• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Side Hustles in the Suburbs (Part Two)

4:00 PM | Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Visit any farmers market and you’ll find people selling food directly to consumers.

Every vendor has their own specialty, and for Plymouth resident Natasha Obuhov, her big draw is the traditional pierogi, an Eastern European dumpling that draws rave reviews from customers.

“It’s awesome,” said Heidi Haataja, a pierogi-lover from Blaine. “They’re gonna be authentic. We buy them in the store and they’re not… you know, they’re good, but it’s not gonna be like a real homemade one.”

Yet before Natasha’s Pierogi make its way to the farmers market, she first has to make them in a New Hope kitchen.

“It’s a process,” said Obuhov. “It’s very labor intensive, but it’s fun. I like to work.”

It’s a two-day process that involves boiling and peeling up to a hundred pounds of potatoes just to create the filling.

Then she has to make the dough from scratch and wrap each pierogi by hand.

“I like to cook,” Obuhov said. “And I came from Russia, and in Russia it’s very traditional to make pierogi. And I start my business from my home. From my basement I will say.”

Obuhov moved to the United States in 2003 and started making pierogis as a hobby while she worked other full time jobs.

“I was looking for more income for my family,” she said.

Much to her surprise, she tapped into a market that had a taste for her homemade blend of comfort food.

“My friends, my neighbors, and people told me, ‘Natasha, your stuff is so good. It’s real pierogi. You should go to the farmers market and try to sell them in the public.’ It’s what I did,” Obuhov said.

Five years ago, she found Premier Kitchen in New Hope. They provided her with kitchen space that allowed her business to grow, and produce more food in the process.

“I will tell you I can make 3,000 pierogi a day,” Obuhov said.

Fixed Costs

Her hobby has now turned into a full-fledged career. Granted, it comes with a number of fixed costs, from kitchen rental to boxes and labeling, to the food itself.

“All money from my pocket,” she said.

But it’s a small price to pay to do something you’re passionate about.

“You should work very hard to push your dream, but dreams come true,” Obuhov said.

And in this case, Obuhov‘s dream come true provides others with a sense of joy.

“We love everything about pierogis,” said Haataja, the pierogi-lover from Blaine.

This summer, you’ll be able to find Natasha’s Pierogi at farmers markets all around the Twin Cities. Her hope is to one day have her own booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

Delane Cleveland, reporting

Plymouth

CCX News Special Reports

Related Stories

Newsmakers: PRISM Sees Need for Housing Help Increase:  PRISM, a social service nonprofit in Golden… Read More
West African Drummers Teach New Beat at FAIR Pilgrim Lane Elementary:  Students at FAIR Pilgrim Lane… Read More
Environmental Leaders Launch ‘Low Salt, No Salt’ Campaign:  In the warmer months,… Read More
Plymouth Metrolink Expands Click-and-Ride Service to Maple Grove:  There are now more transportation… Read More
Tensions Rise As Marijuana Legalization Bill Moves Forward:  A bill to legalize recreational marijuana… Read More
Robbinsdale School District Extends Bus Contract:  The Robbinsdale School District has extended the… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2023 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in