and the blending of cultures along the way, are woven into our brand’s DNA. Crafted + Carried has been forged by the belief that food is a vessel for resilience and discovery. Every gathering we cater carries not just delicious Southern comfort food in Portland & Arkansas, but also stories of where we’ve been. We are about crafting beauty and carrying forward meaning—creating meals that remind us of our past and tables that point us toward where we’re going.