Meet the Team
Natasha Punwani
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Title: Chief Executive Officer, Founder
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About Natasha:
My joy for cooking stems from standing alongside my mother in the kitchen, watching her prepare fresh rotis and hearty, from-scratch meals as I grew up. Throughout my childhood, I watched her be brave as she learned how to make dishes from other cultures just to make her children happy. I watched her be humble, as she dedicated herself to feeding our community. I inherited her wholesome, authentic style of cooking and every day, I strive to embody her memory.
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My background is in International Business and Finance; through this, I've had the opportunity to live abroad and travel to countless countries around the world. I cherish the food and cultural experiences I have been given and try my best to incorporate the small stories I've encountered into my food.
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Favorite Destination: Boracay, Philippines
Favorite Food: Dal Pakwan (Sindhi Breakfast)
Most Likely to Find Me: On a plane, en route to the next place!
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Natasha was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. Most recently, she lived abroad in England, France, and Singapore. With ten years in international finance, her focus was government relations and regulatory affairs. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BS from NYU.
Cristina Zeinali
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Title: Chief Marketing Officer​
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About Cristina:
Growing up in a multi-cultural household, food served many roles in my life. It was through food that I learned about my family history, spent quality time in the kitchen with my Cuban mother and Iranian father, practiced cooking techniques, and fell in love with the endless possibilities that food provided.
Throughout my career, food remained a passion as well as a creative outlet. During my years in finance, I maintained a food blog and then steadily made my way to managing social media accounts for local restaurants and brands in Miami. Being a part of The Humble Butternut team is so rewarding and I’m excited to continue to grow and reach more people with our delicious and contemporary Indian cuisine.
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Favorite Destination: Florence, Italy
Favorite Food: Pizza
Most Likely to Find Me: In the kitchen, traveling (when possible), and cuddling with my puppies
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Cristina was born and raised in Miami and moved to Tampa in December 2019. She has 10 years of experience in Public Finance and 2 years in social media management prior to joining The Humble Butternut full-time. She holds a MBA from University of Miami and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University. She is also currently studying to be a Health Coach.
Want to Work Together?
We welcome meaningful, collaborative relationships. For ideas, suggestions, or feedback, please reach out to: hello@thehumblebutternut.com