I’m Carla, also known as Carla from Rio.

I’m a Brazilian-born journalist turned chef, entrepreneur, and content creator, now based in London. My career has taken me from working in TV stations in Brazil to building some of the UK’s most pioneering vegan food businesses.

Together with my partner, I co-founded:

    •    Young Vegans Pie Shop – the first and only vegan pie & mash shop in London.

    •    Death By Pizza – an East London takeaway that became a cult hit, at the time the only place serving fully vegan pizzas.

    •    Young Vegans Pizza Shop – our first sit-down pizzeria in Bethnal Green, where we brought our creative plant-based pizzas to the table.

    •    Casadei Foods – my current venture, producing premium vegan mozzarella and pizza toppings, supplied to leading pizzerias including Purezza and Yard Sale Pizza.

With over 10 years of experience in food manufacturing, plus three restaurants and a production kitchen behind me, I’ve built a career on making plant-based food both innovative and accessible.

But food is only part of my journey. After years of burnout from running restaurants and navigating the challenges of COVID, I turned to running as part of my sobriety and recovery. With no fitness background, I went from my first 5K to ultramarathons, and today I’m proud to be an ambassador for Threshold Trail Series — showing that it’s never too late to start and that running truly is for everyone.

On my platforms, I share:

    •    Food – easy vegan recipes, restaurant finds, and collaborations with brands.

    •    Running – the ups, downs, and lessons of training for marathons and ultras.

    •    Travel – life on the road in my van, exploring new countries and discovering plant-based eats along the way.

Why work with me

I bring together media experience as a journalist, culinary expertise as a chef and entrepreneur, and authentic storytelling as a runner and community builder. Brands who collaborate with me don’t just get exposure — they join a bigger story: one that inspires people to eat better, move more, and believe anything is possible.

👉 Let’s collaborate on videos, recipes, and campaigns that truly connect.