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About Anita

Food Lover and Teacher

At the heart of this business is Anita Robin, a Swiss-Australian cook, educator, and culinary storyteller who has spent her life blending global flavours, nutritional wisdom, and hands-on teaching into unforgettable food experiences. Based in the charming coastal town of Goolwa, Anita’s journey is as rich and inspiring as the dishes she creates. Whether you're joining a cooking class, staying for a retreat, or simply curious about the woman behind the apron, this is her story.

Smiling Anita in her red top and white apron

My Story

Hi, my name is Anita, and I am a proud Swiss-Australian!

 

I am the founder and sole owner/operator of my business, foodbuilder, which is located in the beautiful township of Goolwa in the Fleurieu Peninsula region, approximately a one-hour journey from Adelaide, either via the Adelaide Hills or the Southern Expressway. My business is situated within a 10-minute walk to the main street and It also is only a 3 km stroll to the main beach. 

Who I am and what my business is, are both closely intertwined. Thus, in order to introduce my business, I will provide you with a little background:

 

I was born in the north-western (German and French speaking) part of Switzerland. After twelve years of schooling, I took a gap year and went to live on a local farm, where I learned to prepare dishes with local fresh foods. This experience tilted me towards my passion for cooking and education in particular. Later, I passed an exam to attend a specialist Home-Economics university. From there,  I commenced teaching school-aged students cooking, nutrition and sport. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to travel to Zaire (Kongo) in Africa in order to mentor local teachers. During this time, I again learned the value and sustainability of cooking with fresh and local products.

Later, I moved to Singapore to teach at the Swiss School. Whilst there, I had the opportunity to develop a small catering business. More recently, I decided to take up study again, this time in catering and restaurant management at Le Cordon Bleu in Adelaide, SouthAustralia. I also expanded my knowledge into the field of business management and developed a new passion – wine! As a hard-working person, I managed to take home a “Dux of class” trophy!

 

I am not sure if it was my “Swissness” and/or my attention to detail, but there came a day when I was invited to become involved in the world of chocolate as the flagship store manager for Australia’s favourite chocolatier, Haigh's. 

 

After 18 years of living abroad, I received a unique job offer in Switzerland to teach highly academic students the arts of cooking, nutrition, handicrafts, budgeting and sport.

 

All of this experience gave me the confidence and know-how to create my foodbuilder business.

In February 2021, I opened my kitchen with a vegetarian cooking class and slowly but surely, the business has grown and taken root here in Goolwa. The cooking class concept has also expanded into a liaison with a few luxury retreats in the region.

Later in 2021, I was lucky enough to become a finalist in the 2021 South Australian Tourism Awards. 

I am so glad you are here!

Some Highlights

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of The Foodbuilder. I grow herbs and vegetables in my garden, use honey from my bees, and source ingredients locally from producers like Alexandrina Cheese and Peninsula Providore. I minimise food waste by planning carefully and encouraging guests to take home leftovers. This year, I began working with CarbonHalo to measure and offset my carbon footprint.

Accessibility

Accessibility is a key part of how I design my experiences. I updated my website to meet accessibility standards - improving contrast, navigation, and adding screen-reader compatibility. Jessie from Purple Orange confirmed that my venue is easily accessible and navigable. My hands-on classes are guided step by step, making them naturally inclusive for all abilities and ages.

2021 SA Tourism Award Finalist
2022 SA Tourism Award Finalist
2023 SA Tourism Award Silver Award
2024 SA Tourism Award Bronze Winner

Anita Robin, the foodbuilder, honors the rich heritage of over 2,000 generations of Aboriginal culture, the world's oldest living culture. We deeply respect all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and their ongoing contributions to our society. We acknowledge that the land we inhabit, known as Australia, has always belonged to the Aboriginal people and will continue to do so. Our place of work is on the sacred lands of the Ngarrindjerri people, and we embrace its significance.

© 2020 by Food Builder.

Created by Evie Foster Creative

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