Jasmin Robertson | The Weekend Edition

Jasmin Robertson, Owner, Roza's Gourmet Sauces

Everything happens for a reason ...

Jasmin Robertson has been working for Roza’s Gourmet Sauces since she was four years old. While her mother made two types of sauces to sell at the end of their driveway just for fun, Jasmin would be in charge of cutting squares of fabric and securing them around the lids of jars with string. As her tiny fingers (and the business) grew, she would have labelling competitions with friends, until eventually she had performed every single task that goes into creating the design-savvy jars of Roza’s pesto, chutney, mustard and sauces. A Brisbane institution, Roza’s Gourmet Sauces has been running for more than 20 years, and while Roza has sadly passed away, Jasmin took over the business at 22 years old, upholding her mum’s philosophies. In the three short years with Jasmin at the helm, the business has doubled. Taking Roza’s into the regions for Queensland and also expanding to New South Wales and Victoria, Jasmin continues to grow, expand and progress the label. On the day of our interview, Jasmin was planning her trip to the airport the next morning to collect 1000 bunches of fresh basil that’s being flown in from Mareeba. Jasmin and the team will then handwash, dry and pick the leaves from the stems to make into pesto. It’s these careful motions that make a jar of homemade sauce taste so good. The Weekend Edition spoke to Jasmin about her weekend essentials.

By Linsey Rendell

How do you like to start your weekend?
Well, usually I am up at 3:00 am preparing for the Brisbane Powerhouse markets at New Farm, or off to do tastings at one of our stockists.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Talk about sauces, of course.

How do you like to unwind?
When I am stressed, there is nothing like a session of Bikram yoga!

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Wining and dining with friends, a tidy house and time with my pugs.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
A trip to the tip!

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Make a big cook-up of food and spend an hour or two planning my week ahead.

What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Launching the new Hopper Group IGA at Hawthorne on Saturday morning, and my friends’ house-warming.

What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and am in this sort of post-awesome-book depression.

What inspires you?
Facing new challenges and learning from my mistakes.

What was your childhood dream?
To be an actor and to live in France. Maybe not necessarily at the same time, but they are two things that I still plan to accomplish.

What has been your greatest achievement?
Taking on my mother’s business to uphold her values and legacy.

What is success to you?
Finishing each day knowing that you did your best.

What are your words of wisdom?
Everything happens for a reason. Once you accept that, you realise there really are no negatives in life, only opportunities to grow.

Only a local would know that … The more I think about it, the bigger it gets.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Anouk, Paddington
Relax … New Farm dog park
Dine … C’est Bon, Woolloongabba
Indulge … At home in bed
Shop … Olive Home, Paddington
Catch-up … Portofino, New Farm
Be inspired … Bikram Yoga, Brisbane