By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions
When Champions of Youth Ambitions needed a new fundraiser after the loss of the Festival of Trees, we decided it was food that brings everyone together. We set out to do a dessert to go opportunity called, “Life is Short, Eat Dessert First.”
The idea is that for many, even in this community, going out to dinner is a luxury—one some can’t even afford. Eat dessert first will allow many more to spend a little bit of money to help make a substantial difference and treat themselves or someone they love in the process.
Originally, it was intended to be an in-person event with live music, but for those that would have to sacrifice additional funds for childcare C’YA pivoted to make the event even more accessible for the community.
One of the very first to step up to the plate, all pun intended, was Chef and Restauranter Laura Crucet. You probably know that Crucet brought the Pig & Fig to the “happiest small town in America”, well before they earned the moniker from The Travel.
“I swore I would never own my own restaurant,” Crucet said. “But here I am, three restaurants later. I wouldn’t change it for the world though because it is such honor to serve such a grateful and supportive community.”
Crucet balances her menu, her businesses, and her schedule, with a dash of class, a pinch of panache and a skosh of kickass. She still enjoys getting people excited about food and is driven by creating food memories for people. She not only accomplishes that goal but appears to do it with ease and was nominated for a Leadership Los Alamos Award in 2022.
Crucet believes in the idea that this community is a small village and knows that without supporting each other, it would fall apart. Her efforts benefit non-profits, when possible, and she would never put profits over people. She teases our community with what dessert contribution will be made to the fundraising October 4 event by stating, “small signature bites.”
She is supported in her charitable deeds by her formidable staff members. “My employees are my greatest treasures and every day that I go into work, I am humbled by the amazing, talented and loyal group of people that have agreed to support me on this crazy journey every day. When people say that it is impossible to find good employees in this town, I always scratch my head and wonder what they’re doing.”
It may be the love and respect Crucet has not only for her people, but her willingness to pick up a broom when the need presents itself—Laura is that kind of leader.
Crucet has raised some good humans during her journey of success and now claims to have a small menagerie of dogs and cats at home. She can even teach us all about self-care too because she even makes sure her insane schedule allows her to play golf and be outdoors with friends.
Champions of Youth Ambitions, Eat Dessert can be found at www.cya-nm.org or on Facebook. Tickets for the to-go boxes are $15 for one and $25 for two. Each box will feature a variety of three or more different choices. The Pig & Fig is located at 11 Sherwood Blvd in White Rock. Sugar & Cream as well as Beef & Leaf are both located in Los Alamos.