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.
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.