, Zgarka has worked as a chef in Toronto, California and Parma, Italy. Mangov is a professional photographer and reconnected with Zgarka when he started doing photography for Culvert.
They had originally thought of starting a food business together, and while they initially thought of tackling farmers' markets, lockdowns meant that those weren't open either. "The salt-cured chilies in oil are a family recipe. We brought the idea to Albert's Uncle Mario, tweaked it for retail, got the blessing and happily made it our first release. The salt curing process allows them to keep their beautiful vibrant colours while keeping a fresh crunch for added texture to meals," says Mangov.