STORY

Deer Heart is the maturation of Malo Ništa Catering, translated from Croatian means, Little Nothing. This business was named after the homestead where Chef Travis’ Croatian family lived in Northeast Washington.
 

Deer Heart strives to incorporate as much local food as possible, supporting farmers, fisherfolk, and foragers. This action supplies us with more opportunities for processing, preserving, and storing local food from the salubrious Chilkat Valley and working in coalition to restore the disrupted indigenous foodways. 
 

We currently import 95% of our food when we don’t need to. There are sustainable methods to keep our food local which are not utilized.
 

Chef Travis is receiving an education in sustainable food systems through the Culinary Institute of America, and with this master’s degree, he hopes to encourage greater resilience and communal reciprocity. Investing in this community will help expand a sustainable business model that promotes environmentally friendly concepts, community business expansion, and higher standards of living. 
 

Deer Heart will open in the spring of 2025 as we will take over a defunct restaurant named “The Fireweed.” Fireweed is the state flower of Alaska. Deer Heart is a small heart-shaped, edible green that grows on the forest floor.
It goes unnoticed, though it is abundant, delicious,
and a traditional food.
 

The Story of Deer Heart is in its nascent stage. We hope to tell our story through our cuisine, which will create an action that will gain your trust.